Railways and Tramways of Australia

Up and away

 

The railway to Brisbane airport officially opened on 7 May 2001.

 

Brisbane’s Airport Line extends 8.5 km from Eagle Junction. It was built by Airtrain Citylink Limited, who own the line and will operate it until 2036, when it will be transferred to the Queensland Government. There are two stations on the line, Domestic and International, and Airtrain employs staff at these stations. However, train services on the line are operated by Queensland Rail.

 

Most of the Airport Line consists of an elevated viaduct, Australia’s longest railway viaduct. It was constructed using 258 concrete piers and 1095 precast concrete beams that are laid between the piers. The line is single track between Eagle Junction and International, and double track between International and Domestic. The two stations are five metres above the ground and are connected to the terminals with bridges.

 

Brisbane became Australia’s second state capital city to have an airport railway line, after Sydney. In the lead up to the opening, a number of events were held to preview the line for official guests and the media. An airport festival was then held on 5 May, allowing the public to travel on the line for the first time. Regular services commenced and an official opening was held at Domestic station on 7 May. Passenger numbers on the line were initially low but began to increase dramatically from 2004.

 

Services from the Airport Line typically extend to Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast Line after travelling through the city, although a small number of trains terminate at Roma Street. E-Tickets can be purchased online for travel on Brisbane’s Airtrain, but Go cards and go seeQ smartcards are also valid.

 

With its elevated viaduct and stations, passengers on Brisbane’s airport line can travel up and away before they fly.

 

Bibliography

G Cash, ‘South-East Queensland passenger rail in 2020 Part 4’, Sunshine Express, vol. 57, no. 3, May–June 2021, pp 18–29.

J Hoyle & B Webber, ‘Take-off for Brisbane Airport line’, Railway Digest, vol. 39, no. 6, June 2001, pp 16–18.

M Walton, ‘Airtrain – the ‘high way to Brisbane airport’’, Transit Australia, vol. 58, no. 1, April 2001, pp 79–85.