Brisbane Cross River Rail Explained - Roma Street, Albert Street, Woolloongabba & Boggo Road

[@tacitdionysus3220]

Magnificent and informative detail. Loved the 'painfully extracted' and 'RUOK' references.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it, and my sprinklings of humour!

[@mrdjgosling]

Still waiting for part 3. These videos are still great

[@TransportVlog]

Part 2 didn't do as well as expected, so I've delayed part 3 for the time-being. I will do it at some point this year, but more likely to be after the Sydney Metro City & Southwest extensions opens. My brother lives in Brisbane, so I will do this and other Brisbane content when I travel up to see him!

[@vivienfleming4723]

@@TransportVlog I think that both of the Cross River Rail videos were fabulous. I learnt so much. Hopefully the word about these two will spread and you'll have the encouragement for a third. Keep up this epic work!

[@angelaballard3929]

Excellent! So great to see the whole thing evolving in all those parts I used to frequent as a former Brissie urbanista dedicated to using PT/AT. Go Brisbane!!

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks! Yes it certainly is! Exciting times for Brisbane!

[@peterelvery]

A long video but well paced and informative throughout! And I am really looking forward to driving my Go Kart through the the Go Kart gates... what?... Oh, I see, it's Go Card!😄

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks Peter, glad you enjoyed it. It was originally going to be a shorter video, but I got a little carried away! I don't think the Go Card gates would like that!😂

[@electro_sykes]

The bus platforms are temporary. When the old Myer Centre gets refurbished between 2024 - 2026, Target will move from the basement into the former Myer space. This will see the old Target space be turned into a new coach station and an extension of the existing bus station, with a pedestrian corridor linking up to Albert Street station for Cross River Rail and the old bus tunnel between Queen st and King George square will become another pedestrian corridor that will link to Brisbane Metro at King George Square. This means that although the bus terminal won’t be in Roma Street, it will be better integrated with the CBD which is where most people need to go. Also part of the former Myer space on Ground level is being used for displaced Restaurants from Eagle Street such as the Bavarian, as well as millanos who were displaced from the Centre of Queen Street mall.

[@secretsauce811]

Thanks mate I live in qld too so this is helpful!

[@TransportVlog]

That's interesting! Good to see the old Myer centre being put to good use in the future, and great to hear that there will be a connection with Albert Street station too. I wonder if coaches will still stop at Roma Street on their way to this new terminal. I saw some Brisbane Metro hoardings in the CBD, so it seems like there is quite a lot of new construction involved with this project.

[@electro_sykes]

@@TransportVlog I think some Coaches may still head into Roma for connections to regional trains, but overtime more will go into Queen Street. In addition to Target moving into part of the former MYER space, means that the old Target space can be reused as coach platforms. In addition, Brisbane Metro will also see a reduction of local buses into the bus station, so those will also be included as part of the new coach station. In addition, they want to reconstruct the Queen Street mall to allow better access to the Queens Wharf and nearby Public Transport and Active Transport facilities.

[@LachieVidsTransportVlogs]

Stop making stuff up, there is nothing at all saying this anywhere. Target does not need a 4 level space

[@electro_sykes]

@@LachieVidsTransportVlogs they are only taking 2 - 3 of the levels, the other space will be turned into smaller shops & Dining

[@RGC198]

Hi Paul, great video. Are you currently up in Brisbane? If so, Phil is also up there. You may actually find him while traveling around there. Brisbane has changed completely since I was here with my dad back in august 1973. We actually stayed at the former Canberra Hotel, when we were in Brisbane. No electric trains running there when we were in Brisbane, only diesels. Also, the South Brisbane trains were separated from the Roma Street trains and a bus was needed to get from one area to the other. Anyway, take care. Rob in Melbourne Australia.

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Rob, I'm back in Sydney, but I was there at the same time as Phil, as I also saw Riverfire. It must have been so different back in 1973! It was before the Merivale railway Bridge too, which would explain the separation for trains at South Brisbane.

[@erissecabo2597]

Awesome, very detailed Paul. I would also be interested to hear about the Brisbane Metro

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Yes, I'll definitely cover Brisbane Metro when it opens, and if that's not next year, then I may do a video on it anyway.

