Central Station

[Jonno]

No removal of the ugly and unsafe car park/blank walls on the Valley end nor use of the remaining open air section on that same end. Lost opportunity to open the area right up. The fact a car park was built on top of our Central Station in the first place was "car-centric" planning at its best.  Get rid of it.  Plenty of hotel around the world use private car parking nearby...successfully.

[SurfRail]

The car park is heritage listed IIRC.

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2016/9/5/brisbanes-busiest-train-station-on-track-for-more-than-67-million-makeover

Media Statements
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Grace Grace

Monday, September 05, 2016

Brisbane's busiest train station on track for more than $67 million makeover

Brisbane's flagship station is set to be transformed with a three-year program of works worth more than $67 million set to start this month to upgrade Central Station.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the upgrade would support 750 jobs and revitalise the historic station which was first built in 1889.

"Central station is a gateway to the Brisbane CBD with up to 140,000 passengers travelling through the station every day, but the major transport hub hasn't undergone a large-scale renovation since the 1990s," the Premier said.

"The new-look will honour the iconic station's heritage features, but also ensure the station keeps pace with design changes and delivers modern facilities for passengers.

"This $67 million investment will support 750 construction jobs in our CBD across a range of professions including engineering, electrical, rigging, carpentry, concreting and finishing trades."

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said an innovative virtual reality render created by pdt. architects would give the community a chance to inspect the Central Station makeover and get a feel for the new design, three years before the upgrade is complete.

"Using virtual reality technology the community can get a first look at the design, experience 360 degree views inside the new-look Central Station and get a glimpse of how the lighter, brighter and more modern station will transform our CBD," he said.

Mr Hinchliffe said the Central station upgrade would include a new roof and an overhaul of the platforms, as well as new lifts and escalators.

"This upgrade will deliver a fresh new look, and make it easier for passengers to access and move around the station – one of the city's most critical interchanges – with improvements including less cluttered and more accessible platforms, new information displays and lighting, " Mr Hinchliffe said.

"The most striking feature of the new-look station will be a new, raised roof which will extend over the Edward Street end of the concourse, with a glass façade that will transform the station and inject the space with more light.

"In addition to these works, planning is underway for further improvements, including a proposal for an additional escalator from the concourse to ANZAC Square, to reduce congestion during peak periods.

"All the platforms will be modernised with new floor, wall and roof coverings, passenger information displays, CCTV and lighting. We will also raise platforms 1-4 to allow level-entry boarding, which will make it easier for passengers in wheelchairs, parents with prams and those traveling with luggage to access trains.

"The Central station upgrade is part of the Palaszczuk Government's plan to cater for growth and build the railway service we need for the future."

Member for Brisbane Central Grace Grace said every effort would be made to minimise disruption to commuters while the upgrade was underway.

"Central is a critical station in Brisbane's rail network and it will remain open throughout the project, so work will be staged and planned to ensure the station can continue to function," Ms Grace said.

"Importantly for commuters, peak timetables will be maintained and other services will remain as close to normal as possible.

"To minimise disruption to passengers, most works will be completed during scheduled closures at night and on weekends, and Queensland Rail will work closely with its valued tenants and stakeholders around the station, to ensure the impact of the project is managed effectively."

The Central station upgrade will commence this month, beginning with work on Queensland Rail's 'back of house' facilities including offices, communications rooms and first aid areas where many rail staff work tirelessly to ensure customers enjoy a safe, comfortable journey.

Work will commence on the lifts, escalators and platform upgrades in early 2017.

To inspect pdt.architects' virtual reality render of parts of the Central Station upgrade visit: http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/centralupgrade (external site)

[#Metro]

Would have been good if they included platform screen doors.

[Gazza]

I think in our media comments on this we should praise the fact the platforms have been raised, but point out that the money being spent on the new canopy is a bit unfair on people whose stations still have basic facilities and no lifts (Including some stations next to hospitals!)

Gotta keep em to account.

[kram0]

Great news, my source was spot on with the information he provided. Long overdue and welcomed especially as it will likely be 10 years before the new cross river rail stations open for business.

[Golliwog]

No removal of the ugly and unsafe car park/blank walls on the Valley end nor use of the remaining open air section on that same end. Lost opportunity to open the area right up. The fact a car park was built on top of our Central Station in the first place was "car-centric" planning at its best.  Get rid of it.  Plenty of hotel around the world use private car parking nearby...successfully.

It does say there is extended cover on platforms 2/3 and 3/4 (assume typo for 1/2). Not clear what exactly that means but could well be building over the top there to some extent. From the sounds of it, they are very early days in the design process.

