Queensland Rail’s major train-wash upgrade has been completed and making its own mark on the Inner City Bypass.
Queensland Rail’s Acting Head of South East Queensland Scott Cornish said the recently upgraded train-wash was equipped with state-of-the-art brushes and washing gear to tackle even the toughest grime.
“Our trains cover more than 800 kilometres of track in South East Queensland, and those kinds of trips rack up plenty of dust, dirt and other material which can sometimes leave an unsightly stain,” Cornish said.
“With half a dozen brushes weighing a tonne each and spanning up to five metres combined with high-powered jet soakers, we’re able clean up to five trains a day returning them to service in around 10 minutes.
“The trains are rinsed, which prepares them for maintenance, then acid washed and rinsed again with a demineralising solution to leave them sparkling. As part of the upgrade, we also spruced up the staff facilities and enhanced security around the precinct.”
Cornish said the upgrade was completed with minimal disruptions to regular train operations across the 18-month period.
“The train-wash can now continue its role as one of Queensland Rail’s quietest achievers keeping our fleet in the state our customers deserve,” he said.
Whilst the bulk of the upgrade occurred inside the train-wash, the exterior also sports a freshen-up of its own, with a colourful mural now in pride of place along the Inner City Bypass side of the building.
“We couldn’t let the train wash have an internal overhaul but have no glow-up to show the public, so Vans the Omega’s mural ‘Step by Step’ was the perfect solution,” Cornish said.
“The artwork is unmissable on the Inner City Bypass and we hope the picturesque addition brightens the day of anyone travelling past in peak hour traffic.”
Artist Joel V Moore, also known as Vans the Omega, said the artwork paid tribute to the local area.
“I have taken a topographical view of the Normanby area and mirrored colours from the lizards and wildlife I spotted, native plants and the shape and colour of the rock formations,” Moore said.
“The line work and the details are the cross sections of the roads, the natural waterways, pathways, the train line and nearby parklands.
“I never knew trains got washed like a regular car wash – it blows my mind! To have my artwork along the side of such a unique facility is pretty wild and I hope the public enjoy all the artwork’s elements.”
The mural aims to foster community pride as part of Queensland Rail’s ongoing Positive pARTnerships Program.
