Published Wednesday, 15 January, 2020 at 10:00 AM

Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations

The Honourable Grace Grace

The proposed upgrades to the underused Exhibition train station has taken the next step, as the Palaszczuk Government’s signature infrastructure project, Cross River Rail, ramps up.

Acting Minister for Cross River Rail and Member for McConnel Grace Grace has announced the start of consultation on the design concepts for the new station at the Ekka.

“Cross River Rail will deliver a new station at the RNA Showgrounds, providing year-round rail services for both the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, as well as the growing King Street lifestyle precinct,” Ms Grace said.

“My local constituents and nearby workers have been telling me for a long time that the Exhibition station is an underutilised asset, so I am really pleased that it is being rebuilt as part of Cross River Rail and will be open all year round.

“The new and expanded station will transform the precinct into a key gateway between the inner city and Brisbane’s northern suburbs.

“Travel to and from the four new underground Cross River Rail stations will be a matter of minutes, making access to one of Brisbane’s fastest growing inner-city suburbs easier than ever before.”

Ms Grace said local residents and other groups were invited to offer feedback on the station’s design.

“The new Exhibition station will provide easier and safer rail access for thousands of Queenslanders making their annual pilgrimage to the iconic EKKA and the numerous other events held at the RNA,” she said.

“It will be open all year round for the growing number of residents, workers and visitors, who will benefit from the kind of ‘turn up and go’ public transport that Cross River Rail is designed to make possible.

“The construction of Cross River Rail will revolutionise our city, cutting down on travel times, taking thousands of cars off our roads and making access to Brisbane’s fastest growing inner-city suburb easier than ever before.”

Ms Grace said only the Palaszczuk Government is committed to providing this vital piece of infrastructure to Brisbane.

“When they were in power under Campbell Newman the LNP scrapped Cross River Rail, we brought it back,” she said.

“And the Federal LNP refused to help fund the $5.4 billion project, so we funded it ourselves.

“This project will leave a lasting legacy on our great city and will make the lives of everyone who lives, works and plays in the inner city much easier.”

Features of the new Exhibition station will include:

- Three new connections linking the King Street Precinct to Bowen Park, including replacement of the existing RNA Cattle Underpass.

- A pedestrian and cyclist link connecting the station to Bowen Bridge Road

- New 165m long island platform and canopy

- Accessibility lifts and stairs to the platform

- New accessible toilets and parents’ room

- New secure bicycle storage facility

- New accessible ticketing gates.

Consultation is now open and closes on 7 February.

Information on consultation is available at: crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/exhibition, by email info@unityalliance.com.au or by phone 1800 010 875.

Media contact: Jack Harbour 0419 620 447