A glimpse into the underground stations of Brisbane’s Cross River Rail

Progress continues apace on the critical Cross River Rail urban transport project on Yuggera and Turrbal Country in Brisbane, Australia. 

Scheduled to open in 2026, the city-shaping metro will be ready to welcome local, interstate and international visitors as the region prepares for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics. 

A crucial step in the construction process has involved testing the design by building a station mock-up facility, which offers a first glimpse of the underground concourses. The facility also reveals the conceptual thinking behind the recognisable forms and finishes of these spaces.

“Our architects had a vision to truly make something uniquely Queensland and I think you will see that come through in the architecture showing something that is world class and different. People will say, ​‘that’s Brisbane; that’s no place else in the world’,” notes Program Director of Cross River Rail, Jeremy Kruger.

“What is exciting, and it comes to life in this mock-up, is this doesn’t look like any other underground tunnel around the world…”

— Program Director of Cross River Rail, Jeremy Kruger

“Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could replicate the feeling of being on a verandah in a Queenslander into that underground space?” 

— Principal, Keith Allen

Evoking the unique feel and character of Brisbane’s vernacular architecture was a key design move. Materials like perforated metal and faceted shapes and forms reference the historical architecture of the city’s famed Queenslander verandahs, ensuring Cross River Rail concourses have a hometown relevance and familiarity.

A powerful tool for exploring the experience and constructability of concourses, the mock-up facility allows the design team to refine architectural forms and finishes and test key elements like lighting, signage and service integration before they are constructed in-situ.

“Our early sketches imagining a unique series of underground verandahs are now one step closer to being realised and experienced by the public…this is an incredibly exciting moment.”

“Experiencing the physical scale of this dramatic but intimate volume provides us with a real understanding of how these underground spaces will feel.” 

— Principal, Kevin Lloyd

Watch the video below to find out more about this transformational project.