Tag: Queensland Rail

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.

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

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.

Read: Early Works Begin on Morningside Station Accessibility Upgrade

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  

Photo credit: Queensland Rail

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  

Photo credit: Queensland Rail

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.

Read: Panthers vs Magpies: Morningside Dominates Reunion Round

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.

Read: Meet the Future Superstars from Kimberley Woodger Dance Academy

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).

Photo credit: Queensland Rail/Vimeo

“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