The 5 worst spots where trains make drivers late for work
Commuters must grind to a halt for 18 minutes out of every hour at south-east Queensland’s slowest level crossing.
Analysis can reveal South Pine Road at Strathpine tops the list of the worst level crossings on the Citytrain network for delaying traffic, with boom gates down – and cars stopped – for an average of one hour, 29 minutes and 13 seconds between 5am and 10am on weekdays.
Beams Road, Carseldine comes in at number six, with the boom gates down for one hour and 14 minutes.Credit: Tony Moore
It was followed closely by Sherwood Road at Sherwood, with one hour and 26 minutes, and Nathan Road at Runcorn with one hour and 24 minutes.
While motorists languish, the Palaszczuk government has not removed a single rail crossing in nine years.
That is in stark contrast to the Andrews government in Victoria, which removed 70 rail crossings as part of a costly $6.6 billion program.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said level crossing protection was designed to give pedestrians or vehicles time to clear before the train entered the crossing.
“[It] is designed with the safety of motorists, pedestrians, trains and on-board customers in mind,” Bailey said, in an answer to a question on notice tabled during Queensland budget estimates.
“Level crossing downtime is a factor considered in timetable design, ensuring these interfaces operate safely and effectively in the delivery of services.”
Bailey said Transport and Main Roads was prioritising 13 level crossings under the South East Queensland Level Crossing Upgrade Program, representing about 20 per cent of crossings.
As part of the $2.59 billion Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project, jointly funded with the federal government, level crossings at Kuraby, Woodridge, Bethania, Holmview and Beenleigh were planned to be removed.
The Palaszczuk government also committed more than $300 million for level crossing improvements or removal at Boundary Road at Coopers Plains, Beams Road at Carseldine and the Lindum crossing at Lytton, he said.
Bailey said the federal and Queensland governments had committed $550.8 million towards an initial stage of the Beerburrum-to-Nambour rail upgrade, which included the removal of one public and two private level crossings.
The Palaszczuk government was also working with the Australian and local governments on a level crossing prioritisation project to be finalised in 2025 as part of the SEQ City Deal, which would identify “high-priority level crossings for further detailed investigation”.