Cross River Rail: Transport Minister Bart Mellish can’t rule out further delays

Transport Minister Bart Mellish has refused to rule out delays to Cross River Rail stretching to 2027 or beyond, as Ekka train services are again hit by strike action.

Transport Minister Bart Mellish has refused to rule out delays to Cross River Rail stretching to 2027 or beyond, with ongoing CFMEU strikes preventing train trips to the Ekka for a second year in a row.

A Cross River Rail Delivery Authority spokesman late on Tuesday confirmed the new Exhibition train station could not be opened temporarily for this year’s Ekka due to CFMEU protests interrupting a fortnight of scheduled works.

“This has meant that work was unable to be completed to ensure proper safety certification could be achieved prior to the event,” they said.

“While this news will no doubt be disappointing to Ekka-goers, the recommendation was made with safety front of mind.”

Installing handrails, paving, and lift and fire certification that was on track to be completed prior to the expected handover ahead of the Ekka were unfinished.

RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said there will be a “comprehensive public transport plan” in the wake of the disappointing news.

“Rest assured, there will be plenty of transport options available for our valued Ekka patrons, with multiple alternative travel options including nearby bus and train stations, high frequency bus services and shuttles for passengers with accessibility needs,” he said.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish during estimates hearings on Tuesday. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“Ekka visitors will be able to catch public transport, as normal, to the Show, with trains and buses operating from Fortitude Valley Station and Herston Busway.”

It is then a 550-metre walk to the nearest show gate and Mr Christou said transfers for customers with accessibility needs will operate from Herston Busway Station and Fortitude Valley train station direct to Show Gate 5.

“We look forward to the gates for the Ekka opening in just nine days’ time,” he said.

The state government and the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority have tipped the 10.2km underground rail line to be open some time in 2026.

But Mr Mellish has now said specific timelines would be known closer to completion, refusing to commit to a hard 2026 deadline.

It comes after The Courier-Mail revealed internal Cross River Rail documents showed several key milestones had already been missed or pushed back as far as 18 months.

Mr Mellish said large construction projects were complicated and took years to complete, but vowed to remain transparent about the timeline as works progressed.

He dismissed questions over why former transport minister Mark Bailey previously publicly declared the project would be commuter-ready by the first quarter of 2026.

“All the advice I’ve ever had since becoming minister, it’s that we’re targeting 2026 completions,” he said.

“That’s all I’ve ever said to the public.”

Opposition transport spokesman Steve Minnikin attempted to pin down an exact completion date for Cross River Rail during Tuesday night’s estimates hearings, however Mr Mellish and Cross River Rail Delivery Authority chief executive Graeme Newton refused to be drawn.

Mr Newton brushed off questions about the internal documents, dubbed “Project Craft”, saying they were “nothing special”.

“Project Craft is an internal name given to a piece of work that we were doing in dialogue with the contractors,” he said.

“It was an internal title. There’s nothing special about that.”

Despite this, Mr Newton refused to confirm whether key dates had been moved as a result, citing commercial-in-confidence arrangements.

The CFMEU has entered its third week of industrial strike action at the Cross River Rail worksite, following a pay dispute between the union and lead contractor CPB.

Mr Mellish said the government was not in a position to intervene.

Protected industrial action is expected to continue throughout this week.

RNA Chief Executive Brendan Christou said they were informed of the “disappointing” move on Tuesday night following a meeting between the CRR Delivery Authority, Queensland Rail and TransLink.

He said a ”comprehensive public transport plan” co-ordinated by TransLink, will service this year’s show.

It will operate based on last year’s ”successful rollout”, when Exhibition Station was not in use due to construction.

“Rest assured, there will be plenty of transport options available for our valued Ekka patrons, with multiple alternative travel options including nearby bus and train stations, high frequency bus services and shuttles for passengers with accessibility needs,” he said.

“Ekka visitors will be able to catch public transport, as normal, to the Show, with trains and buses operating from Fortitude Valley Station and Herston Busway.”

It is then a 550-metre walk to the nearest show gate and Mr Christou said transfers for customers with accessibility needs will operate from Herston Busway Station and Fortitude Valley train station direct to Show Gate 5.

“We look forward to the gates for the Ekka opening in just nine days’ time,” he said.