Queensland Rail 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

Queensland Rail Shows Footage Of Near Misses In New Safety Campaign

The viral video of a young woman walking across the path of a train in Murarrie Station back in May 2022 was among the footage shown by Queensland Rail as part of its new safety campaign.

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

The young woman almost faced death as she walked across the path to hand something to a man who was on the other side of a platform. This incident, captured by CCTV, contributes to the rising cases of railway trespassing incidents in the State, which led Queensland Rail to release the footage.

The new safety campaign called A Hole Lot Of Regret, targets all trespassers, but particularly teenagers.

Video screenshot of railway trespassing incident in Murarrie Station (Photo credit: Queensland Rail/Vimeo)

Queensland Rail Senior Manager Security and Emergency Preparedness Drew Brock revealed that the common motives for trespassing include taking short-cuts across railway tracks and between station platforms as well anti-social behaviour such as vandalism.

Mr Brock said there were nearly three thousand trespassing incidents (2913) on the Queensland Rail network in the last financial year (2021/2022).

“Our message is clear: Stay off the tracks! Trespassing is not worth risking your life,” Mr Brock said in a media statement.

“The number of people who trespass on the network is extremely concerning and has increased from last year, which is why Queensland Rail is urging customers to keep safety at the forefront of their minds.”

Mr Brock revealed that in the last financial year, trespassing incidents resulted in 3,006 delays to their train services in South East Queensland.

Captured in Altandi station (Photo credit: Queensland Rail/Vimeo)

Trains on the network can travel at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour, can take up to two kilometres to stop, and can’t swerve to avoid cars or people.

“Please think not only about yourself but about the impact your behaviour is having on others who need to get to work, school and appointments on time,” he said.

Read: Morningside Train Station Final Design Out Soon

Queensland Rail hoped the campaign would serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of the unsafe behaviour, which not only puts lives at risk but causes thousands of delays to train passengers each year.

Morningside Train Station Final Design Out Soon

After giving the public a first look at the proposed upgrades to the Morningside train station, Queensland Rail is getting ready to release the final design of the project in mid-2022.

Read: FareShare in Morningside Get on With Queensland Organics Strategy and Action Plan

Delivered as part of the Station Accessibility Upgrade Program, the project focuses on upgrading station infrastructure to provide easier access to the public transport system.

Station accessibility upgrades include accessible station entrances and pathways to the assisted boarding points, platform raising works, upgraded accessible parking and essential station and customer facilities such as accessible toilets.

morningside train — Station view from platform 1 (Photo credit: Queensland Rail)

These upgrades will significantly improve access for all customers, particularly people with disabilities, older people, people travelling with prams or luggage, and people recovering from injury.

Accessibility upgrades typically feature a range of improvements, including:

a new pedestrian footbridge with lift access
full-length raised platforms and extended platform shelters
upgraded hearing loops and tactile platform surfaces
upgraded security cameras and lighting throughout the station
new wayfinding and platform signage.

morningside station — View from Waminda Street (Photo credit: Queensland Rail)

For the Station Accessibility Upgrade Program, The Queensland Government is investing more than $500 million to upgrade stations across the South East Queensland network.

Upgrades for the Morningside train station are expected to be completed by 2024.

About the Morningside Train Station

The Morningside station is part of the Cleveland line. It is located between Waminda Street on the eastern side, Jack Flynn Drive on the south-western side and Wynnum Road on the north-western side of the station.

The station has two platforms which are connected by a bridge access via stairs and a series of steep ramps. There is a commuter car park off Waminda Street with accessible parking and bike storage available. There are bus stops slightly north of the station entrance on Wynnum Road.

Expanded Murarrie Station Park ‘n’ Ride Now Open

The State Government has announced the completion of the $5.8-million Murarrie Station Park ‘n’ Ride expansion, providing an additional 132 car parking spaces.

“Our numbers show more people are using Murarrie Station, so this upgrade will be welcomed by our community and the commuters who travel here to catch the train,” Member for Bulimba Di Farmer said.

Between July 2018 and April 2019, the number of passengers at Murarrie Station reached almost 143,000 which is an increase of about five percent compared to the same period in the previous year.

“Now with an additional 132 parking bays, commuters have access to more parking, as well as benefitting from improved lighting and more security cameras to improve customer safety,” Ms Farmer said.

“About 18 jobs were supported by this project and I thank the community for their patience while we got the job done.” she said.

The project was completed in two stages. Stage 1 involved the southern side of the car park which was completed in February 2018 whilst Stage 2 involved the northern side of the car park and was completed in June 2019.

The Murarrie Station Park ‘n’ Ride upgrade was in addition to the State Government’s $114-million commitment to expand capacity at nine other park n’ rides across SEQ which equates to an additional 2,300 parking spaces over the next five years.

One of the next train southside stations in line for an upgrade is Cannon Hill Station, Ms Farmer announced, which will involve upgrades to the overpass and security improvements apart from expanding the current 168 capacity.

“That upgrade will focus on improving accessibility station, including lift access, raised platforms, hearing loops and other features for people with a disability.

“Tenders for construction have been called to build 80 more spaces at the park n ride there and we’re on track to award the contract for those works next month,” Ms Farmer said.