Ekka transport: the show's own train station
Exhibition station & live Ekka services · updates automatically
Every August the Royal Queensland Show takes over the RNA Showgrounds — and Brisbane's rail network does something it does for nothing else: it opens a station that exists almost entirely for the occasion. Here's how Exhibition station works, the live Ekka transport announcements, and the way home after the fireworks.
Exhibition: the station that sleeps 50 weeks a year
Exhibition station sits inside the Showgrounds themselves — walk off the train, you're at the show. It's Brisbane's only special-event station: no everyday services, no regular timetable, which is why you won't find it in normal journey searches. When the Ekka (or another major Showgrounds event) is on, special trains run there directly, the announcements land in the live panel above, and the journey planner picks them up on the day.
The rest of the year: Bowen Hills
Live departures from the Showgrounds' everyday station, a short walk from the gates.
Loading live departures…
Outside show time, concerts, expos and markets at the Showgrounds run via Bowen Hills station — the full venue rundown is in our RNA Showgrounds guide.
Show-day tactics
- Go in early, leave off-peak — mid-morning arrivals and pre-fireworks exits skip the crushes.
- Don't drive — event clearways and scarce parking make Bowen Hills a tow-truck lottery during the show.
- Know your last train before the fireworks — last service home shows tonight's real final departures, and the big event nights guide covers the getting-home playbook.
Ekka transport questions
What is Exhibition station and when does it open?+
Exhibition is Brisbane's only special-event train station, sitting right inside the RNA Showgrounds. It doesn't appear in everyday timetables because it only opens for the Ekka each August and selected major Showgrounds events — when it's running, special services appear in the live panel above and in the journey planner.
What's the best way to get to the Ekka?+
Train, without question. On show days, services run to Exhibition station inside the grounds; year-round, Bowen Hills station is a short walk away. Parking around Bowen Hills is scarce, pricey and clearway-ridden during the show — the train skips all of it.
Is public transport included with an Ekka ticket?+
In past years show tickets have often included travel arrangements, but the deal changes year to year — confirm on the official Ekka site when tickets go on sale. Either way, every trip on the network is currently a flat 50 cent fare.
How do I get home after the Ekka fireworks?+
The crowd leaves at once after the night show, so head straight for Exhibition or Bowen Hills rather than waiting out the rush. Check last services before the fireworks start — our last service home tool shows tonight's final departures live.
More live guides
🎆 Big event nights: getting home →
Riverfire, NYE, Origin — the extra services running now and your way home.
🏉 Game day: Suncorp & the Gabba →
Live Milton departures, event changes, and the fastest ways in and out.
✈️ Airport line status today →
Is the Airtrain running? Live airport-line alerts and the fare facts.
🌙 NightLink & late-night transport →
What runs after midnight on weekends, live changes, and your last way home.
Live information on this page comes from TransLink's service alerts feed and updates automatically. Plan any trip with the journey planner.