CORINDA RAILWAY STATION UPGRADE UNDERWAY

Transport Minister Paul Lucas and Member for Mt Ommaney Julie Attwood were at Corinda Station today inspecting the progress of the $4 million upgrade project.

Mr Lucas said the upgrades to improve accessibility at the station were progressing well.

"I'm pleased this upgrade will greatly improve accessibility at the station and have wide reaching benefits for people with a disability," Mr Lucas said.

"It will also help people with prams, pregnant women, the elderly and people with short term mobility problems.

"Commuters will see upgraded tactiles for the visually impaired (raised tiles), the installation of lifts and stairs to replace ramps on platforms one to four and a lift on platform five.

"Works will also include the extension of platform waiting areas, improved lighting, lower ticket windows and the installation of a unisex disabled toilet.

"QR consulted with its Disability Discrimination Act Reference Group and local community to ensure facility improvements met passenger needs, so I'm pleased the state government is delivering on these requests.

"We've also spent over $2 million in the last two years improving accessibility at neighbouring Oxley Station."

Member for Mt Ommaney Julie Attwood said QR was committed to making Queensland's rail network the most accessible in Australia.

"Queensland is already recognised as a leader in the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act, with our passenger rail services, particularly Citytrain, some of the most accessible in Australia," Mrs Attwood said.

"Over the past few years, we've committed significant funds to improve disability access in our public transport system.

"This includes $106 million in the 2004/05 budget to be spent on improving the accessibility of trains and stations in the Citytrain network.

"We expect to finish the upgrades by March 2005."

Mrs Attwood said the DDA Reference Group, including representatives from a range of disability organisations, provided input to QR from a customer perspective into the planning, design and provision of accessible rail services.

Almost 787 000 passengers used Corinda Station and almost 883 000 passengers used Oxley Station in the 2003/04 financial year.

Media Contact: Sonya Gillece 3237 1947 / 0407 166 084