Morningside station Archives - Morningside News

Commuters Return to Morningside Station Following Months of Closure

Train services at the Morningside Station have resumed following nearly a year-long closure for significant accessibility upgrades, with some access challenges still in place for commuters.

A Year of Improvements and Delays

The station resumed operations before the New Year’s Eve 2025 celebrations, as part of the Station Accessibility Upgrade Program. Despite the reopening, work on additional features and finishing touches will continue into early 2025.

The reopening aims to provide long-term benefits by improving accessibility, ensuring that all passengers can travel more safely and without barriers.

Morningside Station commuters return — *Photo Credit: East Bug Inc/Facebook*

Construction, which started in late January 2024, was impacted by significant rainfall, with South East Queensland experiencing its wettest December in nearly 15 years.

This also delayed the reopening of Banyo Station, which is now expected to be operational in early 2025. Meanwhile, Buranda Station is scheduled to reopen mid-year.

Community Adjustments and Challenges

While Morningside Station has reopened, access remains challenging, particularly from Wynnum Road. Commuters using this entrance face lengthy detours, either over an old overpass or via Jack Flynn Memorial Drive, which involves navigating high-speed traffic and uneven footpaths.

Cyclists from East Bug Inc. have expressed concern over the inconvenience, citing the difficulty of carrying bikes across these routes and the absence of a secure bike storage facility at the station.

Morningside Station accessibility upgrades — *Photo Credit: East Bug Inc/Facebook*

They recommended that bike users allow extra time for their journey and use the rear carriage for inbound trains, as it is closest to the station entrance. However, they noted this area often becomes crowded as it is popular among other passengers for the same reason.

More Improvements Underway

Morningside Station is set to receive additional improvements, including a bicycle storage cage, which will address some of the current concerns of the cycling community. The accessibility upgrades are part of a broader effort to modernise the network, ensuring stations are equipped to serve the needs of all passengers.

Published 10-Jan-2025

Morningside Station Reopening Just in Time for New Year’s Eve

Morningside station is set to reopen on 31 December, just in time for New Year’s Eve celebrations. After 11 months of closure, the station returns with a host of modernized features, aimed at enhancing accessibility, safety, and convenience for all commuters.

Read: Early Works Begin on Morningside Station Accessibility Upgrade

Key features of the upgraded Morningside station include:

– A new footbridge with lift access, improving accessibility for all passengers

– Improved accessible parking, including additional spaces to meet growing demand

– Full-length high-level platforms, making boarding and disembarking easier

– Upgraded hearing augmentation loops and tactile ground surface indicators to support commuters with disabilities

– Enhanced security cameras and lighting to increase safety

– New wayfinding and platform signage for better navigation

– Upgraded station office and facilities to improve customer service

Although trains will resume stopping at Morningside, some finishing touches, including the completion of lifts, landscaping, and civil works, will continue into early next year.

Queensland Rail highlighted the significance of reopening for the local community:

“We’ve listened to our customers, who told us they’ve been looking forward to the stations reopening so they can catch the train again from their local. While trains will be stopping at the stations soon, construction on additional upgrade features and finishing touches will continue into early next year.”

Lindum and Banyo Stations Updates

While Morningside prepares to reopen, Lindum station will also welcome commuters back ahead of Christmas on 23 December. This will provide much-needed relief for locals, especially with traffic congestion caused by construction in the area.

On the other hand, Banyo station’s reopening has been delayed to early 2025 due to challenging site conditions and the impact of heavy rainfall. Southeast Queensland has recorded its wettest December in nearly 15 years, significantly affecting construction timelines.

Community Reactions

The reopening of Morningside station has been met with relief and enthusiasm on social media. Some commuters voiced concerns about parking, with Queensland Rail confirming that over 50 car parks will be available from opening day, with more spaces to be added in the coming months.

Read: Queensland Rail Shows Footage Of Near Misses In New Safety Campaign

The reopening of Morningside station signals a step forward for local commuters, providing a modern, accessible, and safer transit hub as the community looks ahead to celebrating the festive season and the new year.