[@Secretlyanothername]

As a recent Brisbanite I really enjoyed this. I didn't know the fact about the street names, and I do think that Brisbane has the potential to be the best-organised of Australia's transport systems. I think they could do a lot more to make use of transit with development around stations, and better connections (as Sydney has done so well).

[@TransportVlog]

Glad you enjoyed this video. Yes I learnt about the street names from a Brisbane local. Yes it has a pretty comprehensive public transport system, especially when you add in the busways too. I'm sure we'll start to see more development around stations over the next few years.

[@Chadtransportvlogs]

Excellent video I love Queensland

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks, me too. It’s an interesting state for sure!

[@RowBr0]

Slight clarification. The travel trains only go via the Exhibition loop when travelling inbound. When departing Roma Street, they go via Central (unless there is track work). Other than that slight nitpick, great vid!

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks for that! I did notice a loco hauled train at Bowen Hills going north on my December visit and that did confuse me a little!

[@PineappleSkip]

The remarkable exception journey is the outbound Westlander, which heads north from platform ten up the exhibition line before returning non stop through Roma Street heading west. Long before that the Westlander was the only train that left from platform three.

[@StevesTechAndTransit]

Great video Paul, super comprehensive as usual! Hope to see you around if you make it up again to film for part 3!

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks Steve, Glad you enjoyed it! Looking forward to doing part 3, and I hope it will be a little easier (and shorter) than part 2!

[@brettyallop6018]

Great Video once again Paul! New to seeing ads in your videos, but you deserve what you can get from providing great content! Loved your reference to signalling nerds! To be honest, we're all probably nerds here, LOL!

[@brettyallop6018]

I am sure Reece will love all your references to PSD!

[@TransportVlog]

Hi @brettyallop6018, Yes I'm sure he would!

[@TransportVlog]

Glad you enjoyed it @brettyallop6018. Yes the ads have been running for a while now, and the revenue from them certainly helps with funding trips to other cities. Yes, I think you're right there! It's good to be a nerd!

[@imhamish]

Thanks Paul, worth the wait! Really disappointing how little there appears to have been into ease of transfer. Even Roma Street could function better with direct access perhaps by an underground concourse beneath the existing platforms. However seeing as there appear to be huge issues relating to allocation of the extra capacity, this might be the least of concerns.

[@TransportVlog]

You're very welcome. Glad it was worth the wait! Both Roma Street and Boggo Road had better interchange facilities in the original plans, but unfortunately, these were scaled back to what we have now. I'll talk a bit about service patterns in part 3, but it does seem that some further work will be needed to get the full capacity out of Cross River Rail.

[@josephlownang6992]

Good video mate

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks 👍

[@MiltBrady]

another great job. thank you

[@TransportVlog]

You’re very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@ethans-dk4bk]

Your going to get 11K Subscribers Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

[@TransportVlog]

Yes, something to celebrate later today!

[@johncoyle777]

A very well made video, Paul! In my opinion, Brisbane has made a MAJOR error in not having guided buses that would be five sections instead of only three. Really only a simple double articulated electric bus. . . . . that tries to look like an LRT, with hidden wheels.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks John, glad you enjoyed it. Yes, the busway network capacity is limited by it not being guided. The only way to increase capacity beyond the 3 section "metro" vehicles is to have more buses, which means more drivers, so economies of scale are quite small.

[@johncoyle777]

@@TransportVlog Two things should have been done. ONE rebuild the bus way stations with much larger platforms. TWO have five section guided buses instead of the simple double articulated bus which Brisbane is now LOCKED INTO! No more drivers would be needed. These days guided bus systems are WAY in advance of the technology used on the Adelaide O-BAHN, for example. Why are double articulated buses NOT already in use in Adelaide? I saw double articulated DOUBLE DECK buses in Canada in 1980. You trad THAT right! For fun GOOGLE double articulated buses and see that there are a good number in use. Meanwhile in Brisbane they are HYPING UP that concept.

[@Shermos]

Looking forward to part three mate.

[@TransportVlog]

Yes, it will probably be in early 2024. Things have got a little exciting in Sydney, so I've had to put this one back a few months!

[@psbose1]

Brilliant!!! You've provided a much better information one is likely to find on official sites. In fact, there's very little one could find on the progress pf the Crossriver project. Thank you for all the time you must've put in.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks! Yes, the official sites tend to focus on short videos showing part os the project with occasional interviews and voiceovers with people involved on the project. So I attempted to pull this information into a logical order in this video. Yes it took a long time!

