- Customers are advised to plan ahead and allow extra travel time with major track closures in place on the Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines in September and October.
- The closures will allow critical works on multiple major rail projects to be undertaken safely and efficiently in the rail corridor.
- Customers are encouraged to consider their travel plans and plan their journey in advance, as some journeys may take significantly longer and some customers may need to catch more than one bus to reach their destination.
Customers on the Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines are urged to plan their travel in advance and allow extra travel time with major weekday and weekend track closures taking place across a three-week period from Saturday 20 September to Sunday 12 October.
These essential works are part of a once-in-a-generation transformation to South East Queensland's rail network with the closure to allow work on major projects including Cross River Rail, Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail, Loganlea Station Relocation, the Ormeau rail facility as part of the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program, European Train Control System digital signalling, and general track maintenance.
For the first week of the school holidays, from 20 to 28 September, trains will not run on the Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines. Buses will replace trains between Varsity Lakes and Boggo Road stations.
This will allow for works to deliver major future benefits, including:
- Preparation works for construction of the new Loganlea station as part of the Loganlea Station Relocation project;
- Site and geotechnical investigations in the rail corridor for the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project;
- Works on the Ormeau rail facility - which will maintain and store trains, improving fleet access to the rail network - as part of the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program; and
- Installation works between Beenleigh and Varsity Lakes for the European Train Control System, which will enable greater capacity on the rail network by allowing trains to safely run closer together.
Buses will also replace trains between Roma Street and Cannon Hill stations on the weekend of 27 and 28 September while signalling works near Dutton Park mean trains are unable to operate safely on the Cleveland line.
From 29 September to 11 October, 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.
There will be plenty of buses available to ensure customers can get where they need to go.
However, during this period, buses will replace trains and journeys may take significantly longer.
Some customers may need to catch more than one bus to get to their destination.
Express and all-stops rail replacement buses will be available and will link customers with more connections than ever to get to and from Brisbane City.
Some alternative transport options will stop on the South East Busway at Eight Mile Plains station where customers can transfer to a network of buses travelling into and around Brisbane, including the high-frequency M1 service.
All trains will return to a regular timetable from first service Monday, 13 October.
Customers are advised to consider their transport options, plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
To plan your journey, use the Translink app, visit translink.com.au or call 13 12 30.
If planning to drive, be aware that the M1 may experience heavier-than-usual traffic. To avoid delays, check the latest road conditions before starting your journey.
As stated by Head of Translink Dr Deborah Hume:
"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.
"Cross River Rail, Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail, the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program and new European Train Control System digital signalling are projects critical to delivering these massive benefits in the future for train customers.
"If you are travelling during this period, please consider your transport options, plan ahead and allow plenty of travel time.
"We understand this will be an inconvenience to customers which is why the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, Queensland Rail and the Department of Transport and Main Roads have worked together to bring works for these projects together to minimise disruptions and ensure they occur mostly during the school holidays, when less customers travel on the network.
"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.
"All rail replacement bus timetables will be in the journey planner, so please check the Translink website closer to the closure date."
As stated by Cross River Rail Delivery Authority CEO Graeme Newton:
"Crews will be busy in the rail corridor during this period completing surface works that the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority has been tasked to undertake in addition to the construction of the 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.
"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."
