Cross River Rail: Key commuter question answered as project enters hi-tech phase
The Transport Minister has flagged an “important” new hi-tech phase of the Cross River Rail project that will bring a sigh of relief from commuters.
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Hundreds of kilometres of cabling including technology to prevent commuters losing mobile service underground will soon be laid through Brisbane’s Cross River Rail tunnels, as the project gears up toward an “important” phase next year.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey, inspecting progress on the section of the Cross River Rail in Spring Hill, confirming 180 workers were set to lay hundreds of kilometres of hi-tech cabling through the underground sections of the 10.2-kilometre rail line from Dutton Park to Bowen Hills.
He also reaffirmed the state government was confident the Cross River Rail project wouldn’t cost more than $6.3bn — up from $5.4bn originally — following an independent analysis in April.
Cross River Rail services remain, as of the April update, set to begin in the first quarter of 2026 with construction to be done by early 2025.
Cross River Rail Authority chief executive Graeme Newton said the biggest component of the technology installation phase was the new train signalling system known as ETCS, which is the first time the globally used system will be introduced in Queensland.
According to Mr Newton the signalling technology means a train’s position within the tunnel will be known at all times.
Existing trains will be retrofitted to recognise the new system, with an above ground trial occurring on the Shorncliffe line.
Once the cabling is laid underground the testing and commissioning phase of Cross River Rail can begin, with Mr Newton saying trains will be tested on the tracks at low speed sometime in 2024.
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Originally published as Cross River Rail: Key commuter question answered as project enters hi-tech phase
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