ETCS Level 2 goes live in Queensland

ETCS Level 2 goes live in Queensland AUSTRALIA: Queensland Rail has begun carrying passengers in trains operating with ETCS Level 2, as part of the phased introduction of the technology to the Brisbane suburban network. ETCS is being rolled out across South East Queensland as part of a wider rail network modernisation ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is being delivered by the Sequence Alliance, bringing together the Department of Transport & Main Roads, Hitachi Rail, the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority and Queensland Rail. Testing has been underway for some time using a pilot installation on the Northgate – Shorncliffe branch to the north of the city. Following ‘thousands of hours’ of test running, QR announced that it would put the system into revenue service for shuttle services on ‘selected weekends’. The first passenger-carrying train operating in Level 2 was due to depart from Shorncliffe at 05.14 on Saturday September 12. At this stage the service is being run as a stand-alone operation, with through passengers having to change trains at Northgate. This enables QR to keep its pilot ETCS-equipped trainset on the branch and avoids the need for it to transition between Level 2 and the legacy signalling at Northgate. Work is underway to install ETCS Level 2 in the Cross River Rail tunnels, while contracts have been placed for work on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast lines as part of a 12-stage rollout programme. Queensland Rail Group Executive of Major Projects Warren McReight said passengers ‘shouldn’t notice any difference to their usual experience’ while riding the ETCS Level 2 enabled train. The system would ‘allow us to run more trains, more often’, he explained. ‘We understand disruption during testing has been frustrating, and we thank customers for their patience as we reach this important milestone in the phased introduction of ETCS on the SEQ rail network. These are all crucial steps with the eyes of the world soon on us for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.’ - Read more about ETCS developments in Australia in the October 2026 issue of Railway Gazette International magazine. Subscribe to gain access to all news Already have a subscription? Log in. Choose your subscription Considering a corporate subscription? Contact us to find out more.