| Cross River Rail | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | Proposed |
| Locale | Brisbane |
| Termini | Yeerongpilly Bowen Hills |
| Stations | 6 |
| Website | www.crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/ |
| Operation | |
| Operator(s) | QueenslandRail |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 18 km (11 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Cape gauge |
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Legend
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Cross River Rail is a proposed new underground rail line in Brisbane, Australia. The project involves building a new 18 km railway under the Brisbane River and the Brisbane central business district, creating four new underground inner city stations, and increasing the core capacity of the rail network.[1] According to the Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh the railway will be the largest transport project ever built in Queensland.[2] The project is expected to cost around $8.2 billion.[3]
Contents |
A report titled the 2008 Inner City Rail Capacity Study predicted that the demand for peak train services would double by 2016.[4] Between Salisbury and Dutton Park the existing line is used by freight trains traveling to the Port of Brisbane and a terminal at Acacia Ridge. The expected rise in the number of passengers services will interrupt freight services unless a new line is built. For many years the Merivale Bridge has been the only inner-city rail crossing in Brisbane. By 2016 it is expected to be over capacity, leading the Queensland Government to plan for this project.[5]
Geo-technical surveys, and public consultation began in 2010.[2] Funding for a feasibility study was provided in 2009 by the federal government.[6] A funding submission will be made to the federal government in early 2011 after a detailed environmental impact statement is complete.
The final plans for the project were released on the 11 November 2010. The project includes a 9.8 km tunnel, two new surface stations as well as four new underground stations.[1] Upgrades to Moorooka railway station and Rocklea railway station will also be required.[1] Underground stations will include shops.[6] A maximum of 120,000 passengers will be able to be moved during the morning peak period.[7]
The city station will be built under Albert Street.[5] This station will have two entrances and allow for trains up to 200 m in length.[8] Stations at Woolloongabba and Bowen Hills will be named "The Gabba" and "The Ekka" respectively.[3]
Yeerongpilly was chosen as the southern portal because it had less impact on residents than a tunnel entrance at Fairfield.[9] An entrance here allows trains on the Ipswich railway line to use the tunnel via the Tennyson railway line.[9] It also allows the existing rail yards at Clapham to be used as stable yards, negating the need to build a new storage depot for trains elsewhere.
The tunnels would incorporate floodgates at the southern portal and at the Albert Street station to protect against flooding of the Brisbane River. Albert Street would also have entry points 7 m (23 ft) above the level of the 2010–2011 Queensland floods.[10]
Thirty-nine commercial properties will have to be resumed for the project, including the Royal on the Park hotel[11] and another nine properties in the central business district.[8] One hundred and five residential properties at Yeerongpilly will have to be resumed for the expansion of the Yeerongpilly railway station.[3]
Due to the reconstruction costs of the 2010–2011 Queensland floods this rail project will be delayed by at least two years.[12]
Preliminary test drilling of the Brisbane River commenced in November 2011.[13]