[tazzer9]

The only reason we need such expensive and flashy new looking stations is because with our massive lack of train services, especially on weekends people spend a large amount of time sitting around on the platforms at central. 

[Golliwog]

The only reason we need such expensive and flashy new looking stations is because with our massive lack of train services, especially on weekends people spend a large amount of time sitting around on the platforms at central.

I think the new look is just a side benefit. The real benefit (and it irritates me that they aren't selling it using this because it leaves it open to political 'gold plating' arguments) is that carriage level platforms at such a busy station should help speed up loading and unloading - not just less waiting for wheelchair ramps, but people walk slower when they're stepping up/down as opposed to straight out. This combined with the signalling upgrade that is also occuring should help them sweat the existing network to maximize the capacity on the critical CBD section.

[nathandavid88]

I travelled through Central Station over the weekend, and it looks like the station's makeover work is finally starting to becoming more visible. There are a couple of boarded up areas at concourse level (that little area I think is an office near the escalators to Platforms 5 & 6, opposite the toilets is one), while platforms 1-4 were closed on Saturday (and possibly Sunday too), with workers on site installing new exposed, ceiling-mounted cable trays above the platforms.

[SurfRail]

^ The PIDs have also been replaced over the last few weeks.  The ones on P2 don't render properly and look weird for some reason.

[ozbob]

For interest ..

https://twitter.com/QSArchives/status/898348914683764736

[kram0]

I was at Central station this morning and spoke to one of the platform attendants about when they are starting the next stages of the upgrade, in particular the platform raising. His words were it has been put on hold indefinitely. Might be worth asking the government about this one Ozbob just to see if this is in fact the case.

[ozbob]

I was at Central station his morning and spoke to one of the platform attendants about when they are starting the next stages of the upgrade, in particular the platform raising. His words were it has been put on hold indefinitely. Might be worth asking the government about this one Ozbob just to see if this is in fact the case.

Thanks!  Last update was Feb 2017!!   

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/996574634387488768

[ozbob]

For reference:

5th September 2016 Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane Central Station set for $67m facelift

Brisbane's Central train station is set for a $67 million overhaul, with a new roof for the concourse and four platforms to be risen to improve disabled access.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the project would employ 750 people for its three-year duration.

"The station needs the upgrade," she said.

"This station has existed since the late 1880s and what we need is to bring it into the modern, 21st century."

The station, built in 1889, would retain its heritage features, Ms Palaszczuk said.

Designed by Fortitude Valley-based PDT Architects, the upgrade would include a raised roof over the Edward Street end of the concourse, a new glass façade and an extra escalator for access to and from Anzac Square.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said commuters could expect disruption during construction.

"Of course when you have a station which services some 140,000 people daily and you do an upgrade like this, there will be some disruptions to people's experience.

"They're not going to occur immediately."

Mr Hinchliffe said work would begin later this month, involving some "back-of-house things" that would improve facilities for Queensland Rail staff.

Commuters would start to notice the work in early 2017, Mr Hinchliffe said.

"The main disruption will really be the potential likelihood for passengers to have to board and alight from their trains at different platforms to the ones they're used to on their regular services.

"So we'll minimise that disruption as much as possible, but make sure that when that does occur people get full information about the changes that will affect them."

The key aspect of the upgrade, Mr Hinchliffe said, was the rising of platforms one to four.

"The majority of platform here at Brisbane's Central Station don't allow for simple and easy roll-on and roll-off access for people with mobility concerns," he said.

"We want to make sure that we bring all of the platforms, not just platforms five and six that were added in the 1990s when the last upgrade happened, up to that standard that people expect and have as part of their passenger experience."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/JonathanLea10/status/772613760439549952

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2016/9/5/brisbanes-busiest-train-station-on-track-for-more-than-67-million-makeover

Media Statements
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Grace Grace

Monday, September 05, 2016

Brisbane's busiest train station on track for more than $67 million makeover

Brisbane's flagship station is set to be transformed with a three-year program of works worth more than $67 million set to start this month to upgrade Central Station.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the upgrade would support 750 jobs and revitalise the historic station which was first built in 1889.

"Central station is a gateway to the Brisbane CBD with up to 140,000 passengers travelling through the station every day, but the major transport hub hasn't undergone a large-scale renovation since the 1990s," the Premier said.

"The new-look will honour the iconic station's heritage features, but also ensure the station keeps pace with design changes and delivers modern facilities for passengers.

