Gold Coast and Beenleigh rail commuters in south-east Queensland will need to allow for extra travel time late next month.
Major weekday and weekend track closures are due to run from Saturday, September 20, to Sunday, October 12.
Qld Rail says the closures allow for major work on projects like Cross River Rail, Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail, Loganlea Station Relocation, Ormeau rail facility, digital signalling and track maintenance.
Cross River Rail Delivery Authority CEO Graeme Newton says “crews will be busy completing surface works” in addition to construction of a new underground line.
“Some of the works that can only be carried out safely and efficiently while trains aren’t running includes piling and civil works at the Clapham Yard stabling facility, building a new platform at Moorooka, installing structural steel and a canopy at Salisbury, and signalling, drainage and track works in the rail corridor,” he says.
“Crews will also take the opportunity to undertake station works at Hope Island and Merrimac on the Gold Coast during the first week of the school holidays while other projects are completing works in the same area.”
Head of Translink Dr Deborah Hume says that to minimise the inconvenience, the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, Queensland Rail and Transport Department grouped these works together during the school holidays.
“We will have plenty of services available to help get you where you need to go, including connections to regular bus routes and rail replacement buses,” she says.
“All rail replacement bus timetables will be in the journey planner, so please check the Translink website closer to the closure date.
“These works are part of a wider transformation to South East Queensland’s rail network, which will support our growing population and readiness for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Hume says.
GOLD COAST, BEENLEIGH CHANGE DATES
Qld Rail says that from September 20-28, no trains will run on the Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines.
Buses will run between the Varsity Lakes and Boggo Road stations.
It says the line closure will allow for the start of preparations for a new Loganlea station; site and geotechnical investigations for the faster rail project; work on the Ormeau maintenance and storage yards, and the installation of a European signalling system between Beenleigh and Varsity Lakes that will allow trains to safely run closer together.
Buses will replace trains between Roma Street and Cannon Hill stations on September 27-28 while signalling works near Dutton Park means that trains will NOT run on the Cleveland line.
From September 29 to October 11, Gold Coast and Beenleigh trains will combine to run all stations between Varsity Lakes and Banoon.
On October 12, Gold Coast and Beenleigh trains will travel to Brisbane City via the Tennyson Loop.
Qld Rail says other transport options will stop on the South East Busway at Eight Mile Plains station where customers can transfer to buses travelling into and around Brisbane, including the M1 service.
All trains will return to a regular timetable from first service on Monday, October 13.
To plan your journey, use the Translink app, visit translink.com.au or call 13 12 30.
For drivers, the M1 may experience heavier-than-usual traffic and they should check the latest road conditions beforehand.
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