SEQ Train Blog - Rothwell

I visited Rothwell station on 9 September 2017.

Services

Rothwell is located on the Redcliffe Peninsula line and is served by all train services travelling between Kippa-Ring and Roma Street with many continuing to Springfield Central. Rothwell is the penultimate station along the Redcliffe Peninsula line. Rothwell station is located 37.3 km from Roma Street and the approximate travel time is 55 minutes.

Fares

Rothwell is located in zone 3 meaning that the fares between Rothwell and Roma Street are:

Fares: Zone 3 to Roma Street

History

A train line out to Redcliffe was first proposed in 1895 when Hon. Robert Philp, the Queensland Government Minister for Railways considered three proposals with the preferred alignment via the then North Pine station, now Petrie. In the 1970s the route was identified and in the 1980s the corridor was purchased to be preserved for the transport corridor by the Queensland Government.

In 2003 a transport corridor study was completed which provided the foundation for the project design. In July 2010 a funding agreement was signed between the Gillard federal government ($742 million), Bligh state government ($300 million) and the Moreton Bay Regional Council ($105 million). In January 2012 the design of the stations began and in September 2013 pre-construction activities began including boundary fencing, surveying, ecology, utilities and properties.

In early 2014 the construction works began which were completed in March 2015. The overhead wiring was switched on in January 2016 and the testing of the overhead wiring, signalling, tracks and stabling yard began. In May 2016 the Department of Transport and Main Roads advised that the signalling was unsafe and the line's opening was delayed indefinitely by the then Transport Minister, Stirling Hinchliffe. It was finally opened on 3 October 2016 with free shuttle train services running on the line between Kippa-Ring and Petrie on a public open day and the following day regular services travelling into the city began.

Rothwell station was named after the homonymous suburb of Rothwell which was named after Thomas James Rothwell who was the president of the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ). In 1921 he proposed a memorial drive marked by an avenue of trees to Redcliffe. It is now Anzac Avenue.