Beenleigh Feeder Station Project

Strengthening

South

East

Queensland’s

Future

Rail

Power

A world-class transport network is essential for South East Queensland as the region prepares for rapid population growth and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The region’s population is projected to grow from approximately 3.8 million to nearly 6 million by 2046, placing increasing pressure on existing transport corridors. Public transport usage is already rising, with over 153 million trips recorded in 2022–23, an increase of 40 million in a single year, with daily rail patronage expected to double in key growth corridors. To meet this demand and the surge expected during the Olympic Games requires reliable, high-capacity rail infrastructure capable of serving both everyday commuters and international visitors.

Queensland Rail’s Beenleigh Substation Renewal project delivers this critical capability, providing the reliable power supply needed to expand services, including more frequent and longer service routes along the Brisbane to Gold Coast corridor. It also supports major programs such as the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail (LGCFR) and the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP).

Linking power across the network

Engaged by Queensland Rail, SMEC is delivering the full engineering detailed design for this critical traction power infrastructure upgrade, supporting the reliability and resilience of South East Queensland’s growing rail network. Our scope includes:

A new 110/50kV feeder station at Beenleigh,
50kV Track coupling unit at Ormeau
An eight-kilometre underground high-voltage cable route with two river crossings.

The Beenleigh Feeder Station introduces a distinctive dual configuration: a 25 kV booster transformer system feeding north towards Brisbane and a 50 kV autotransformer system supplying south towards the Gold Coast. This combination ensures a stable and efficient traction power supply across the South East rail network, providing both design flexibility and reliability to support the region’s expanding rail operations.

Location

Brisbane, Australia

Client

Queensland Rail

Year

2025 – ongoing

Expertise

Rail & Metro Stations and TOD

of underground high-voltage cable route

river crossings

booster transformer feeding north towards Brisbane

autotransformer feeding south towards the Gold Coast

Meeting technical and site challenges

The project team faced narrow corridors, flood-prone terrain and the need to minimise impacts on nearby residential areas. To address these constraints, SMEC proposed relocating the feeder station closer to the rail corridor, a solution to which Queensland Rail raised no objection, reducing construction costs, improving flood resilience and limiting community disruption.

Every design decision prioritised safety, operational reliability and reduced construction costs. The addition of a third bus bar for the Ormeau 50 kV track coupling unit circuit and the removal of outdoor switchgear, provided more reliable high voltage switching and reduced operator risk. Detailed soil resistivity testing enabled an optimum earthing solution that uses less copper while maintaining performance. This careful approach reduces material use and helps minimise environmental impact while ensuring the network’s long-term resilience.

The design also involved several complex challenges specific to the Queensland Rail network. One key requirement was to deliver a dedicated underground 50 kV traction power supply to the new Ormeau Maintenance Facility, located 8km away. This system allows maintenance and stabling operations to continue during mainline outages. SMEC developed a tailored solution to manage the traction return current path from the single-phase 25 kV maintenance facility into the two-phase 50 kV autotransformer system through underground supply cables. In addition, the team also carried out cable harmonic and voltage sheath assessments to confirm the safety and efficiency of this specialised power configuration.

It is a privilege to help deliver a substation that is vital to the Brisbane–Gold Coast corridor. This upgrade supports population growth, major rail programs and the transport demand of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games while enhancing safety and operational performance.

Strategic significance and regional benefits

The Beenleigh Substation will deliver a resilient traction power supply. The upgrade will also benefit the Logan Gold Coast Faster Rail (LGCFR) initiative through shared network interfaces, helping the system accommodate future growth and increasing reliability well beyond the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This project reflects SMEC’s depth of expertise in traction power and rail electrification across Australia and New Zealand. Drawing on decades of work in railway electrification systems, including major programs such as Cross River Rail and Sydney Metro, our team brings proven experience that ensures this upgrade delivers safe, efficient and reliable power for Queensland Rail and the growing South East Queensland network. Our team brings proven knowledge that ensures this upgrade delivers safe, efficient and reliable power for Queensland Rail and the growing South East Queensland network.