Central railway station, Brisbane facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Central
Ann Street entrance in June 2020
Location	Corner Ann & Edward Streets, Brisbane
Coordinates	27°27′57″S 153°01′34″E / 27.4659°S 153.0261°E / -27.4659; 153.0261
Owned by	Queensland Rail
Operated by	Queensland Rail
Line(s)	North Coast
Platforms	6 (3 islands)
Construction
Structure type	Underground (Partly Sub-Terrain)
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Status	Staffed
Station code	(platform 1) (platform 2) (platform 3) (platform 4) (platform 5) (platform 6)
Fare zone	go card 1
Website	Queensland Rail
History
Opened	18 August 1889
Electrified	Yes
Services
Preceding station Queensland Rail Following station Roma Street Continues as the Gold Coast line towards Varsity Lakes Airport Line Fortitude Valley towards Domestic Terminal Fortitude Valley towards Bowen Hills Beenleigh Line Roma Street towards Beenleigh Roma Street Terminus Caboolture Line Fortitude Valley towards Caboolture Fortitude Valley towards Bowen Hills Cleveland Line Roma Street towards Cleveland Roma Street Terminus Doomben Line Fortitude Valley towards Doomben Roma Street Exhibition Line Bi-directional loop Fortitude Valley Roma Street Terminus Ferny Grove Line Fortitude Valley towards Ferny Grove Fortitude Valley Continues as the Airport line towards Domestic Terminal Gold Coast Line Roma Street towards Varsity Lakes Fortitude Valley towards Bowen Hills Ipswich & Rosewood Line Roma Street towards Ipswich or Rosewood Roma Street Terminus Redcliffe Peninsula Line Fortitude Valley towards Kippa-Ring Shorncliffe Line Fortitude Valley towards Shorncliffe Fortitude Valley towards Bowen Hills Springfield Line Roma Street towards Springfield Central Roma Street Terminus Sunshine Coast Line Fortitude Valley towards Nambour or Gympie North

Central railway station is a very important train station in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's on the North Coast line. This station is the main hub for the City network. You can find it right in the middle of Brisbane's city centre.

History of Central Station

Looking east to the main station entrance in 1911

Central station first opened on 18 August 1889. Back then, it was made of wood and corrugated iron. It was the end of the train line that came from Roma Street railway station.

Early Developments (1891-1909)

In 1891, a tunnel was built to Brunswick Street station. This meant trains could go directly from Central to places further north. A fancy new station building opened in 1899. It had cool arched roofs over the platforms. It also had a grand entrance on Ann Street. In 1901, a new entrance with a row of clocks was added. It was made from sandstone. By 1904, Central station had a special system. This system used air pressure to change train tracks and signals. At first, the station had two main tracks and two side tracks. In 1909, the side tracks were changed into main tracks too.

Changes Over Time (1954-1996)

In 1954, Ann Street was made wider. This meant the grand entrance from 1899 had to be taken down. The arched roof was removed in 1966. It was replaced with simpler covers over each platform. Between 1968 and 1970, the station was updated a lot. Office buildings were built over some platforms. The 1901 entrance was also removed. A new shopping area for people walking through was built. More changes happened in the 1980s. The Sheraton Hotel towers were built over the remaining platforms. These towers are now the Sofitel Brisbane hotel. In 1996, two new platforms, Platforms 5 and 6, were opened. This was part of making the train line bigger.

Recent Upgrades (2017)

In early 2017, a big upgrade project started at the station. This helps keep the station modern and working well.

Station Layout

Central railway station is at the top end of Brisbane's city centre. It's on Ann Street, right across from Anzac Square.

How to Get In

You can get into the station from many places:

• The main entrance is at the corner of Ann and Edward Streets.
• There's an underground walkway connecting Anzac Square to Upper Edward Street.
• Another entrance is at the corner of Ann Street and Creek Street.
• You can also get in from Wickham Terrace.
• Another way is from Edward Street, through the Railway Centre courtyard.

Accessibility Features

The station has ways for everyone to get around easily:

• There are elevators from Ann Street, near the Shrine of Remembrance.
• You can also find elevators from Wickham Terrace.
• Escalators are available from the Anzac Square Arcade.

Train Services

Central station is a busy place! All the local and interurban train lines of the City network stop here. You can check the Inner City timetable for more details on train times.

Platforms

Images for kids

• 

  View of the platforms around 1911

• 

  The Central Station Cafe in 1927