Brisbane's Exhibition train station to reopen for major events ahead of Cross River Rail
Brisbane's Exhibition train station will soon reopen for major events at the city's showgrounds, including the Ekka, before operating year-round from 2029.
The station at Bowen Hills has been closed in recent years while it underwent a significant upgrade as part of the Cross River Rail project.
The first event the station will service is this week's camping and caravan show, which kicks off from Wednesday and goes through to Sunday.
It will then be used in August for the Ekka – making it the first time the station has been open for the Royal Queensland Show since 2022.
The Brisbane showgrounds are set to undergo a major refresh ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It will be used to host the main athletes village, while the main arena at the grounds will be upgraded to include 20,000 seats.
Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said commuters using the station would be able to take advantage of 50 cent public transport fares.
"Back in 2022, catching a train to and from the Ekka from Ipswich would have cost a family of four using a Go Card more than $38 in peak hour," he said.
"Now it'll be $4 return, no matter when you travel."
During last year's Ekka, free dedicated shuttles ran between the Woolloongabba and Herston busway stations to get patrons to the showgrounds.
Exhibition station will be available for year-round services when Cross River Rail is ready for passengers from 2029.
The extensive upgrade at the station includes new lifts and a revamped entry plaza.
RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said the reopening was "great news".
"It's just fantastic that people can arrive and depart from inside the Ekka for the first time since 2022," he said.
"It also offers an exciting glimpse of what is to come for the showgrounds."
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