Published 23-December-2024

Queensland Rail Opens Photography Competition for Morningside Station Display

Photo Credit: Queensland Rail

Morningside, it’s time to dust off your cameras and capture the essence of our vibrant suburb! Queensland Rail has launched an exciting photography competition that could see your work prominently displayed at Morningside station.

Queensland Rail CEO Kat Stapleton announced the competition’s opening on Monday, June 10, inviting photographers of all skill levels to participate.

“Whether capturing the hustle and bustle of daily commutes, the serenity of stations at dawn, or simply the kaleidoscope of the community, we want you to unleash your imaginations,” Ms Stapleton said, encouraging entrants to frame the unique aspects of our local community.

This contest is an opportunity to leave a lasting mark on our neighbourhood. The winning image will be transformed into a larger-than-life display on the exterior of Morningside station, which is currently undergoing significant accessibility upgrades.

“The station accessibility upgrades at Morningside will make catching the train easier for all members of our community, so it’s right that the community have a chance to be a part of the transformation,” Ms Stapleton explained.

Aspiring photographers should note that submissions must be in black and white monochrome. The competition is now open and will close on Sunday, June 23, 2024. A panel of judges will select the winning entry.

This initiative follows the success of a similar project at East Ipswich station in 2021, where the winning photograph, “Early Morning Walk,” now graces Merton Street.

For Morningside residents, this is a unique chance to capture the soul of our suburb — from the early morning rush at the station to the quiet charm of our local streets. Your vision could become a daily inspiration for commuters and a point of pride for our community.

For more information on submission guidelines and how to enter the photography competition, visit the Queensland Rail website. Don’t miss this opportunity to put Morningside in the frame!

More information on the Station Accessibility Upgrade Program can be found here.

Published 10-June-2024

Early Works Begin on Morningside Station Accessibility Upgrade

Early works have begun on accessibility upgrades at the Morningside station, one of the most utilised stations on the Cleveland line.

Read: Queensland Rail Shows Footage Of Near Misses In New Safety Campaign

The upgrades, which are also being rolled out at the Lindum, Buranda, and Banyo stations, are part of the Station Accessibility Upgrade Program, will include raising the station platforms to reduce the gap between trains and platforms, making boarding easier and safer.

Lifts will also be installed to allow wheelchair users, people with prams and those with luggage to access station overpasses and platforms more easily.

Other improvements will include upgraded accessible facilities like toilets, ticket windows and seating areas. New tactile flooring, signage, information screens and enhanced lighting and CCTV security will also be added.

Member for Bulimba, Di Farmer said the Morningside station is one of the most utilised on the Cleveland line, and the accessibility upgrade will make a big difference in encouraging more people to use public transport.

“Public transport is just so important and I know there has been a lot of excitement because of the upgrade plans.

“This is a terrific investment which I think when completed, will encourage more people in and around Morningside to consider public transport.”

Closure of Stations

To enable the upgrades to be completed as quickly as possible, the stations will be required to close starting from January next year.

Alternative transport options will be made available while the stations are closed. The stations are expected to reopen throughout the second half of 2024, except for Buranda which is scheduled for completion in 2025.

Locals’ Feedback

Queensland Rail is seeking feedback from customers to help design alternative transport options during the closures.

Queensland Rail Head of SEQ Scott Riedel said they want to hear directly from those customers who will be affected by these closures so they can work out how best they can support them whilst the upgrade is progressing from January next year.

“This feedback will be used to ensure there is appropriate alternative transport in place and help us prepare for any extra patronage at surrounding stations,” said Mr Riedel.

We understand this will change the way customers travel for a period of time, but we’re committed to making our rail network accessible for everyone in the long-term.

“Once reopened, the upgraded stations will ensure everyone can catch the train with ease, whether they are using a wheelchair, are injured, or simply travelling with a pram or luggage.

Read: Morningside Will Soon Have ‘Separated Bike Lanes’

Customers can provide feedback on the closures and accessibility upgrades via a Queensland Rail survey.

Published 13-September-2023