"This $67 million investment will support 750 construction jobs in our CBD across a range of professions including engineering, electrical, rigging, carpentry, concreting and finishing trades."

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said an innovative virtual reality render created by pdt. architects would give the community a chance to inspect the Central Station makeover and get a feel for the new design, three years before the upgrade is complete.

"Using virtual reality technology the community can get a first look at the design, experience 360 degree views inside the new-look Central Station and get a glimpse of how the lighter, brighter and more modern station will transform our CBD," he said.

Mr Hinchliffe said the Central station upgrade would include a new roof and an overhaul of the platforms, as well as new lifts and escalators.

"This upgrade will deliver a fresh new look, and make it easier for passengers to access and move around the station – one of the city's most critical interchanges – with improvements including less cluttered and more accessible platforms, new information displays and lighting, " Mr Hinchliffe said.

"The most striking feature of the new-look station will be a new, raised roof which will extend over the Edward Street end of the concourse, with a glass façade that will transform the station and inject the space with more light.

"In addition to these works, planning is underway for further improvements, including a proposal for an additional escalator from the concourse to ANZAC Square, to reduce congestion during peak periods.

"All the platforms will be modernised with new floor, wall and roof coverings, passenger information displays, CCTV and lighting. We will also raise platforms 1-4 to allow level-entry boarding, which will make it easier for passengers in wheelchairs, parents with prams and those traveling with luggage to access trains.

"The Central station upgrade is part of the Palaszczuk Government's plan to cater for growth and build the railway service we need for the future."

Member for Brisbane Central Grace Grace said every effort would be made to minimise disruption to commuters while the upgrade was underway.

"Central is a critical station in Brisbane's rail network and it will remain open throughout the project, so work will be staged and planned to ensure the station can continue to function," Ms Grace said.

"Importantly for commuters, peak timetables will be maintained and other services will remain as close to normal as possible.

"To minimise disruption to passengers, most works will be completed during scheduled closures at night and on weekends, and Queensland Rail will work closely with its valued tenants and stakeholders around the station, to ensure the impact of the project is managed effectively."

The Central station upgrade will commence this month, beginning with work on Queensland Rail's 'back of house' facilities including offices, communications rooms and first aid areas where many rail staff work tirelessly to ensure customers enjoy a safe, comfortable journey.

Work will commence on the lifts, escalators and platform upgrades in early 2017.

To inspect pdt.architects' virtual reality render of parts of the Central Station upgrade visit: http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/centralupgrade (external site)

[#Metro]

So, Stirling is back as Transport minister? 

[ozbob]

So, Stirling is back as Transport minister? 

I bet he wishes he was hey?   

[kram0]

Did the minister comment on the delay?

[ozbob]

Did the minister comment on the delay?

No, not as yet.  Moves are underway to seek out the real circumstances this coming week. The only way you can get them to respond is to beat it up the media in the end.  Then they react.  They are really a BIG disappointment with their deceptive non-transparent approach to many things.

[verbatim9]

I know this is a bit trivial but the new lighting on the platforms. Is this temporary or permanent. I thought the lighting would be nicely recessed instead of pertruding out from the electrical ducting/beam. The current lights are being held up with cable ties so it maybe temporary?

[mufreight]

It seems that the platforms are not going to be raised for their full length only humps, another TMR railfail

[#Metro]

We have to ban humping.

[verbatim9]

It seems that the platforms are not going to be raised for their full length only humps, another TMR railfail

We have to ban humping.

Depending on where the bumps.will be? Isn't more logical to have the bumps at the end of the platforms for disability access? Central could have raised sections on the ends as well as the middle?

Raised platform ends at stations could allow disability access (assisted boarding) with the aid of a guard presently or a driver in the future. The same way it happens in Mel, Adl and Per.

[Stillwater]

There should be no humps whatsoever at major city stations.

[kram0]

It seems that the platforms are not going to be raised for their full length only humps, another TMR railfail

What is your source of this information? Until Ozbob hears back from the minister, everything is hearsay. I have also emailed the minister for clarification, but know doubt he could take a couple of weeks to reply.

[ozbob]

Received these responses via twitter   

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/998490396455063552

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/998490471549886465

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/998490511706083328

[ozbob]

Took a few days, but I finally received a response from QR.  I suspect media activity behind the scenes helped concentrate a few minds along the way.  The fact that updates stopped Feb 2017 ( https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/Community/Projects/Pages/Central-station-upgrade.aspx ) is not a coincidence. 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/998661021597286400

[InclusionMoves]

Verbatim9 You actually make a half way decent point. We need good critical thinking. Unfortunately the trains are designed with accessible carriage in middle.

