Throughout April, many rail services in South-East Queensland will face disruptions due to extensive track closures, coinciding with a rising fuel crisis that has prompted commuters to seek alternatives to driving. Translink has advised that major track closures will take place from Good Friday until Sunday, April 26. This will affect services on Anzac Day as well as several NRL and AFL matches scheduled during this period.
The closures are primarily due to significant construction work, including the Cross River Rail project, alongside various upgrades and maintenance efforts across the rail network. Commuters should expect alterations to services on key lines such as the Airport, Beenleigh, Caboolture, Doomben, Gold Coast, Redcliffe Peninsula, Shorncliffe, and Sunshine Coast lines from Good Friday through to April 11. Notably, disruptions on the Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines will extend until April 26.
During this timeframe, buses will replace trains on the affected lines, and passengers are strongly advised to plan their journeys in advance, allowing for extra travel time.
In a related context, Queensland has chosen not to follow the lead of Victoria and Tasmania in providing free public transport, particularly as the fare for all Translink services is already capped at 50 cents. Meanwhile, fuel prices in Australia are nearing $2.60 per litre for unleaded petrol, with diesel prices exceeding $3 per litre. However, any reduction in fuel costs will take time to be reflected at service stations, as establishments will first need to sell off inventory purchased at the previous, higher excise rate.
For further updates, commuters are encouraged to stay informed through official channels as the Department of Transport and Main Roads has been contacted for comments regarding the ongoing changes.