[@frankseymour4162]

Another brilliant video, good job.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks Frank, please do share this with your friends, as I'd love to see this video get some more views, and that will also motivate me to return and do part 3!

[@qnybucks]

very thorough. thanks for the hard work!

[@TransportVlog]

You're very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mackworsfold4087]

Great video. Very informative.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks!

[@juliedurlak]

Fantastic detail thanks heaps 😊

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks Julie, glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnathonme]

Awesome content!!! Thanks for the video

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks John!, Glad you enjoyed it.

[@PineappleSkip]

Well I highly enjoyed this, mush more so than the slick cross river rail hype videos. Look forward to part III. Come back soon!

[@TransportVlog]

You're very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it so much! Yes will do!

[@jasonmacklin8264]

Thanks Paul good information on Queensland Cross River rail .

[@TransportVlog]

You're very welcome Jason. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@nomadMik]

Queen Charlotte was my ex-girlfriend's cat. It's nice of them to have named a street after her in Brisbane, especially since she lived overseas, so wouldn't even be allowed to see it without a long quarantine.

[@TransportVlog]

How nice! 😀

[@ethans-dk4bk]

I think there was used to be an old railway to Woolloongabba which opened on the 2nd of June 1884 and Closed Progressively from 1960 to 1989. With the Cross Rail Construction, The Area of Woolloongabba will get Heavy Rail Again by 2026 for the Opening of Cross River Rail.

[@TransportVlog]

Yes that's right Ethan. It will be great to see Woolloongabba on the rail map again!

[@propagandacake]

good video

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks

[@jayfielding1333]

I really, really wish they'd rename Park Road Station to Boggo Road Station. It would save so much confusion. There's a prominent Park Road in Milton on the other side of the river, which causes confusion, and there is no association between the station's location and Park Road.

[@jayfielding1333]

Also: - Alice Street is named for Princess Alice, third child and second daughter of Queen Victoria. Princess Alice is Prince Phillip's great-grandmother. She had a daughter called Victoria, who had a daughter called Alice, who was Phillip's mother. - Charlotte Street is either named for Princess Charlotte, daughter of George IV (who was heir to the throne but died in childbirth as did her son), Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, or Princess Charlotte, their eldest daughter.

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Jay, yes I agree. The current name does't really make sense, with Park Road being a good couple of hundred metres away from the entrance. And thanks for the extra info on these royals!

[@becsterbrisbane6275]

This reminds me of how annoyed I was when they changed the name of Vulture St Station to Southbannk back in 2001, bloody annoying! I mean, Wouldn't you get off at South Brisbane station to go to Southbank? Never understood this change...

[@shieldzee1]

most of Queensland rail city trains where design to run 3, 6, 9 and 12 cars some city platforms are 9 cars long inc some south side river with park road having only platform setup for travel trains and interstate trains.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks for sharing that. It will be interesting to see how long the platforms will be at the new and rebuilt surface level stations.

[@davidjorgensen4026]

Paul, can you please do a Part 3 and some videos on the Brisbane Metro?

[@TransportVlog]

Hi David, yes, but probably now in early 2025 for CRR part 3. There's a lot happening in Sydney right now with the opening of the metro extension and Parramatta light rail. However, I am keen to do more Brisbane content next year.

[@simonclarke4574]

Great video.. loads of info on my old Town... ... No "#%$" King Albert either ! How funny .. Love it !

[@TransportVlog]

Glad you enjoyed it Simon! Hope it bought back some old memories as well as seeing the new stations!

[@angelaballard3929]

Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria

[@simonclarke4574]

Yes Victoria Queen , but Albert was a Prince..never a King. Just like Prince Philip to Queen Elizabeth... Cheers .. all good.@@angelaballard3929

[@electro_sykes]

Once complete, they will then build a new transit centre. Transit Centre gone, eagle street gone and the former Myer centre (now Uptown) soon to redeveloped and Queens wharf nearing completion, a lot is changing in Brisbane

[@TransportVlog]

Yes I was in the Myer centre, trying to find the Myer store! It's a shame Brisbane CBD has lost its Myers. Yes I noticed the Queen Wharf development too, and the new pedestrian bridges being built over the river which is great to see.

