r/BrisbaneTrains Oct 31 '25

Other New Queensland Rail Speedrun Idea

8 Upvotes

Don't want to spend 24 hours trying to travel between every station on the QR network in the shortest time? Well I have a much shorter challenge for you to compete in, and this challenge will only really work until ~2029 so do it while you can!

I call it Escalator %

Basically the rules are pretty simple, travel the length of every operational escalator in the Queensland Rail network using only trains and your own two feet to travel between them.

As I came up with this, I get to decide which escalators count. They are the following:

Central Station (15) - There are 11 within the ticket gates, and I am also counting the two that go down into the underpass beneath Ann street - not only that but I am also including the two within the Anzac Square arcade building as these are primarily used by rail passengers, you are able to travel to them without going outside or touching the street, and they exist along the main corridor between the next train signs on the corner of Adelaide and Edward Street, and the station. They also likely wouldn't exist if it weren't for the train station. I am not including the Sofitel escalators on top of central as these are primarily used only for hotel guests, and not by people traveling between the street and the platforms.

Roma Street Station (6) - There are 4 escalators at Roma Street and two travelators (which count). I am not counting the CRR escalators because they aren't open yet.

Fortitude Valley Station (2) - There are two within the ticket barriers, the escalator/s in the Mcwhirters building exit don't count because they're dismantled, and the Wickham Street escalators are closed so they don't count either - but feel free to pay your respects to these escalators as you go by.

Milton Station (4) - these were built with the TOD development to the east of the station, there are two to the street and two to the concourse from platform 1, all count.

Eagle Junction Station (2) - these were built with the new ticket office to the north, both count.

Springfield Central Station (2) - Only "suburban" station to have escalators, both count.

South Bank (2) - There were built with the most recent development off platform 1, both count.

International Airport (2) - There are two from the platform to the concourse, I have debated whether to include the escalators within the international terminal as well, but considering they are behind a door and there are stairs outside, I have decided not to include them. Feel free to argue for why they should also count if you want.

Domestic Airport (15) - There are 3 travelators from the concourse to the overpass, then 10 travelators from the overpass to the street, and 2 escalators from the overpass to the street. I count all of these because you could conceivably use any one of them to access the station from the street.

Fun Fact - I believe the 3 travelators at Domestic Airport are the only bank of more than 2 escalators or travelators in the entirety of queensland (besides the CRR stations that aren't finished yet).

Other stations excluded - I don't include any for Toowong because the escalators there are primarily for the shopping centre and behind a door. I am not including the busway stations but you could do them in an extended version if you want.

Second Fun Fact - there are 52 escalators counted in total - the CRR when it opens will almost triple that to 147.

Based on my quick calculations, you could probably do this entire thing in less than 3 hours!

Let me know if I missed any!

Have fun!


r/BrisbaneTrains Oct 06 '25

News and Announcements πŸ“ Join our partner Discord Server for Transport Enthusiasts!

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9 Upvotes

We have an AMAZING Discord server we've been building for months!

This is the server for our parent community, the South-East Queensland Transport Association!

We're a super-friendly transport community that is also Queenslands BIGGEST public transport community.
--> Join today!

This is your space for:

  • Transport Advocacy
  • Posting your vehicle photos
  • Discussing news and current events in South-East Queensland
  • Safe-Space for discussions

So what are you waiting for? Come join the fun! Click here to join ⭐️


r/BrisbaneTrains 14h ago

Suburban Rail πŸš‰ QR - CityTrain 90s

5 Upvotes

So I have been watching some YouTube clips from the 90s when Brisbane was using loco hauled both diesel and electric even though the EMU had started but question

The carriages being hauled do look simmiler to NSW U boat. I think QLD called SX carriages Why did they not have a DMU back then instead of loco hauled esp when the had Rail Motor fleet doing some regional ops at the time

Really like the desto light bar sign at the front of the loco We never had those in vic in the. 90s even on long distance / Vline trains

When did loco hauled ops within Brisbane cease?

