At Queensland Rail, we are dedicated to providing you with clean, modern and accessible stations.
We have an ongoing program of up-grading our facilities and services to provide independent access for everyone, including people with disabilities, parents with children in prams, seniors, people with walking difficulties and people who use mobility aids.
Please click on the links below for more accessible information on the City network:
At the station
We currently have a number of stations which are classed as ‘independently accessible’. This refers to the ability to enter a station, get to a platform and go between platforms independently, without using stairs, via a ramp, pathway or lift.
Please refer to our Independent Access Guide for a list of our independently accessible stations and what facilities are available at these stations.
To access our ‘assisted’ stations you may require some assistance, for example the station may have a steep ramp or a level crossing to negotiate. These stations are classed as ‘assisted’ and people with mobility aids or difficulties with walking may want to be accompanied by a travelling companion for assistance.
Finally at other stations there may be stairs to negotiate. For a complete list of all Queensland Rail city stations and what facilities are available at these stations please use our Disability Access Guide.
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Getting to the station
- Do you intend on driving to the station before catching the train? If so, many of our station car parks have accessible parking spaces which can be used by blue and red permit holders.
- Many stations have connecting bus services with bus stops located nearby. If you need to catch a number of transport options to complete your journey, please contact TransLink for assistance with planning an accessible journey on 13 12 30.
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Accessible passenger information
Queensland Rail provides information at stations in a variety of formats.
All stations have audible announcements two minutes before a train arrives at the station which lets passengers know the trains destination and which platform to go to. Additionally, as the train arrives at the station there is another announcement to confirm this.
Many stations have visual information which is provided on either TV screens or electronic displays that show the scheduled arrival time, final destination, which platform to go to and departure times.
Many stations have timetable consoles which give both audible and visual information. By pressing a button these timetable consoles provide information on the next train stopping at the station going either to the city or from the city. Additionally, these consoles have a beeping tone to assist people with a vision impairment to locate them.
Paper copies of our timetables can also be obtained at all staffed stations or viewed on notice boards at all stations.
Queensland Rail is progressively installing accessible directional signs at stations. These signs have bright contrasting colours, large, raised text, pictograms and Braille.
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Assisted boarding point
Queensland Rail provides an assisted boarding point at many of our stations:
- The assisted boarding point is indicated by the international symbol of accessibility; a white wheelchair on a blue background.
- Look for this symbol on the platform, which is usually in the middle of the platform. For people with a vision impairment it will often be on a mat with a raised tactile surface.
- At many stations the assisted boarding point is located on a higher section of the platform, enabling easier access to the train from the platform for people who have difficulties negotiating a step.
- If you require assistance to board, please position yourself on or near this point to wait for the train. When the train pulls into the station this point is close to the Guard’s cabin.
- Please indicate to the guard that you require assistance and let them know what assistance is necessary.
Remember, the assisted boarding point can be utilized by any customer and is not just for customers who use mobility aids. If you are elderly, have a vision or hearing impairment and would like to sit near the guard for safety, information or ease of access, we recommend you use the assisted boarding point.
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Hearing loops
Increasingly, Queensland Rail is installing hearing loops at stations to assist passenger who are hearing impaired to be aware of train arrivals and departures. At Queensland Rail station ticket counters, which have hearing loops installed, there will be a sign with the international symbol for the deaf and hearing impaired. To use the loop please indicate that you require the loop and allow the station officer sufficient time to turn the loop on. The loop serves to output the Queensland Rail station officer's voice so that a customer's hearing aid can pick up the signal within about 60 centimetres of the ticket window glass.
Hearing loops installed at designated waiting areas on station platforms are denoted by the same sign used at ticket counters. These loops serve to output the Public Address system announcements to the hearing aid loop, provided that the customer is within that designated area. The platform loops are automatically activated whenever there is a PA announcement to that platform.
Both ticket counter and platform hearing loops are audio-frequency Induction hearing loops. To use these loops customers must have hearing aids which have the telecoil (or T-switch) facility. The customer must also have the hearing aid T-switch "on" for it to work.
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Safety and accessibility
A number of stations across the network have tactile indicators installed along the length of platform edges. In most cases these tactile indicators are yellow to highlight our safety message of stand ‘behind the yellow line’.
The tactile indicators have raise circles to denote a ‘hazard’ or ‘warning’ to assist people with a vision impairment in locating where it is safe to walk.
Selected stations also provide ‘directional’ tactile indicators on the platform to guide people who are vision impaired to the entrance and exit of each platform, timetable console and emergency help phone.
In an emergency or if you have a disability and require assistance, please contact Queensland Rail by using one of the following options:
- Use the Disability Assistance and Emergency Help Phone. These phones are installed on consoles at all stations and in some car parks. By pressing the intercom button, customers can directly access assistance if they have a disability or there is an emergency situation. At many stations the console will be situated on the platform within the area covered by the hearing loop, and will have raised text, pictograms and Braille to assist people with a sensory impairment.
- Call (07) 3606 5555 or SMS the Queensland Rail Passenger Hotline on 0428 774 636. A Queensland Rail Passenger Service Officer will respond promptly to your detailed request for train and platform assistance, station accessibility or timetable information. The text messaging service provides an alternative means of communicating with Queensland Rail and may be particularly useful for people who are deaf or hearing impaired.
Keep these numbers handy by downloading and printing the leaflet attached below.
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