[@electro_sykes]

@@TransportVlog It left after refusing to give up half their floor space for triple the rent due to redevelopment plans. If I was MYER in that situation, I probably would do the same thing. They lost their anchor tenant, thats mostly their problem anyways.

[@electro_sykes]

@@TransportVlog On Ground level some Restaurants that were displaced from Eagle Street are going to move in as well as some restaurants that were kicked out of Queen St.

[@electro_sykes]

@@TransportVlog many are betting that MYER will move into Wintergarden or Queens Plaza, but there rival David Jones are already there. I am actually betting that MYER may move to a location probably within or near Queens Wharf. There were plans that the treasury Casino may become a Department store, so their is also speculation that MYER could move in there.

[@electro_sykes]

@@TransportVlog They were putting redevelopment on and off all the time and with MYER out, it gave Vicinity (who own the site) a good kick in the butt to start with the redevelopment of the site.

[@nperceived]

20:20 "Who the [bleep] is Queen Charlotte" - that made me laugh my arse off lol. Nice video otherwise.

[@TransportVlog]

Cool! Glad you enjoyed that bit! It was fun getting the beep in the right place!

[@PineappleSkip]

Haha Charlotte married George III. I think that earned her the title of Queen. IIRC Albert wasn’t a king but a prince consort. BTW I am not aware of a King Creek either!

[@MiltBrady]

You forgot Spirit of Outback & Westlander depart from Roma Street Station,

[@TransportVlog]

Yes, I'm aware of those trains. Hope to go on them in the future!

[@MiltBrady]

can't wait. I have done Spirit of Qld BNE -CNS. I would like to do from CNS-BNE some day.@@TransportVlog

[@becsterbrisbane6275]

@@MiltBrady Me too, done CNS- BNE during covid whilst on holiday, doing Longreach-Brisbane next year on the Outback!

[@gnhansen29]

Is there any chance of you doing a video about Auckland's underground railway?

[@TransportVlog]

Yes Auckland is definitely on the list. Possibly next year and definitely when it opens!

[@gnhansen29]

@@TransportVlog Could you make it a tax deductible trip? :)

[@RGC198]

I am wondering about Wooloongabba. Didn't it originally have trains? If so, what happened to the train line there? I remember seeing an old 1960's photo of Wooloongabba showing trams, buses and a steam train there. Also, are the Cross River trains driverless like the Metro in Sydney or have drivers like the rest of the Brisbane system?

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Rob, yes I think there was a railway line there originally. I found some information here - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wooloongabba_Branch_railway_line. Yes the trains will have drivers, as it integrates with the existing suburban railway lines (same with Melbourne Metro Tunnel and Elizabeth line in London too).

[@RGC198]

From memory, there was an area in Wooloongabba, where trams, steam trains and even trolley buses could all be seen together. It certainly must have been an amazing place back in those days.

[@liamthompson9342]

There's trains there now. Park Road and Dutton Park stations are both on the boundary of woolly.

[@_Andrew2002]

Trains will be completely autonomous once they enter the tunnel but there will still be drivers in control of it. They've also been clever not to use the word driverless when naming the system to keep the unions happy.

[@nathanmurray]

Yes, there was a (mainly) goods rail line and yard in Woolloongabba, on the very site where the Cross River Rail station is being built. It came off the main line just north of Dutton Park and followed Dibley Street up to Ipswich Road, which it then crossed just south of Wilton Street. It then ran up towards the Gabba as far as Logan Road, then turned left along the top of what is today Jurgens Street, ran along Stanley Street and crossed right through the middle of the Gabba Fiveways to the yard. Past the yard, the line continued up towards the river to the old Coal Wharves (today beneath the Captain Cook Bridge), skirted around the South Brisbane Dry Dock (now the Maritime Museum) and into the old South Brisbane Wharves. Despite being relatively close to the main line with South Bank (then Vulture Street) and South Brisbane Stations, the wharves line didn't connect to it.

[@paulburgess-qr9rx]

Great video as usual Paul but as an aside do you have any information on when the charmers street section of central walk will open

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks Paul, I haven't been to Central station for a couple of weeks now. Last time I was there, they were starting to build the replacement air-con unit on top of the Chalmers Street entrance building. I'll definitely be there at some point this week, so I may be able to give you some further information then.