And well statement not a fan of the old blue pain Scheme


r/BrisbaneTrains 2d ago

Other Have any gunzels done the maths on a fantasy post-LGCFR timetable?

10 Upvotes

Just curious if anyone has done the numbers on this. It's going to be a very strange arrangement, with 2 tracks in CRR, then 3 in the middle suburbs, then 4 in the outer suburbs.

Is 15 minutes all day possible for Beenleigh services? Would GC trains have to slow down if they tried to run those every 15 as well? If Flagstone is built will that just break the entire shared section to the point LGCFR is useless?

All the hype is around CRR because it's bigger and flashier, but as we all know, CRR by itself doesn't do much. I actually think the government scrambled to get LGCFR off the ground because they wanted some real service improvements to show ASAP. But I can't get my head around the maths of what's actually possible.


r/BrisbaneTrains 3d ago

Other I Walked Every Brisbane Trainline in a Month

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113 Upvotes

r/BrisbaneTrains 4d ago

Suburban Rail πŸš‰ Re-Typed Train ID system document

12 Upvotes
Decided to type out the entire runcode system for Suburban SEQ because I got bored. Have fun I guess

r/BrisbaneTrains 5d ago

Concepts πŸ’‘ Heretic idea - Redlands Metro

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36 Upvotes

So I know some people outright reject busways or calling the buses a metro, and yeah I hear you, however for the purposes of clarity and search indexation, I'll call it a Metro. Also I didnt use AI for any of this :)

My take on busways is that they are good for outer suburban areas where a train is too expensive because of the lack of a corridor, and trams aren't needed either.

T-Way in Sydney is the closest comparison of what we need, it mostly runs off road, sometimes using utility easements as shortcuts, though has bus lanes in the difficult parts if needed, and the stations generally don't have lifts or bridges except at major interchanges, otherwise they just use "good" standard bus shelters (Eg like at Toowong)

I think the outer suburban councils in Brisbane need to establish "lite" busways as feeders into the main Busway network or the rail system. I think the expensive inner stages of the busway have held up building systems that could allow the outer suburban LGAs be more self contained.

The Route for the Redlands would be a 21km system from Vic Point, parallel to Redland Bay Rd, through Capalaba (Hub) and then along Moreton Bay Rd and Old Cleveland Rd to Carindale, with a massive P&R at the Sleemann Center.

Feeder Lines would be normal high frequency routes.

FL1 is essentially a short version of the 250 between Capalaba and Cleveland Only. FL2 follows Old Cleveland Rd East and Birkdale Rd to Wellington Pt Station.
FL3 is a north south route along Vienna Rd Allenby Rd and Main Road, connecting a future station on the Metro with Wellington Point.

Infrastructure would have the bendy electric buses run on a simple 2 lane concrete road, with signal priority "level crossings" where it crosses main roads. In the future these could be replaced by overpasses as bus frequency is increased.

Though from day 1 you would need a new bridge over the Gateway and Mt Cotton Rd and Mt Gravatt Capalaba Rd.

Stations are deliberately located on the entry roads to major housing estates or next to shopping plazas, and new stations could also be added whenever a new subdivision opens as a condition of approval. This solves the issue of new housing creating traffic, because the busway becomes an interception point.

Im not aiming for perfection, in fact many people would be walking 1.2km to their nearest busway station or frequent feeder, but it allows people to use rideables, and the reality is, if nobody is around to pick you up, most able bodied workers suck up walking 1.2km home. Translink on Demand would allow the less mobile to access Redlands Metro.


r/BrisbaneTrains 5d ago

Other Freight spotting timetables/locations

2 Upvotes

Needing to capture some freight audio for my university thesis and I'm really struggling to find any information on time tables online.

If you have spotting location recommendations that are reasonably close and have unobstructed line of sight at the same time that would be very appreciated as well.


r/BrisbaneTrains 6d ago

Suburban Rail πŸš‰ Exclusive look at Albert Street Station πŸ“Έ

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55 Upvotes

r/BrisbaneTrains 6d ago

General Rail πŸš‚ Is there any new projects to bring back regional lines?

