Brisbane Advances $17 Billion Cross River Rail Commissioning and Breaks Ground on Olympic Victoria Park Stadium Precinct

Subterranean Rail Milestone: Cross River Rail Moves into Comprehensive Systems Integration

BRISBANE, Queensland — In a transformational infrastructure achievement that will redefine public transportation throughout South East Queensland, the Queensland Government and the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority have initiated the comprehensive systems integration and commissioning phase for the $17 billion Cross River Rail project. The 10.2-kilometre rail corridor—featuring 5.9 kilometres of twin tunnels bored beneath the Brisbane River and the central business district—permanently dissolves the crippling rail bottleneck at the historic Merivale Bridge.

Commissioning work is centering on four landmark underground passenger hubs: Boggo Road, Woolloongabba, Albert Street, and Roma Street. Equipped with full-height platform screen doors, world-class ventilation shafts, and high-capacity digital signaling, Albert Street becomes the first heavy rail passenger station built in Brisbane's commercial heart in over 120 years, bringing suburban commuters directly into the doorstep of Queen Street Mall and the financial precinct.

Olympic 2032 Infrastructure: 63,000-Seat Victoria Park Stadium and Waterfront Athletes' Village

Accelerating preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, civil construction crews have commenced heavy ground preparation and site setup for key master-planned facilities:

• 63,000-Seat Victoria Park / Barrambin Stadium: Mobilizing early civil engineering works to deliver a premier multi-purpose sports and entertainment arena slated to host Olympic ceremonies and athletics, before transitioning into a permanent legacy home for AFL and cricket.
• Northshore Hamilton Waterfront Transformation: Breaking ground on modern riverside infrastructure that will initially serve as the main Olympic Athletes' Village, before delivering thousands of permanent waterfront residential apartments, parklands, and public boardwalks.
• Woolloongabba Urban Renewal Precinct: Fast-tracking high-density mixed-use commercial and residential zoning immediately surrounding the new Woolloongabba underground station to accommodate regional workforce growth.
• Parkland and Green Canopy Restoration: Preserving over 60 hectares of revitalized green space, native wetland corridors, and active bicycle paths across the inner north under the Victoria Park Master Plan.

Brisbane Metro Electric Rapid Transit Expands Cross-City Connectivity

In parallel, the Brisbane City Council has advanced operational rollouts for the high-capacity, all-electric Brisbane Metro rapid transit network. Utilizing specialized rubber-tyred electric vehicles running along dedicated busways, the activation of the newly engineered Adelaide Street Tunnel allows rapid transit fleets to bypass surface intersections, providing seamless cross-river feeder services connecting Eight Mile Plains, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH), and university campuses.

By unifying underground heavy rail tunnels, zero-emission electric busway networks, and legacy Olympic residential communities, Brisbane is constructing an integrated civic landscape that delivers immediate commuter relief while securing sustainable long-term prosperity for Queensland.