Exhibition Station, located in Bowen Hills, is poised to be thrown open again. Visitors for the Royal Queensland Show, or Ekka, this August will be among the first to enjoy it. Our Cross River Rail project has seen significant improvements. Since then, the station has supported improved transit access to major events held at the nearby Brisbane showgrounds. For event-goers, this is a huge improvement, since the station has been shuttered in recent years during its renovation.
The reopening of Exhibition Station will greatly enhance accessibility for all attendees. This upgrade is particularly timely with the popular Camping & Caravan show just around the corner. Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg stressed the economic savings for families heading to the Ekka.
“Back in 2022, catching a train to and from the Ekka from Ipswich would have cost a family of four using a Go Card more than $38 in peak hour,” – Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg
Now, with the new fare structure, it will cost just $4 round trip, no matter how long it takes. This shift should help get more event-goers on public transit for the bigger events.
The station’s reopening is more than just exciting for stationing QEII—one of the world’s great exhibition-class engines—in the Brisbane showgrounds for special events. From there, it will move to year-round services once the Cross River Rail tunnels open in 2029. RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said they were excited to see it reopened, and its importance to RNA patrons attending big events cannot be overstated.
“It’s just fantastic that people can arrive and depart from inside the Ekka for the first time since 2022,” – RNA chief executive Brendan Christou
Christou was thrilled that this development provides a bold preview of future enhancements at the showgrounds. The focal point for these improvements will be the main arena, which will increase its seating capacity to 20,000.
During last year’s Ekka, attendees were supported by free, dedicated shuttles that moved them efficiently across the site and funneled them between Woolloongabba and Herston busway stations. The reintroduction of Exhibition Station will make getting to the showgrounds much easier.