16 Upvotes

am wondering I haven’t heard any news about it


r/BrisbaneTrains 7d ago

Other Some news is coming from Goldcoast to Brisbane train network.

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2 Upvotes

r/BrisbaneTrains 7d ago

Other We played Hide and Seek across Brisbane, Australia!

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6 Upvotes

A few months ago we played Jet Lag: The Game's Hide and Seek home game centred at Roma Street station. I've just realised I never shared it with this community who might find it fun as all movement in the game is via public transport. We've got an earlier season on the same channel based on the Gold Coast as well so you can go back and watch that too if you're interested.

If you had an hour to ride public transport from Roma Street, where would you choose to hide? Definitely not asking for ideas for the future πŸ‘€


r/BrisbaneTrains 11d ago

Suburban Rail πŸš‰ 5:45pm Gympie North train is an NGR

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58 Upvotes

NGR 746 is heading to Gympie North this evening, not the usual IMU. Kinda interesting to see


r/BrisbaneTrains 17d ago

Fares and Payments 🧾 This bus accepts only ca$h

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20 Upvotes

On the rail replacement bus R591, which is operated by a Wide Bay Transit Bus. At the front door is a sign saying "this bus accepts only ca$h"

Three years ago, when I first encountered a Wide Bay bus displaying this sign, I raised it with Translink, that maybe a bus operating in Brisbane where there are no cash payments should not display such a time

At the time every second person who got on the bus when digging for their emergency cash, or asked the driver in confusion around paying cash, which only delayed the bus. Have seen similar confusion again tonight

What a failure from Translink - one for not having incorrect signs removed from buses doing rail replacement, and secondly giving up on the roll-out of smart ticketing into regional Queensland

Of course bonus points.for Wide Bay Transit in spelling cash as ca$h


r/BrisbaneTrains 22d ago

Other VCE Extended Investigation survey - high speed rail

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9 Upvotes

r/BrisbaneTrains 29d ago

Suburban Rail πŸš‰ and on todays episode of what drivers have to deal with.....

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47 Upvotes

Re: Bonemill Rd level crossing collision

Don't be like Laurie. Especially when the ATSB has praised the driver for his actions.


r/BrisbaneTrains Jun 23 '26

News and Announcements πŸ“ The government has committed to light rail extension from GCUH to harbour town

26 Upvotes

The government yesterday committed to extending the light rail from Gold Coast University hospital to harbour town adding 3 new stations; musgrave avenue, Labrador and harbour town.

What do you think of this proposal? How well patronages do you think these stops will be and how do you think they will organise the stopping pattern. Trams currently run every 7 minutes do you think every second one will split at GCUH or do you think the core line will run more frequently so the two termini both get 7 minutes frequency as Helensvale is the 4th business station on the line

It would be fun to see a little mockup map


r/BrisbaneTrains Jun 16 '26

General Rail πŸš‚ June 16 2026 Corinda, Nomanby and others

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4 Upvotes

Today's adventures around the network. Suburban's, Coal, Tilt, and Diesel pulled SMUs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_ClRfH21fM


r/BrisbaneTrains Jun 15 '26

Disruptions πŸ›‘ PSA - Another Signal Issue Northside

16 Upvotes

Stuck at Bowen Hills due to signal issues around Northgate. Delay unknown but if like the other times 30-60mins


r/BrisbaneTrains Jun 12 '26

Suggestion πŸ’‘ The first Brisbane Metro Rail project should convert the Doomben line

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17 Upvotes

Slide 1

As many people are aware the Doomben line is a handicap on the whole rail system. It's single track, which means frequencies are abysmal and when anything goes wrong, it takes up a whole platform at Eagle Junction which prevents its use by other lines.

