Cross River Rail: ‘Design flaw' to cause months of commuter chaos

A “design flaw” in Cross River Rail will cause months of pain for commuters and see noisy freight trains diverted through Brisbane’s suburbs, with the opposition claiming the “bungle” will see the $5.4 billion mega-project’s costs blow out.

COMMUTERS will face months of chaos and noisy freight trains could divert through the suburbs after the government was forced to change its Cross River Rail construction plans because of an alleged planning “blunder”.

The Opposition are claiming a “design blunder” will blow out the project’s $5.4 billion price tag after the government overruled expert advice to build the station in a difficult spot.

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But the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority (CRRDA) says its not unusual to change construction methods on big projects, the change won’t cost taxpayers any more, and it’ll do its best to manage disruptions.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey is in charge of the Cross River Rail project. Picture: Stewart McLean

The Courier-Mail can reveal a planned tunnel curve that’s too tight for passenger trains has seen a changed alignment that means planned tunnel construction can no longer go ahead.

Instead, workers will use a different ‘cut and cover’ excavation to build the new underground Cross River Rail line under four existing lines, causing serious disruption to Gold Coast and Beenleigh services.

Documents seen the The Courier-Mail say Gold Coast and Beenleigh services would be forced to use just two tracks only, one in each direction, and some services will be restricted or cancelled over about a two-month period.

A CRRDA spokesman admitted last night track closures would happen, forcing commuters onto buses.

But he said the authority was working with Queensland Rail to minimise network impacts, and would target closures to times of low patronage like holiday periods.

“We will work with TransLink to provide alternative transport options for commuters, and this will be supported by early and frequent engagement and notification of travel advice to customers,” he said.

The leaked documents also say “some freight trains” would be “diverted via Toowong” for 7 to 8 months.

But the CRRDA spokesman said noisy freight trains would remain on the Tennyson line, but said the authority would “continue to work with Queensland Rail on any freight service changes”.

The news follows previous Cross River Rail Minister Kate Jones defending the government’s decision to build the new Cross River Rail Station at Boggo Road, made when former deputy premier Jackie Trad held the portfolio.

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Leaked documents in August showed bidders for the multibillion-dollar project warned the Boggo Road station was littered with engineering and safety problems that would cause construction headaches.

Despite that, the Palaszczuk Government shot down a proposal for a single station on land behind the Princess Alexandra Hospital that would have been cheaper, forging ahead with its plans to build at Boggo Road and redevelop the old Dutton Park Station.

Ms Jones argued the New Dutton plan would have seen people on the Cleveland line have to walk 9 minutes down the road to change trains to connect to the Cross River Rail line and that was not suitable.

LNP Leader David Crisafulli. Picture: Peter Wallis

LNP Leader David Crisafulli said Transport Minister Mark Bailey, who is now in charge of the project, needed to fully detail the “design flaw”.

“It’s not unreasonable to ask when this problem first came to light and why such a major change in scope was revealed only a fortnight after the election,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“The government must tell Queenslanders when it first knew about this flaw and what the financial cost will be.”

LNP transport spokesman Steve Minnikin said Labor had had five years to get the planning right but were failing.

“Queenslanders will pay the price for Labor’s incompetence with more train delays, more traffic chaos and more taxpayers’ money wasted.”

Work will also see a significant increase in local construction traffic and comes after follows a request from the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority to include nearby Kent Street as an approved haulage rote with vehicles permitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.