Geoff

It seems that the platforms are not going to be raised for their full length only humps, another TMR railfail

We have to ban humping.

Depending on where the bumps.will be? Isn't more logical to have the bumps at the end of the platforms for disability access? Central could have raised sections on the ends as well as the middle?

Raised platform ends at stations could allow disability access (assisted boarding) with the aid of a guard presently or a driver in the future. The same way it happens in Mel, Adl and Per.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/999068094692651008

[matlock]

https://twitter.com/QueenslandRail/status/999068094692651008

Well that's good. Is there any place I could review what QR are planning to do?

I was at Central on Monday and the mood was so depressing. It really does need a total facelift and for some interesting design to be implemented around the platforms. Right now it looks like something you'd see in a regional Victorian town.

[ozbob]

Have a look here matlock > https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/Community/Projects/Pages/Central-station-upgrade.aspx

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes -->Questions raised over timeline of Central Station's $67 million facelift

Queensland Rail insists its $67 million Central Station upgrade is not "on hold" after being questioned about delays in major works by a rail lobby group.

More than 140,000 people use Central Station, Brisbane's busiest rail station, each day.

QR insists it will raise the platform height across the full length of four platforms at Central Station as part of the upgrade.

However, no timetable for this work has been provided, despite promises the work would be finished in 2019.

Very little major work has been started.

Passengers at Central have to step up into trains, which can be problematic for people with disabilities and parents with prams.

Only platforms five and six at Central have high platforms for easier access.

Lobby group Rail Back on Track questioned whether the upgrade had stopped after work rail union employees told them the upgrade "was on hold".

Spokesman Robert Dow said he asked Queensland Rail in May 16 about the progress of the $67 million upgrade after no news was published on the project's website since February 2017.

This is what was planned in September 2016 and trackwork was scheduled to begin in mid-2017.

    A new roof, which would extend over the Edward Street end of the concourse, injecting light and improved ventilation, and give the station a modern, airy feel;
    Complete modernisation of the platforms, including ceiling, wall and floor treatments and lighting, level entry boarding, extended cover on Platforms 2/3 and 3/4, new passenger information displays and seating;
    New lifts and modernisation of the stairs and escalators leading to platforms;
    An additional escalator from the concourse to Anzac Square, to reduce congestion during peak periods;
    A refurbishment of the back-of-house facilities, including offices, communications rooms and first aid areas.

Rail Back on Track said Queensland Rail had delayed the project to prevent problems during the Commonwealth Games in April.

"It does appear that the information we were given in the first place – that it was on hold – is actually correct in the sense that they didn't do anything with the station because of the [Commonwealth] Games," Mr Dow said.

"It would have been impossible I suppose to manage the extra train frequency while they were working on the lines and closing down platforms like they did at Fortitude Valley," he said.

Mr Dow said that was a reasonable step.

"I also asked them if the planned platform raising was going to occur.

"Because for us, getting those platforms raised to full height is a pretty big thing."

Queensland Rail said the first phase of the redevelopment, finished in April 2017, included "back-of-house areas" such as offices, customer communication and first aid areas.

"To ensure Central station was fully operational without works under way during the Commonwealth Games, a range of front-of-house works were delivered ahead of the Games, which included cleaning, painting, new lighting and fans, tile repairs, column cladding, lift and escalator maintenance, as well as replacement of roof sheeting on the outer concourse," the QR statement said.

The wrought-iron roofing above Central Station appears different to the plans shown below to let more light in to the area.

The QR statement said the major work at Central Station was still being planned.

"The planning for the remainder of the upgrade work is now progressing," the statement reads.

"This includes major works such as full-length platform raising, new lifts and escalators.

"Queensland Rail will ensure its customers are kept informed of delivery timeframes as this planning work progresses."

Mr Dow pointed out that Fortitude Valley Station was raised "only in humps" towards the middle of the platforms and not raised "full length".

He said the lobby group was concerned this would happen at Central Station but Queensland Rail insisted it would raise the height of the full length of platforms.

"I can confirm that the entire length of the platforms are planned to be raised as part of this project," a QR spokeswoman said.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/999115628920225793

[kram0]

At least we got answers in a week and they are now on record as saying the project is still going ahead (albeit with a delay it seems) and with full height platforms for the entire length.

Well done.

[ozbob]

^ 

[ozbob]

Expect that there will be an announcement re the Central Station upgrade shortly.

[verbatim9]

Sounds promising!  Will it be just for the platforms escalators and lifts as stage 1? Then the concourse redevelopment as stage 2?