Stations and stops

Stations and stops considers the design features included at train, tram, and bus stations, bus stops, busways, and ferry terminals. It includes things like station design, park ‘n’ ride, kiss ‘n’ ride, wayfinding, lifts, ramps, tactile indicators, braille signage, audio announcements, platform height, seating, accessible toilets and comfort areas.

What you have told us

Accessibility upgrades at stations and stops can make travel significantly safer and easier for people with disability. For example, removing gaps between the platform and vehicle, and having functioning and accessible lifts, multiple access points, safe footpaths, and accessible ramps can ensure wheelchair users and those with mobility challenges can board or disembark safely. Tactile wayfinding, audio announcements, and braille should also be widely available and well-maintained.

Hailing buses (particularly at busy stops and busway stations) can cause anxiety, and people may miss their bus if the driver can’t see them. Finding the right bus at busy stations can also be difficult, especially for people in wheelchairs and people with low vision.

People with neurological conditions such as Autism may be overstimulated by crowded stations and stops. Things like noise, smells, and lighting can lead to a range of physical, emotional, and cognitive difficulties. Busy bus and rail stations, and busway designs should consider technologies that help minimise sensory overwhelm.

Waiting at bus stops can sometimes mean exposure to extreme weather conditions. Providing appropriate shade and seating helps people who can’t stand for long periods or struggle with the effects of extreme weather.

What we are doing

Addressing infrastructure barriers

Upgrading infrastructure is critical for people to access services. We are investing in new and upgraded infrastructure that will meet or exceed requirements under the Transport Standards and deliver fit for purpose outcomes.

Bus stops

We continue to provide grant funding to local councils to deliver accessibility upgrades to priority bus stops and stations. Since 2017, we have provided more than $33 million in grant funding to support 22 local governments upgrade over 2,300 bus stops.

We have also provided over $1 million in grant funding to support 26 local governments upgrade 37 long distance coach stops.

Ferry terminals

In partnership with Redland City Council, we delivered the Southern Moreton Bay Islands ferry upgrade program at four islands – Russel, MacLeay, Lamb and Karragarra.

Key features included:

• larger, accessible, sheltered pontoons
• wider gangways and enhanced circulation spaces
• new amenities blocks and landside shelters at Russell and Macleay islands
• security cameras, smart lighting and remote lighting control systems to improve passenger safety.

We will incorporate learnings and insights from this process into future ferry terminal and other similar infrastructure upgrades.

New and upgraded train stations

When designing and delivering new Queensland passenger train stations, we will consider a range of accessibility features including:

• lift-accessible footbridges
• fully raised full-length platforms
• extended platform shelters
• upgraded customer facilities such as accessible toilets
• disability-compliant ticket windows and gates
• improved seating
• hearing augmentation loops
• tactile floor indicators
• new wayfinding signage
• information screens
• better security through security camera and lighting upgrades.

A range of train station projects delivering new and upgraded accessibility features are outlined below.

Cross River Rail will deliver new accessible stations at Roma Street, Boggo Road, Albert Street and Woolloongabba. It will also deliver several station upgrades from Dutton Park to Salisbury. These upgrades will incorporate accessibility features such as accessible parking bays, new overpasses, passenger lifts, and platform improvements. New stations at Pimpama, Hope Island and Merrimac will provide more customers with easy access to accessible public transport.

Learn more about the Dutton Park to Salisbury station upgrades.

Learn more about the new Gold Coast stations on the Cross River Rail website.

The Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail will address growing demand between Brisbane and Gold Coast by improving rail reliability and accessibility. Rail stations will be upgraded to be more accessible between Beenleigh and Kuraby, including:

• level crossing removals
• station upgrades and relocations
• improvements to walking and bike riding access
• improvements to parking.

Learn more about the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail.

The Wave will provide a direct connection between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, joining with the existing North Coast Line just north of Beerwah Station. This includes access to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Sunshine Coast Airport, and major housing developments in the southern Sunshine Coast. This project will deliver four new accessible rail stations and four new or upgraded accessible metro stations on the Sunshine Coast and deliver accessibility upgrades at Beerwah station.

Learn more about The Wave.

Albion Station is being upgraded to provide a modern and accessible interchange. Beyond the opening of Cross River Rail, Albion will play an important role for customers to easily and safely transfer between train services.

Learn more about the New Albion Station project.

We also partner with Queensland Rail to deliver station upgrades across the broader network ensuring all customers can access the station and boarding points. Other upgrades may include improvements to accessible parking, accessible toilets and platform raising.

Learn more about SEQ train station accessibility upgrades.

Learn more about regional station upgrades.

Improving ways to hail and board a bus

We are working with partners to identify accessible options for people to hail a bus and know when a service is arriving.

Help phones

Help phones are used by customers at bus and rail stations for many reasons. This can include for travel and accessibility information, informing control centres and drivers that a customer is waiting for a service, and in emergencies.

Help phones are monitored 24/7 and available at busways, train stations, tram stations and inside all trains.

To ensure that help phones are fully accessible for people with diverse needs, we have developed an improved help phone using a rigorous co-design and collaborative testing processes.

The innovative design has a range of improved accessibility features, including an easier interface, improved audio and hearing loops, and integration with station systems to pause station announcements so that users can interact with the help phone easily.

The units are also configured for future upgrades including voice-to-text capability.

New phones have been installed at South Bank Busway Station, Cultural Centre Bus Station and UQ Lakes Busway Station, and will be incorporated into new and upgraded stations.

E-Paper digital bus stop displays

E-Paper digital bus stop displays are a transformative technology and we have completed installation of nearly 300 units at prioritised bus stop locations across Queensland.

The display looks like ink on paper. It offers high visibility in all lighting conditions including direct sunlight and nighttime without emitting light like traditional displays. It gives real-time bus departure information and disruption alerts, replacing static printed timetables with dynamic, up-to-date information.

Accessibility is a core feature of the E-Paper bus stop displays. Each unit includes an integrated audio button and loudspeaker that reads aloud the next arriving buses, so customers with low vision and those without smartphones can access essential travel information. The screens also use larger fonts and high-contrast layouts to support readability for all users.

Feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive, praising the ease of use, clarity of information, and inclusive design that supports independent travel.

Learn more about Translink projects and initiatives.

Consider sensory challenges in design stages

There are opportunities to further investigate how we embed design features to support people who experience sensory sensitivity and who may be overwhelmed.

These include:

• hearing areas for amplification and magnification
• desensitising requirements
• noise calming cones
• considerations of light sensitivity
• considerations of hypersensitive hearing.

To consider the design outcomes we will include people who experience these challenges in our accessibility reference groups, consultation and user testing activities.

What we will do next

• Assess accessibility at bus stops across the state to help inform both scale and priority for bus stop accessibility upgrades.
• Continue to work with local councils to assist with upgrading passenger transport infrastructure to meet the requirements of the Transport Standards.
• Continue to undertake accessibility upgrades on State owned bus, rail and ferry infrastructure to meet or exceed compliance with minimum design standards and achieve fit for purpose outcomes (including through provision of shade where possible).
• Starting with Central Queensland, progressively review bus stop networks across Queensland to identify and prioritise bus stop improvements that will enhance customer access to services.