[@TransportVlog]

Hi @paulburgess-qr9rx, I had a look today and scaffolding has gone up on the Randal Lane side, probably to assist with replacing parts of the brickwork that were damaged. So I think its still a couple of months away from opening. I'll include it in one of my other Sydney Metro updates that I'm planning to do over the next few weeks.

[@dezzaofoz]

I hope the refurbished platforms have escalators for both up and down instead of stairs!! At roma St. Hope Central gets a refurbished as well. Will these new stations been closed at night?

[@TransportVlog]

Yes up and down escalators at Roma Street would be much better, but I'm not sure that this will happen with this upgrade. I hope I'm proved wrong! I don't think Cross River Rail will be 24 hour, so yes they will close at night for a few hours.

[@angelaballard3929]

I'm a bit confused re Roma St busway. Will buses/metro still arrive there from the city and southern busway stations?

[@TransportVlog]

I'm not aware of any changes to busway services to Roma Street as a result of this work. Brisbane Metro may result in some changes. .

[@ethans-dk4bk]

With Gold Coast and Beenleigh Lines going through the Cross River Rail Tunnels. How will the Beenleigh Line get to Ferny Grove Via Roma Street?

[@TransportVlog]

Hi Ethan, it won't! the service pattern will change, so that Cleveland trains to go Ferny Grove via Central and Bowens Hill - More details here - www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/blueprint-revealed-passengers-must-change-lines-for-cross-river-rail-20220801-p5b6cg.html

[@becsterbrisbane6275]

I think Charlotte was that Queen in Bridgerton.......

[@TransportVlog]

Yes quite possibly!

[@ethans-dk4bk]

Is it Stanley Street

[@nomadMik]

So you've covered three states now. Any plans to do one about the new underground line in Auckland?

[@TransportVlog]

Yes it's on my list. Possibly next year and definitely when it opens. Except for Cross River Rail Part 3, I'm going to focus on Sydney videos for the rest of this year.

[@nomadMik]

@@TransportVlog That's fantastic. I'm really looking forward to more of your videos. Thanks for what you do.

[@uzaiyaro]

So why is there a station at Boggo Rd? Why not use Park Rd? I’m guessing alignment of the tracks?

[@TransportVlog]

There wouldn't have been space for the tunnel portal at Park Road, and by having the tracks underground, you effectively have a grade separated junction, with the Cross River Rail Tracks going under Park Road Station. And its important to have a station there for interchanges with Boggo Road busway station and existing train services at Park Road station.

[@uzaiyaro]

@@TransportVlog Thank you for getting back to me! I really appreciate the extra info, thanks.

[@Gamer-zz7iq]

Now cover Aucklands city rail link

[@TransportVlog]

Its on the list. Once the Sydney Metro City & Southwest extension opens, I'll have more time to go to other cities and countries!

[@user-cd5gs8xs4u]

charlotte was king George III's wife and alice was prince alberts mother

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks for that!

[@piperaone]

So, what happens when when the power goes out and the infrastructure stops.

[@TransportVlog]

They'll be back-up systems that will take over.

[@jaydeebulje4493]

Let's not forget to include and acknowledge the traditional country on which this project is built on, thanks

[@TransportVlog]

Yes I’m going to start doing this at the end of videos going forward. I tried it out on my Waterloo video.

[@paulwilliams5208]

it been QUEENsland there is abit drag QUEENness logic as "Alice st" (Alice of Albany 1883 1981) - "Charlotte st" (3rd in-line) (don't ask bunch of idiots here)

[@johnlang4198]

Queen Charlotte and Queen Alice were both Queen Consort. I'm sure that in a few generations time, most people will wonder who the (bleep) Queen Camilla is/was.

[@TransportVlog]

Thanks for that, this will explain why I didn't remember them! I wonder if Queen Camilla will have a road named after her!

[@mrhominoid4312]

How did you get to Brisbane last i knew you lived Sydney,plane or train ticket?you're on the move making the $$ .dont blow it on fancy food roma st $8.50 for a pie😢😢😢😅😅😅

[@TransportVlog]

I usually fly up there and try and get the $99 tickets on Rex. My brother lives in Brisbane, so I'm normally visit once or twice a year. Yes the food around Roma Street is a little basic! - My favourite spot for lunch is a cafe outside the Ecosciences Building at Boggo Road.