Tunnels transforming Roma Street

Almost 400 metres of tunnels have been excavated beneath Roma Street as one of the most crucial sites for the transformational Cross River Rail project starts to take shape.

The Roma Street underground is one of five new and upgraded inner-city stations being constructed for the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project.

Visiting the site today, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Cross River Rail would transform travel across south east Queensland.

“Cross River Rail will re-define how people make their journeys to parts of the inner city,” the Premier said.

“Not only is it transforming our public transport network, Cross River Rail is supercharging our economy and is a vital project as part of our economic recovery.

“Last year, when work sites across Australia and around the world stopped because of COVID-19, Cross River Rail ramped up.

“This project is putting more than $4 million a day into the economy and more than 2400 people have worked on the project since it started.

“By the time trains are running in 2025, more than 7700 workers, including 450 trainees and apprentices, would have had a hand in building this game-changing project for Queensland.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said while progress on the surface of the two-hectare Roma Street site was obvious, even more work taking place out of sight underground.

“Late last year we said goodbye to Brisbane’s ugliest building – the Brisbane Transit Centre – and now piling work has started to stabilise the ground in preparation to excavate the station building shaft,” Mr Bailey said.

“But what many people don’t appreciate is the sheer scale of work taking place under their feet.

“More than 385 metres of tunnels has been excavated so far.”

Mr Bailey said two 115-tonne road headers working more than seven storeys underground were about three quarters of the way through excavating the 280-metre-long station cavern.

“If 1 William Street was put on its side and shoved underground, it still wouldn’t be as long as Roma Street’s station cavern once it’s fully excavated,” he said.

“More than 100 workers are busy making sure the station cavern is finished in preparation for the arrival of the massive Tunnel Boring Machines from Woolloongabba mid-year.”

Member for McConnel Grace Grace said Cross River Rail would deliver huge improvements to public transport options for inner-city commuters.

“For the first time, people will be able to head underground at Albert Street, jump on a train and pop up at the Gabba a short time later,” Ms Grace said.

“In my electorate, thousands of residents and workers will have a new seven-days a week service at Exhibition Station, while Roma Street’s new underground station will help to transform the north-western corner of Brisbane’s CBD.”

The new Roma Street station will be open when Cross River Rail starts operating in 2025.

For more information about the Cross River Rail project, visit https://crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/

Roma Street station fast facts:

• More than 385 metres of tunnels have been excavated so far
• 103 people, including 15 apprentices and trainees, have been involved in tunnels and excavations
• Almost 200 people are working on Roma Street station, including those on the surface
• Workers underground include tunnellers, rock bolters, shotcreters, roadheader operators, electricians and mechanical tradespeople
• More than 128,000 tonnes of spoil has been excavated from site so far
• In December 2020, demolition of the Brisbane Transit Centre was completed
• The station will be set 27 metres below the ground and will have 220-metre-long platforms
• More than 46,000 people are expected to use the new Roma Street station each weekday by 2036.
  
  

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Media contact:
Zoe Russell – 0439 982 347
Toby Walker – 0439 347 875