Cross River Rail: green light for megaproject to reduce Coast commute to Brisbane

A $5.4 billion megaproject which will cause huge reductions in rail times between the Gold Coast to Brisbane is being given the green light. The project will also see three new stations open on the Coast.

A MEGAPROJECT which will cause huge reductions in rail times between the Gold Coast to Brisbane is being given the green light.

The Palaszczuk Government today announced the companies which will build the transformational $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project.

The 10.2 kilometre rail line will run from Dutton Park to Bowen Hills, with a 5.9 kilometre twin tunnel under the Brisbane River and CBD, four new underground stations and upgrades to existing stations.

Commuters at the Helensvale Train station. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

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But it will also enable Labor to deliver on its election promise of three new stations at the Gold Coast — at Pimpama, Helensvale North and Worongary-Merrimac.

The stations cannot be built until the rail infrastructure is improved leading into the Brisbane CBD.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told State Parliament today “it’s all systems go”.

She predicted the project would deliver “fifteen minutes saving on the Gold Coast line”.

Cross River Rail would be ready to service the south-east by 2024 taking 47,000 vehicles off the road, freeing-up the Pacific Motorway, she said.

Following a comprehensive evaluation process, the government today announced the project’s major works packages will be delivered by the following world-class consortia:

•PULSE - the Tunnel, Stations and Development (TSD) public private partnership;

•UNITY - the Rail, Integration and Systems (RIS) alliance; and

•Hitachi Rail STS - the European Train Control System (ETCS).

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on the Gold Coast line - it’s all systems go. Picture: David Clark.

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The Premier said the project would generate 7,700 jobs, including 450 apprentice and training opportunities.

“Cross River Rail is Brisbane’s new underground. It means more trains, more often across the entire South-East,” she said.

Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said Cross River Rail would double heavy rail capacity through the CBD, unlocking the network for future growth and delivering more trains, more often.

“We have fully-funded this $5.4 billion project because we were sick of waiting on the LNP in Canberra to come to the table,” she said.

Cross River Rail - Roma Street in Brisbane.

Gold Coast-based Senator Murray Watt said Cross River Rail would enable a train to leave Brisbane every five minutes in the morning peak on the Coast line with a capacity for an extra 3150 seats.

He said the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority was working with the Transport Department to scope the planning for the design and building of the Coast new rail stations.

“Better public transport is critical for the Gold Coast with the population expected to grow by more than 350,000 residents over the next 25 years, taking the population to almost one million people,” he said.

“The full benefits of the three new stations can only be realised with Cross River Rail which will significantly boost capacity on the Gold Coast line and allow more trains to run more often.”