Travellers warned of track closures, Story Bridge works over Easter holidays

There will be major track closures in south-east Queensland for three weeks, including over Easter, with travellers forced to catch replacement buses instead of trains.

The Story Bridge will also be fully or partially closed – affecting both motorists and people using the footpath – on various dates over the Easter school holidays for concrete repair works underneath the road surface and bridge inspections.

Translink is asking people to plan their journeys in advance ahead of the train track closures from April 3 to April 26, with most lines impacted.

The closures are required for work on major projects, including for Cross River Rail, the Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade stage one, Logan and Gold Coast faster rail, the Loganlea station relocation, the European Train Control System and general track maintenance.

The disruption will fall within the two-week school holiday and the first week of term two.

From Good Friday, April 3, to Saturday, April 11, there will be major track closures affecting the Sunshine Coast, Caboolture, Redcliffe, Doomben, Shorncliffe, Airport, Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines.

From April 12 to 26, track closures will continue on the Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines only.

Buses will replace trains on affected lines during this whole period.

Extra buses will be available, including express and all-stops rail buses, but authorities say for certain trips, regular bus services might be a more convenient option for people travelling to and from the city.

NRL and AFL fans attending games during track closures have been asked to plan ahead and allow extra travel time.

The closures will affect travel to the Titans-Broncos game at Cbus Super Stadium on April 4 and the Broncos-Cowboys game at Suncorp Stadium on April 10.

Translink acting head Dean Helm said the work was part of a wider transformation of south-east Queensland’s rail network.

“We understand extended track closures can be an inconvenience to customers,” he said.

“This is why we have coordinated work across multiple projects to be undertaken at the same time to help minimise the period of the disruption.

“While there is never a good time for track closures, conducting this work over the school holiday period reduces the impact as less customers travel on the network at this time.”

Cross River Rail Delivery Authority CEO Graeme Newton said work would include removal and installation of track and overhead line equipment around the Mayne yard stabling facility, platform demolition at Moorooka station, and testing and commissioning at the new Hope Island station on the Gold Coast.

There were also major track closures over five weeks in December and January.

Brisbane City Council has also advised a single southbound lane on the Story Bridge will be closed from 9pm on Thursday, April 2, to 9pm Saturday, April 11.

There will be a full closure of the Story Bridge from 9pm Saturday, April 11 to 1pm on Sunday, April 12.

One lane will be open in either direction on the Story Bridge from 1pm on Sunday, April 12 to 5am on Monday, April 13.

The closures will allow workers to repair the concrete slab beneath the road surface and to inspect the bridge and conduct other maintenance activities.

“These works have been planned for the April Easter school holidays, when traffic volumes are lower, and to coincide with the bridge closure for the Tour de Brisbane cycling event,” the council’s website said.

There will also be temporary closures of the eastern footpath at night.

The bridge’s footpaths were suddenly closed due to safety concerns in March 2025, before reopening with temporary decking, with the council saying a full restoration of the bridge would be done over 15 to 20 years.

More information on the track closures can be found at the Translink website.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.