The underground station at the centre of what will become Queensland’s most significant transport interchange is becoming a reality, with progress underway at Cross River Rail’s Roma Street station site.
Six of the eight escalators along the station’s underground platform have been installed, while four of the 20 escalators that passengers will use to travel to surface level are also in place.
Various architectural finishes are also now visible, including panels for the station’s permanent walls and final touches to the baffle ceilings, which will help absorb sound in the massive underground space.
More than 46,000 people are expected to use the new Roma Street station each weekday by 2036.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish said that Roma Street is looking less like a construction site and more like a train station every day.
“The rate of progress is incredible, and the works give you a real sense of the sheer size and scale of the finished station,” he said.
“Roma Street is set to become our state’s most significant transport interchange and will provide a vital link for commuters during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“With Suncorp Stadium set to host the opening and closing ceremonies and the state-of-the-art Brisbane Arena to be constructed only a short walk away, Roma Street will bring significant benefits to how commuters travel during the Games and for many years to come.
“It will be the main Cross River Rail station connecting to surface bus and rail networks, meaning that for many people it will be how they switch to trains travelling through the new tunnels beneath the Brisbane River and CBD.”
The combined work underway across the mega-site provides the best sense yet of not only just how expansive the new underground stations are but also the journey passengers will take as they descend almost 30 metres below ground to board their train.
The transformation from construction site to train station will continue over coming months as the final escalators are installed in the station box, artwork is set in place and the station canopy is erected, soaring a massive 23 metres above street level.
Minister for State Development and Infrastructure and Member for McConnel Grace Grace said it is great to see the brand new underground station well on track to be complete.
“There is no denying the significant impact this piece of infrastructure will bring, not only to residents of Brisbane, but to Queenslanders and visitors alike,” she said.
“I have lived in central Brisbane all my life and cannot wait to see how this project will transform the city, for the better.”
Once complete, the addition of the new high-capacity underground station and the new station entrance to the existing local, regional and interstate rail connections, bus platforms and coach terminal will see Roma Street reborn as not only Queensland’s most significant public transport interchange but also an iconic gateway to Brisbane.
Roma Street progress fast facts:
There will be 28 escalators installed in the Roma Street underground station, including eight in the station cavern and 20 in the station box.
The eight cavern escalators are almost 20 metres long and weigh more than 18 tonnes each.
The 20 station box escalators are various sizes up to almost 27 metres in length and weigh more than 26 tonnes.
Several other permanent features have started to be installed including the first few of about 950 wall panels and baffle ceilings.
The station canopy will consist of 16 20-metre high pillars and 110 glass panels, each 1.2 metres by 2.5 metres.
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