Cross River Rail

As South East Queensland’s population approaches five million in the next decade and Brisbane prepares to become the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Host City, connectivity across the region becomes critical. Cross River Rail will deliver a once-in-a-generation city-shaping project, facilitating urban regeneration at a scale Brisbane has not seen before. The impact of the rail network expansion will redefine the way the people of Brisbane and South East Queensland move through the region — with a higher frequency, increased capacity, and an experience designed for an inclusive, subtropical city. Hassell’s early involvement supported a shift from solving an emerging rail capacity problem to a holistic approach that delivers for people and the environment. From increasing the tree canopy around stations to drawing breezes inside and sunlight deep underground, an integrated approach to architecture, landscape architecture and urban design ensures a cohesive journey from kerb to carriage to destination. The 10.2-kilometre Cross River Rail project includes four new underground stations and precincts — Roma Street, Albert Street, Woolloongabba and Boggo Road — and eight existing surface station upgrades and expansions including Exhibition Station and the Dutton Park to Salisbury Line. The nearly six kilometres of twin tunnels under the Brisbane River and city centre will be a welcome expansion of the single rail-bridge crossing and two central city stations.