10 Years Since Redcliffe Peninsula Railway Finally Arrived

The Redcliffe Peninsula railway line is approaching its 10th anniversary, marking a decade since trains began carrying passengers between Kippa-Ring and Brisbane after more than a century of proposals and community advocacy.

Read: Redcliffe Peninsula Line: A Community on Track for Change

The 12.6-kilometre line connects Kippa-Ring, Rothwell, Mango Hill East, Mango Hill, Murrumba Downs and Kallangur with Brisbane’s wider rail network. Redcliffe Museum will mark the anniversary by looking back at the railway’s development, from its first proposal in 1885 to the construction project that brought the line into service.

A Railway Journey More Than A Century In The Making

The idea of a railway to Redcliffe dates back to 1885, with more than 22 proposals emerging over the decades amid changing political circumstances and community advocacy. A significant step came in 2003, when the Petrie to Kippa-Ring Public Transport Corridor Study was completed, helping establish the basis for the design that was eventually built.

Funding arrangements involving local, state and Commonwealth authorities were formalised in 2010. By mid-2013, concept designs for six new stations had been released, before construction began in January 2014 across the rail embankments, tracks, structures and stations.

By January 2016, work was nearing completion, with electrical power switched on and testing underway for the track, overhead wiring, signalling system and train stabling facilities. Signalling problems subsequently affected the project’s opening schedule, with issues at the Petrie junction meaning the system was not ready to support the required rail movements.

The line was officially opened during a community event on 3 October 2016, attended by then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, former Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and former Moreton Bay Mayor Allan Sutherland. Residents could travel on free shuttle services between stations, while community activities were held along the line.

Regular passenger services began the following day, with the first train leaving Kippa-Ring at 3.46am on 4 October. The milestone brought the long-running proposal into everyday use for commuters across the peninsula and surrounding suburbs.

Redcliffe Museum Event To Revisit The Railway’s History

The museum’s anniversary event will be held on Saturday, 3 October 2026, from 10.30am to noon at the Redcliffe Museum. Historian Dr Ruth Kerr will discuss the railway’s development, drawing on its history from the 1885 proposal through to the line’s opening.

Dr Kerr has more than 45 years of experience as a Queensland historian and is recognised for her expertise in mining, railways, pastoral and administrative history. She is also an adjunct professor at The University of Queensland and received the John Douglas Kerr Medal of Distinction in 2013.

She will be joined by Maxwell Barton OAM, who chaired the “RAIL 09 – it’s time for the line” campaign and was involved in advocating for the railway. The event will examine the proposals, political changes and community efforts that eventually led to the 12.6-kilometre, $1.2 billion rail link.

Read: Short-Term Rail Disruptions to Affect Caboolture, Redcliffe and Shorncliffe

Admission is free and the event is open to all ages, with bookings essential. The anniversary offers a chance to revisit the decisions, advocacy, and construction milestones that shaped the peninsula’s rail connection.

Published 23-September-2026