Tag: Cannon Hill Station

Now Complete! Cannon Hill Station Accessibility Upgrades to Deliver Safer and Faster Service

The multi-million accessibility upgrade at the Cannon Hill Station has been completed, delivering a safer and faster service for the eastern Brisbane community.

Read: Morningside Train Station Final Design Out Soon

The improvements include better platforms accessible by paths, ramps and lifts, which will provide more convenience for train customers using mobility aids, seniors and customers with prams or luggage.

“The upgrade works have delivered a new pedestrian footbridge with lift access, as well as raised platform sections for improved access at the assisted boarding points, extended platform shelters, upgraded hearing augmentation loops and new tactile ground surface indicators to assist people with hearing and vision impairments,” Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said. 

“There’s also a new secure bicycle enclosure to support active transport, upgraded station entrances and ticket window modifications, as well as improved security cameras and lighting, new wayfinding and platform signage around the assisted boarding points.”

More than $500 million was set aside for the Station Accessibility Upgrade Program of the State Government, which also saw the opening of 250 jobs during the construction phase. 

Read: New Pedestrian Footbridge at Cannon Hill Station Laid Down

Member for Bulimba Di Farmer said that the Morningside Station will soon get its upgrade as well. But Cannon Hill Station’s original timber station ticket office, which has been converted into a public toilet, will also be refurbished. Work on this project will start in late 2022.

“Accessibility for all is important, especially on our public transport network as we look towards the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Ms Farmer said. 

New Pedestrian Footbridge at Cannon Hill Station Laid Down

Accessibility improvements at the Cannon Hill station have been moving forward with the addition of a brand new pedestrian footbridge, which will make it easier for older commuters and people with disabilities. 

On 20 March 2021, Member for Bulimba Di Farmer and Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey were on-site as a 500-tonne crane, acquired all the way from Sydney, lifted the 35 metre overpass and setting it in place.

Read: Brisbane Cemeteries, Including Morningside, Overloaded With Hundreds of Applications

Ms Farmer shared the milestone on Facebook and thanked Mr Bailey for lobbying for the funding of this upgrade.

In 2020, Ms Farmer said relayed the story of an elderly woman who found it challenging to use the facilities at the Cannon Hill station to visit her sister. 

“Some days when she would go to get on the train at Cannon Hill station, the gap between the platform and the train would be so great that she just couldn’t manage it.  So she would have to just go back home and miss the visit,” Ms Farmer said. 

“Well, once we finish our big upgrade at Cannon Hill station, it will be accessible for everyone, but especially for the elderly, for people with small children and prams, and for people with disabilities. And it won’t be just about platforms.” 

Photo Credit: Di Farmer/Facebook

The facility is one of 17 stations in east Brisbane that will benefit from the overhauls and revamps under the State Government’s half-a-billion-dollar station accessibility program. Also up for improvements are the stations in Dakabin, Auchenflower, East Ipswich, Fairfield and Yeronga, whilst suburbs like Yeerongpilly, Moorooka, Rocklea, Salisbury, Banyo, Bundamba, Burpengary, Wooloowin, Lindum and Morningside are the next ones in line. 

Read: Quality of Life Upgrades Scheduled for Morningside’s Keralgerie Park

“What we’ve seen during COVID is more people moving to Queensland because of the way we continue to manage the health response, and it’s vital from a public transport perspective that the accessibility is there to accommodate our diverse and growing population,” Mr Bailey said.

“Importantly, we also want the jobs in fields like construction there for people who want work and are choosing Queensland as the place to be.”

Ms Farmer also said that this project has opened 250 created jobs for tradies, which has been a big boost to the suburb’s economic recovery. 

Cannon Hill stations’ upgrade is expected to be finished by early 2022. 

“To date, the station’s new 35 metre footbridge is the longest footbridge installed as part of the program,” Ms Farmer said. “Following the bridge’s lift-in, fit-out works will commence ahead of its opening with lift installation works to follow.”