Notorious Brisbane rail crossing to be upgraded

Eight years after a damning report said it was an urgent priority, this Brisbane northside bottleneck and accident hotspot will be fixed, with $208 million being promised in funding between the city council and state and federal governments.

The Beams Rd, Carseldine, level rail crossing will be replaced under a new State Government upgrade.

Motorists frustrated after decades of delays in fixing the Beams Rd rail level crossing at Carseldine can finally look forward to an upgrade early next year.

The State Government has announced it will contribute $128 million to the project, after the LNP Council last year promised $40 million and the Federal Government made an election commitment of $50 million.

It has been eight years since a damning Deloitte Access Economics report, compiled for the Department of Transport and Main Roads, found only one of six high-priority rail crossings it identified had been replaced.

In 2017, Queensland Transport data showed seven people died, 19 were seriously injured and 35 received minor injuries at 1360 open level rail crossing incidents between 2009 and 2016.

Three possible upgrade options of the level crossing.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the project would ease traffic congestion and improve safety.

“The local community and anyone who drives on Beams Road around Carseldine will have been caught at the bottleneck around the rail line,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Every time that boom arm goes down at the Beams Rd level crossing, that means more time for people waiting in traffic.’’

Labor MP for Aspley, Bart Mellish, has been pushing for funding for years, and last February ALP lord Mayoral candidate Pat Condren pledged $410 million to fix Brisbane level crossings, including at Beams Rd.

Cr Schrinner committed $40 million in October last year.

Mr Mellish said the State Government’s announcement was “fantastic news’’.

“I’ve been pushing to fix the Beams Rd Level Crossing since 2017, but as locals know this has been an issue for a generation,” he said.

Aerial view of the crossing site.

“The fact we now have a commitment from all three levels of government, with dollars locked in budgets to get the job done, is a tribute to the perseverance of the dedicated locals who continued making Beams Rd a priority.

“This funding won’t just finally deliver a fix for the level crossing, but it will cover a precinct-wide plan for more commuter parking and upgrades to the surrounding road network.

“There are also opportunities ahead to build new public spaces and upgrade the road network as part of Carseldine Urban Village, so this project will build on that and transform how are community connects.’’

Parking near the train station is a problem which will be addressed.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the project would include more parking spaces at Carseldine train station.

“Work on a business case for the level crossing removal will finish early next year, with construction to start later in 2021,’’ Mr Bailey said.

“We’ll keep the community informed each step of the way and, while they will have to wait a bit longer, the wait will be worth it.

“The good news is we have already completed the design for the $15 million expanded park n ride at Carseldine station, and I expect early works to start by the end of the year.’’

A Planning Study for the level crossing had already begun and had identified three feasible options:

- widening of the existing level crossing to four lanes

- overpass (road over rail)

- overpass (rail over road)