Rename Central to Ann St or Anzac Sq

[SteelPan]

I am not really a fan of station renaming.  But, IF (and it's still an IF) CRR did get the final green light - that means actually built - might it be an idea to bite the bullet and rename Roma St as "Central" ie, where suburban, regional and interstate services all meet and Central becomes say, Ann St or ANZAC Square - just a thought.  Part of any change would be a serious upgrade to Roma St (ie, the new Central) to give it serious appeal and capability to be a worthy showcase station.

Feedback welcome.

[somebody]

Hmm, you may have something here.  It doesn't make sense to have "Central" bypassed by a large portion of the services.  I'm not a fan of street based station names, so I would go with your latter suggestion.

[Mr X]

Fix up Central access (that dodgy underpass is so undesirable). If anything, Albert St should be "central", Roma St could be "city north" or something.

[O_128]

I've been thinking this to especially as Roma street will look stunning with the big roof and future hsr, central is a dump and really should be renamed Anzac square. A central station needs access to all lines

[HappyTrainGuy]

I don't see it happening purely for the fact of the historic significance of both railway stations, Roma Street Goods Yard and names relating to Queensland Government Railways from the 1870's. If you recall Central did have a giant roof over all the platforms and was an extremly impressive and fantastic railway station with a massive sandstone portico entrance via Ann Street and a row of clocks similar to Flinders Street. Not long after it opened it also featured Australias first electro-pneumatic signal/points system IIRC. That was all until the government decided to demolish everything, cut investment, widen streets, build bigger government office buildings and agree to some Americans building the worlds crappiest looking hotel on the station  

But then again with Anna Bligh and multiple governments going at the railways with a chainsaw anything is possible. Its sad to think the whole Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane Exhibition/Southbank Insitute of Technology used to be massive and thriving railway yards along with parts of Newstead/Wooloongabba/Park Road-Dutton Park/Clapham-Yerongpilly yards.

[Stillwater]

In a 'world class' system, as the government keeps telling us we have (a world class transport plan, a world class ticketing system, a world class network and, as of yesterday, a world class taxi service) the new name for Central Station should be nothing less than GRAND CENTRAL STATION -- a monument to mediocrity and government small thinking.

[david]

In that case, maybe rename Roma St to Central? Sure, it's not in the City Centre, but it will be a fantastic interchange for ALL services once CRR opens?

[david]

And weren't there some leaked plans to massively overhaul the look of the current Central station? They looked really good.

[SurfRail]

I see no need for this.

[Stillwater]

Storms blow in water at Roma Street station platforms, despite the covers.  Maybe in future, a large roof structure could be built over Roma Street platforms, similar to Melbourne's Southern Cross Station.  Rain collected from the roof could be stored to water the Roma Street gardens, or would it be too much to think that the state government and council would cooperate in this way?

[Gazza]

This thread is a tad foamy...I'm not a fan of naming stations after streets.

But I'd just call Roma St "Brisbane Transit Center", and Albert St "City South" or "Gardens Point" if you were to go down that track.

But SurfRail is right...No need to change.

[mufreight]

Can think of a lot of other ways to waste money that might actually have some benefit.

[O_128]

Storms blow in water at Roma Street station platforms, despite the covers.  Maybe in future, a large roof structure could be built over Roma Street platforms, similar to Melbourne's Southern Cross Station.  Rain collected from the roof could be stored to water the Roma Street gardens, or would it be too much to think that the state government and council would cooperate in this way?

Check out the CRR design brief, thats exactly what is planned 

[Stillwater]

Agree Mufreight.  Buildings like this need refurbishment at some stage, not suggesting Roma Street roof happens tomorrow, but when old ones spring a leak, or when work is done on one stage -- put a roof on it consistent with eventually roofing the lot in the same style.

[Gazza]

But when did the current Roma St rood get done.....1995ish?
It doesn't even look that bad except for cobwebs....The station doesn't really need any upgrades.

[SurfRail]

But when did the current Roma St rood get done.....1995ish?
It doesn't even look that bad except for cobwebs....The station doesn't really need any upgrades.

I'd like to think that the centrepiece of the network could have full-length level boarding eventually, which will require a bit of track re-alignment and relocation of some of the platform length away from the city end towards the Milton end.  No reason why platform 3 couldn't be raised for the length of a 6-car set near the travelators, and I believe platform 2 is already level.

Back on subject - I would support renaming Park Road to Boggo Road.  The better-known Park Road is at Milton (indeed, Milton Station could conceivably be renamed to Park Road being right next to it, not that I would ever suggest that).  Boggo Road is unmistakably related to the location.

I would also suggest renaming Thomas Street to Sadlier's Crossing.

