Cross River Rail’s new underground stations have reached a major milestone at the project’s Woolloongabba site, where the first of almost 100 escalators have been installed.
The two escalators in the Woolloongabba station cavern are the first of 95 escalators that will progressively arrive to be installed in Cross River Rail’s underground stations, including Woolloongabba (24 escalators in total), Albert Street (29), Roma Street (28) and Boggo Road (14).
The installation of the escalators, which are each 12m long and weigh 17.5t, heralds the next phase of construction as the project moves from excavation and bulk civil works to the mechanical and electrical fit out of the stations themselves.
The escalators being installed in the station cavern will take passengers to and from the train platform and station concourse, while even bigger escalators – each 21m long and weighing about 26t – that will take passengers from the surface down into the underground stations are still to come.
Each underground station will also include elevators, which will assist passengers with accessibility needs.
Meanwhile, the future Woolloongabba station itself is progressing well, with 113 of 181 concrete beams now installed for the mezzanine – the level that sits above the platform level.
The platforms themselves are also taking shape, with about 198m of the station’s 220m long platform completed so far.
Queensland Acting Premier, Steven Miles, said that the installation of the first escalators on this transformational project at Woolloongabba is a significant milestone.
“Combined with the progress of the station itself, including the mezzanine and platform levels, you can now really start to picture what these underground stations will look like and the benefits they will bring,” Mr Miles said.
“The Woolloongabba Cross River Rail station, along with Brisbane Metro and the Gabba redevelopment, will sit at the centre of a major urban renewal precinct with more housing, dining and retail options.
“Queenslanders will be able to get off the train and walk or scooter from the Gabba to South Bank and back to the City – the whole area will be revitalised just like Expo 88 transformed South Bank.”
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey, said that Cross River Rail will mean stations in more convenient locations, the capacity to increase train services as the population grows, and more viable public transport options for the whole region.
“When it comes to these escalators themselves, they are the same ones that will be used by people from all around the world for events for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Mr Bailey said.
“Just as exciting are the benefits that Cross River Rail is bringing to our economy now, with a new wave of tradies coming on board as the project moves into the mechanical and electrical fit out.
“Workers such as lift and escalator installers, riggers and electricians are now helping to build this transformational project, as it injects about $2.3 million a day into the state’s economy.
“Cross River Rail will not only transform the way we travel in the future – it’s delivering real benefits now.”
