Queensland Rail (QR) had identified a need to improve station access for customers and staff including those with disabilities, the elderly, parents with prams, people with injuries and luggage carriers. The improvements, including new platform access bridges, lifts, shelters, and platform widening/raising, would enable all customers to travel more safely and easily on the rail network.

Morayfield, Strathpine and Boondall stations were identified by QR as three stations that needed immediate upgrades, however it is anticipated that additional stations will follow.

Our team provided electrical, hydraulic and mechanical services design as part of the John Holland team during construction. Major features of the services design included:

• Public lighting to platforms and other publicly accessible areas such as ramps, stairways and accessways.
• Additional illuminated signage and wayfinding to make it easier for customers to navigate the stations.
• Power services including transformers.
• Earthing systems to QR requirements.
• Stormwater drainage, sanitary drainage and water services.
• Air conditioning and ventilation to the new station building.
• Ventilation to lift shafts.

A key focus for our project team was tight management of costs to meet the allocated budget. We undertook value management exercises with John Holland that enabled us to meet QR’s budget goal by:

• Rationalising the stormwater drainage to remove the need for pump stations.
• Simplifying the electrical and communication reticulation paths and authority connections.
• Developing the design in Revit, and maintaining close collaboration with the architect and structural engineer including undertaking regular coordination meetings and clash detection exercises. By performing detailed BIM processes, we were able to assist QR to reduce construction costs and deliver to the original project budget.

Working in rail corridors requires meticulous planning and imposes strict time limitations.

The use of BIM for the high level coordination of the project helped with close management of project construction costs, minimised on-site activities, and provided a high level of certainty in planning activities. This ensured any impacts on rail activities were minimised and the safety of construction workers, QR staff and public patrons was prioritised at all times.