Exhibition railway line

Exhibition line
Overview
Websitequeenslandrail.com.au
Technical
Track length3.4 km (2.1 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1982
Route map
Exhibition railway line
km
0.8
Roma Street (1)
Normanby (closed)
0.0
1.3
Fortitude Valley (1)
3.4
Exhibition
Bowen Hills (2nd site)
Bowen Hills (1st site)
Bowen Hills

The Exhibition railway line (also known as the Ekka Loop line) was a railway line in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It conveyed Queensland Rail City network passengers between city stations (Roma Street, Central and Fortitude Valley) and Exhibition station during the Royal Queensland Show (locally known as "the Ekka") in August and during other special events.

In 2023, parts of the line were realigned and absorbed into the Cross River Rail project in what was described as one of the longest and most complicated pieces of track work ever undertaken in South East Queensland.[1]

History

When the Roma St to Sandgate railway opened in 1882, it had been constructed via Normanby to avoid the need for land resumptions through the Brisbane CBD.[2] When passenger trains were diverted to the new line via Central station in 1890, traffic diminished significantly, and the section between Exhibition station and Mayne along with Normanby station was closed in 1900.[3]

In 2023, parts of the line were realigned and absorbed into the Cross River Rail project in what was described as one of the longest and most complicated pieces of track work ever undertaken in South East Queensland.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Chan, Ray (5 April 2023). "Exhibition line realigned for bridge crossing". Rail Express. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  2. ^ Kerr, J. 'Triumph of Narrow Gauge' Boolarong Publications 1990
  3. ^ Kerr, J. 'Brunswick St, Bowen Hills & Beyond' ARHS 1988