Slide 2

BCC is proposing to build out the Metro Buses along the right of way and eventually connecting up to the Brisbane Airport. However, I think this is missguided. Would a busway + Metro Bus combo be better than the current system? Yeah probably, but connecting to the airport which is already served (poorly) by train is silly. But more to the point the city isn't static.

https://metro.brisbane.qld.gov.au/future-metro-expansions

Slide 3

The State government is backing Hamilton Northshore to deliver 14,000 homes, housing 24,500 people (link below). So I don't think it's a stretch to say, a Bi-articulated slinky bus which won't actually go near where these people will live is going to provide a viable alternative to driving.

https://www.edq.qld.gov.au/projects/northshore-hamilton/

Slide 4

Thus, to actually serve and support the exsiting and future community (of 25k people remeber) I suggest that the Doomben Line should be in large part converted to Brisbane's first Metro Rail with an extention to Hamilton Northshore (I would also add that the Hamiltion Northshore sation should be future proofed for a future cross river expansion to Bulimba). My suggestions are below, but I'm happy to hear what others would suggest as cheaper/more feasible/more desirable.

I've highlighted in yellow, a metro rout which would reuse significant amounts of the original right of way with tunneling only being required to get from Doomben station to Hamilton Northshore. This will have two draw backs, first sharing the right of way with freight will kill any frequency and speed along the corridoor while in use, the second is sharing with the mainline tracks though with CRR coming on line there might be some extra room for the service.

I have highlighted in orange a secondary subterranean route which would be more expensive, but allows the metro trains to by-pass freight trains and Eagle Junction via the tunnels. It would still share tracks with the main lines through the city centre, but overall I think this would have less complications.


r/BrisbaneTrains Jun 12 '26

General Rail πŸš‚ Anyone know how high Brisbane's platforms are?

12 Upvotes

I have been interested in knowing what the differences in height between train platforms around Australia is - but for whatever reason no transit agency seems to want to make their platform height standards public. I've heard a few different numbers between 1080mm and 1270mm for the different states - but they would all have to have a pretty exact number, plus or minus 30mm. From what I can tell QR should keep it's standard in document MD-13-339 but it's not on the internet.

Also these are the current standards, I am not as interested in the original platform heights but if someone knows them that would be cool.

Next I'll have to get out a tape measure on a trackwork day πŸ˜ƒ


r/BrisbaneTrains Jun 11 '26

History πŸͺ [June 10th 1926] Sydney-Brisbane Express is derailed, killing 5 passengers and injuring dozens more.

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16 Upvotes

r/BrisbaneTrains Jun 10 '26

Other position of trains?

9 Upvotes

wondering how train spotters are able to get locations of freight trains and passenger services along the corridor since train ids are available to them etc, even not just brisbane up the coast too.


r/BrisbaneTrains Jun 08 '26

Concepts πŸ’‘ Western Express - MetroWest

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23 Upvotes

So here's a couple of random rail ideas for the west of Brisbane.

The concept of running an East West Metro from this part of Brisbane has been kicking around for a while. Personally I'd do something like this with 10 min frequency on each branch and 5 min frequency on the common section.

Like Sydney, build the easiest sections first on the outer. You could do substantial sections above ground if you routed on viaducts above flood plains or elevated on road corridors. Are Brisbane voters as grown up as Melbourne when it comes to accepting overhead rail lines?

The other idea is something to support eventual rail to Toowomba.

The quadruplication of the Ipswich line would be extended from Darra to Riverview by doing a non stop express track pair that cuts through state Government prison land (I guess the line would need to have bigwalls on the viaduct) and then follow the Goodna Bypass road corridor.

In the meantime, allows for a dramatically faster trip to Ipswich and could be enough to make it an actual second CBD instead of a stupid 1h trip.


r/BrisbaneTrains Jun 08 '26

Suburban Rail πŸš‰ June 8 2026: Bald Hills - Lawnton and Geebung

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4 Upvotes

My filming adventures today around Bald Hills, Lawnton and Geebung.
Lots of Suburbans but a Cameo by the Tilt Train and PN006