[ozbob]

With respect to Park Road, my long standing preference has been for Park Road to be renamed Boggo Road Junction.  I would like to see Darra renamed Darra Junction as well.   With Eagle Junction it gives a consistency as punters would realise what a junction station name means.

In a CRR environment it makes some sense to rename Central, ANZAC Square would be nice.  But I can live with Central ...

[Jonno]

It has always been Central Station so don't see the need to change. I like the Junction suggestion from Bob.

[somebody]

Wasn't the customer feedback strongly against changing Park Rd station to Boggo Rd?  Not sure if Boggo Junction was an option.

If there wasn't a Dutton Park station, you could call it that.

[O_128]

Wasn't the customer feedback strongly against changing Park Rd station to Boggo Rd?  Not sure if Boggo Junction was an option.

If there wasn't a Dutton Park station, you could call it that.

maybe dutton park should be closed?

[Mr X]

Wasn't the customer feedback strongly against changing Park Rd station to Boggo Rd?  Not sure if Boggo Junction was an option.

If there wasn't a Dutton Park station, you could call it that.

maybe dutton park should be closed?

Horrible station, closest to me and I'd never use it.

[Gazza]

But when did the current Roma St rood get done.....1995ish?
It doesn't even look that bad except for cobwebs....The station doesn't really need any upgrades.

I'd like to think that the centrepiece of the network could have full-length level boarding eventually, which will require a bit of track re-alignment and relocation of some of the platform length away from the city end towards the Milton end.  No reason why platform 3 couldn't be raised for the length of a 6-car set near the travelators, and I believe platform 2 is already level.

Back on subject - I would support renaming Park Road to Boggo Road.  The better-known Park Road is at Milton (indeed, Milton Station could conceivably be renamed to Park Road being right next to it, not that I would ever suggest that).  Boggo Road is unmistakably related to the location.

I would also suggest renaming Thomas Street to Sadlier's Crossing.

Good point about the level boarding.
But stuff they want to do along with CRR, like the Southern Cross ripoff wavy roof is part of the reason CRR is costing $9 Bil and not $7 bil or whatever.

+1 to Calling Thomas St Sadliers Crossing.

[Golliwog]

I suppose it comes down to whats in a name? Is Central station called Central because it is central, or just because that's what it was called when the first built it? I would be against renaming Roma St to Central just because it is the central station to all line. It would just ask for confusion with those who don't use the network much. Same goes for renaming Milton to Park Rd. Naming the new city station as Albert St Station at least makes sense in that it runs underneath Albert St.

If you were to rename Central to ANZAC Square, I think it should be done as part of a refurbishment to improve access from ANZAC Square so that everyone can use it (ie: lifts, all platforms DDA compliant) and so that that entrance isn't closed off in the evening. Perhaps also widen the corridor (if possible?) so that instead of go gates on each platform pair you could have one set downstairs. Through access to/from the parking structure above Central could be an issue though.

[O_128]

But when did the current Roma St rood get done.....1995ish?
It doesn't even look that bad except for cobwebs....The station doesn't really need any upgrades.

I'd like to think that the centrepiece of the network could have full-length level boarding eventually, which will require a bit of track re-alignment and relocation of some of the platform length away from the city end towards the Milton end.  No reason why platform 3 couldn't be raised for the length of a 6-car set near the travelators, and I believe platform 2 is already level.

Back on subject - I would support renaming Park Road to Boggo Road.  The better-known Park Road is at Milton (indeed, Milton Station could conceivably be renamed to Park Road being right next to it, not that I would ever suggest that).  Boggo Road is unmistakably related to the location.

I would also suggest renaming Thomas Street to Sadlier's Crossing.

Good point about the level boarding.
But stuff they want to do along with CRR, like the Southern Cross ripoff wavy roof is part of the reason CRR is costing $9 Bil and not $7 bil or whatever.

+1 to Calling Thomas St Sadliers Crossing.

I dont agree, theres nothing worse than the current Park/boggo road situation where you have the modern brand new station and then the POS dump rail station, Who wants to walk out the brand new CRR station into the dump concourse. It will also be much cheaper to upgrade Roma street during CRR then 5 years later, Do it properly or don't bother at all.

[somebody]

As a regular user of Park Rd railway station, I don't give two hoots about it being a dump.  What I care about is waiting 15-20 minutes for a train to then have to put up with the slow alignment.

[Gazza]

hat I care about is waiting 15-20 minutes for a train to then have to put up with the slow alignment.

^This.
In a good Rail system you'd have an average wait of 5-7.5 minutes for a train. If you are only spending such a short amount of time there then who cares if it's not an architectural masterpiece.
Plus the only thing making Park Rd look bad is where you can see into the back of some industrial property through a chainlink fence.

Who wants to walk out the brand new CRR station into the dump concourse.

