State promises to remove level crossings following fatal train collision
The state government has defended its commitment to transport safety after a cyclist was fatally struck by a train on Monday.
Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the state already had plans to remove five railway level crossings in the south-east, as part of its Logan-Gold Coast fast rail service (Brisbane Times, 2025).
Notably the LGCFR project does not include the level crossings between Kuraby and Altandi where this collision took place…
The rest of the article does say that TMR is busy negotiating with QR and Councils for more level crossing removals.
Removing the level crossings between Boggo Road and Kuraby will require some pretty serious planning and a fair bit of thinking about how to approach space constrained areas, like Beenleigh and Warrigal for example.
I think a Melbourne style elevated rail setup would cover that stretch in Runcorn with several crossings close together.
Could the one at Salisbury near Farlie Terrace simply be closed without any major works? From what I can see on Google Maps that looks possible, but am open to hearing otherwise from anybody who knows the area well.
As for the one at Stones Road Sunnybank, I think a whole rethink of that curvy part from Runcorn to Banoon needs to happen in order to speed up trains through there.
My preferred outcome for the Beenleigh line would be (counting outbound in order of occurrence):
Fairlie Terrace - close, immediately. Leave the actual crossing in place for emergency flood egress but fence it off with chainlink gates and remove the booms so it is like the crossing added immediately south of Bethania not long ago. This is a complete no-brainer, there is already an overpass adjacent and there would be stuff-all people materially inconvenienced.
Boundary Road - grade separation already in progress (eventually).
Stones Road - close, immediately. Alternative access over the railway via Mains Road. Somebody driving from the properties closest the crossing on either side would have at most about a 3.5km detour, and for most people using it this would likely be much less.
Nathan Road
Bonemill Street
Warrigal Road
Skyrail between Altandi and the Gateway Motorway, including station rebuilds for Altandi, Runcorn and Fruitgrove. Leave Coopers Plains to Altandi where it is. Interim step would be quadding and doing proper rebuilds from Altandi to Coopers Plains. A longer term step would involve a bypass route of some kind but that is getting into very expensive, complicated and problematic territory.
Closure of all 5 within the scope of LGCFR.
It would be expensive but if they redo the current corridor from Coopers Plains to Altandi there’s even less chance of them ever doing an improved corridor.
Hi all, long time lurker. Created an account just to comment on this.
I agree this should be closed to drivers but it definitely needs a crossing of some kind for active transport users.
The Beaudesert Rd flyover has no footpath or bike path, and the nearest alternative rail crossings are Muriel Avenue or Riawena Rd, both a 1.5 - 2 km walk or ride (or about 4 km round trip to reach Beaudesert Road on the other side of the rail line).
As someone who rides through this area, the existing level crossing is a pain to cross (the road layout is ugly and has very poor surface quality, even when the boom gates are up) but at least it gives an alternative travel route.
Yes, you could cross at the upgraded Rocklea or Saulisbury stations, but this still adds 1.5 - 2 km to a north-south trip on the Beaudesert Rd corridor. Walking a bike through a station and up/down lifts is also a pain.
This section of Beaudesert Road at the level crossing is included in the Principal Cycle Network, and it is also listed as a secondary cycle route on BCC’s Bicycle Network Overlay. The nearby Rocky Waterholes Creek corridor is also included in BCC’s LGIP for a future bikepath, which would be a useful local connection in conjunction with an active transport bridge.
If BTQ’s stance is that this level crossing be removed (which I otherwise agree with), it would be great if BTQ also advocate for a grade-separated crossing for active transport users in the vicinity of Beaudesert Road, to be constructed at the same time.
This could be a shared path added to the existing flyover with connections on either side (is that possible?) or a separate bridge structure.
Is it the same type of “promise” as building a train line to Maroochydore, or it a promise to “look” at it and do nothing until the next election?
Taking credit for the LGCFR level crossings is pathetic and politically opportunistic, especially an initiative they opposed, and a project that’s not yet completed.
Do they plan on achieving this magically before 2032?
I agree. It shouldn’t be at grade but there should be some provision for active transport here. (Stones Rd has the exisying Sunnybank station vertical transport.)
Sunnybank:
Wasn’t the Sunnybank station rebuild originally part of the LGCFR program? Given the distance between Banoon and Sunnybank stations, it would of made sense to include this.
Runcorn & Fruitgrove:
I also agree that this section needs to be elevated as well as both of these stations rebuilt.
The chances of these happening is… 0%
Not that I recall. Pretty sure the scope was always restricted to south of Kuraby.
Pretty certain you are right. The hint is in the name - Logan Gold Coast Faster Rail.
I grew up at Salisbury right near the railway station.
The issue at Salisbury is for traffic coming from the eastern side to head south on Beaudesert Road or accessing the local streets at Rocklea. The road network isn’t really set up for that without the level crossing. Removal of the crossing would also mean that cars from Rocklea who want to head north would have to do a right turn from Lillian Ave (western side) onto Beaudesert Road which would be challenging without lights when it’s busy. If there were some modifications to the road network, then simple removal would work but simply closing it would create a headache for some locals.
I think if you widened the slip lane southbound north of the crossing, made it two way and put a turning facility (resuming some land) so vehicles could access southbound Beaudesert Rd without having to stuff around a whole heap, that could work. Also making the slip road on the western side of the overpass south of the crossing two way as well, then I could see the crossing removal working.
When we mention Cross River Rail we don’t usually think that it includes 3 new stations on the Gold Coast.
The LGCFR not including Sunnybank/Banoon stations was a wasted opportunity for the line.
If closing the Fairlie Terrace level crossing inconveniences drivers making local trips, then it makes even more sense to close it (provided that there is a safe and accessible alternative for people walking or riding bikes). We want to encourage local trips to be made mostly by active transport.
I can’t quite figure out which slip lanes you are referring to modifying? Do you mean the Beaudesert Rd service road(s)?
I agree that traffic lights at Lillian Avenue makes sense for drivers to safely turn across Beaudesert Road. Particularly with the expanded park n ride at Saulisbury station. This also creates a safe crossing point for walkers/riders travelling to Saulisbury station.
In a perfect world, I’d keep Banoon where it is and tunnel from there to just past Warrigal. Sunnybank, Altandi and Runcorn would be merged into a super-station somewhere near Pinelands Plaza. Fruitgrove could shift to wherever suits the area best.
It’s even less likely than an elevated line, but I can dream…
That’s my pipe dream scenario too ha.
I wouldn’t leave Banoon exactly where it is - I’d like to take out some of the houses directly west of the station on Evenwood St & Dyson Avenue, so as to straighten out the slight S-curve between it and Coopers Plains. Then move Banoon further down towards Sunnybank near QR’s Banoon depot so it can replace the current Banoon and Sunnnybank Stations (as mentioned elsewhere).
With regards to tunnelling between Banoon and Runcorn, I note that there are flood-prone creeks very near to the portal locaations of any tunnel - Stable Swamp Creek runs though Les Atkinson Park on the Banoon side, and Bulimba Creek is just west of Runcorn Station near the St Laurie’s Sporting Oval - will they post an issue to sinking the line?