So tell me then. Those 70s 80s looking stations on the City Loop in Melbourne prevent the network from being sucessful.

But seriously, are we so snobbish that Roma St, a station with marble lined concourse, is not considered good enough.

[Mr X]

Do the 1900s stations of the Paris metro make it unsuccessful, too?

France has a lot of highly efficient but very ugly infrastructure.

[O_128]

As a regular user of Park Rd railway station, I don't give two hoots about it being a dump.  What I care about is waiting 15-20 minutes for a train to then have to put up with the slow alignment.

Its the principal though, when boggo road was built the entire station should have been revamped. Ill also add that roma street may have access problems without a bigger concourse which by the looks of it CRR is adding.

[Gazza]

No because that's just wasting money, and taking funds away from the large numbers of stations which still lack basics like PIDs and disabled access.

[O_128]

Do the 1900s stations of the Paris metro make it unsuccessful, too?

France has a lot of highly efficient but very ugly infrastructure.

Really? I though frances stations bar the airport line were beautiful, London as well, though many of them have huge capacity issues, we waited 15 min to board a train at piccadilly.

[somebody]

But seriously, are we so snobbish that Roma St, a station with marble lined concourse, is not considered good enough.

Are you sure that is marble?  It looks pretty plain.

[Gazza]

Well possibly just Terrazzo, but the point is it's nice and glossy, and fit for purpose.

[Mr X]

Really? I though frances stations bar the airport line were beautiful, London as well, though many of them have huge capacity issues, we waited 15 min to board a train at piccadilly.

They have a lot of beautiful stations, but also a lot of very ugly ones, too.

[AnonymouslyBad]

Renaming Central in the long term makes sense. I suspect there'd be a lot of opposition to it, though.

Central is a bit of a curious name in the first place, as it's not the "Central" point of the network at all, though QR seems to like using it that way. Post-CRR this will need to change and the purpose of the station may be harder to communicate if it's still called Central.

Anzac Square sounds like a good name. Street names can work but in the case of Central I'd avoid it because the station takes up a whole block and has several access points. In this regard Anzac Square isn't a perfect name either, but it's preferable and I can't think of an alternative. You could call it "City East", which is an accurate enough description but probably too clinical.

Don't think the change could be made overnight because too many people would oppose it, so perhaps it should have a dual name such as "Anzac Square (Brisbane Central)" for a time, like they do with Upper Mt Gravatt busway.

I wouldn't support renaming Roma Street, everybody knows Roma Street and there's nothing wrong with the name.

But seriously, are we so snobbish that Roma St, a station with marble lined concourse, is not considered good enough.

I agree, Roma Street is definitely one of the nicer stations. The decor is unmistakably dated, not in a good way, but it does the job. It still has ancient signage and displays, though, which I think are in major need of refurbishment - the single most important station in the rail network should be first to get these upgrades, not last.

[Derwan]

Renaming Central to Anzac Square makes some sense.  (I'd call it "Anzac Square Station", not "ANZAC Square Station".)  I'm not sure it's necessary though.

I don't agree with renaming Roma St to Central Station.  It's not central to anything.  No station is/will be central.  Apart from that, there would be a huge amount of confusion if Central Station suddenly becomes a different station.  Think of all the publications that refer to "Central Station" and how confusing it would be for visitors to the city.

[somebody]

Renaming Central to Anzac Square makes some sense.  (I'd call it "Anzac Square Station", not "ANZAC Square Station".)  I'm not sure it's necessary though.

I don't agree with renaming Roma St to Central Station.  It's not central to anything.  No station is/will be central.  Apart from that, there would be a huge amount of confusion if Central Station suddenly becomes a different station.  Think of all the publications that refer to "Central Station" and how confusing it would be for visitors to the city.

Well put.

+1

[Sunbus610]

I'm not fussed on those ideas myself - if anything they could perhaps consider remaming it  <| Brisbane Central |>  rather than just Central.

[#Metro]

(I'd call it "Anzac Square Station", not "ANZAC Square Station".)

It *must* be ANZAC not Anzac because it is an acronym.

[Derwan]

It *must* be ANZAC not Anzac because it is an acronym.

"Anzac" is now the commonly accepted form when using it as a proper noun (e.g. Anzac Day, Anzac Cove). In fact, Brisbane's Anzac Square is "Anzac Square" ( http://g.co/maps/55qa ) so it'd have to be "Anzac Square Station".

See also:
http://www.anzacs.org/faq.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AAnzac_Day#ANZAC_acronym_and_capitalisation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzac_Day

[ozbob]

The will be choking on their port in the Officers' Mess .... ANZAC is the correct form.

Check out the RSL etc.  But it is often written as Anzac, but correctly it is ANZAC

--> http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac/

--> http://www.brisbanelivingheritage.org/01_cms/details.asp?ID=27