Queensland Rail Authorised Officers to near 70, up from 25
The number of Queensland Rail Authorised Officers will reach almost 70 once 35 recruits, described by the operator as its largest intake, finish 12 weeks of training.
The new group consists of 33 officers who will patrol the network and two who will coordinate operations. The recruits are going through rigorous selection and intensive training and will start work on trains and at stations only once that is complete. No deployment date has been published.
Most of the recruits were already Queensland Rail employees, working as porters, trackworkers or in rail customer service. The rest had previously worked in the navy, the trades, mining, hospital security or social work. One recruit, Izzy, who moved across from station work, said she was motivated by the chance to help people in crisis or those who simply need directions.
What Authorised Officers can do
Authorised Officers are not police officers. They are Queensland Rail staff with special powers under legislation. They use those powers mainly to deter antisocial behaviour, enforce behavioural standards and keep trains and stations safe, while backing up the Queensland Police Service (QPS). Their duties also include work at major events, joint operations with QPS and patrols of the rail corridor.
Drew Brock, Queensland Rail’s General Manager of Safety and Security, said the role went beyond enforcement:
“Not only do our recruits have all the necessary training and skills needed to de-escalate anti-social behaviour, manage crowds during major events and respond during medical emergencies, they can also issue infringement notices where necessary.”
In 2025, the unit recorded almost 25,000 interactions and took part in more than 1,400 operations, including tasks linked to mental health and rail safety. The enlarged team will work with more than 90 officers from the Queensland Police Service Railway Squad.
| Team | What it does on the network | Published size |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland Rail Authorised Officers | Patrols on board trains, at stations and in car parks. Some officers are also trained to patrol inside the rail corridor, where they target graffiti and trespassing | Almost 70 once the 35 recruits finish training |
| Queensland Police Service Railway Squad | Police teams working on trains, at stations and in car parks, based at eight dedicated outposts in South East Queensland | More than 90 officers |
| Private security officers | Travel on guardian trains in the evening and at night, with mobile teams checking stations and car parks | Not given on the cited pages |
| Queensland Rail Security Monitoring team | Watches the network’s help phones and more than 12,000 CCTV cameras 24 hours a day from the Rail Management Centre | Not given on the cited pages |
Authorised Officers work alongside three other security teams. The pages cited here give headcounts for two of the four. Sources: Queensland Rail security teams page and the Queensland Rail announcement of 30 September 2026.
How the new station roster fits in
Queensland Rail says a new station staff roster made the recruitment possible. The roster has applied since early May 2026 and assigns station staff to the locations and hours where customers most need them.
The operator announced the plan to add 35 Authorised Officers on 19 March 2026, saying it would double the unit’s ranks. Queensland Rail paired the increase with a revised model for customer service at stations. It said the model had been worked out with staff and unions, among them the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), since 2024. According to the operator, the unions accepted the changes and dropped their Fair Work Commission case in February 2026.
At the time, Rob Hill, Executive General Manager of South East Queensland Operations, rejected what the operator called false claims about its workforce. He said front-line jobs were secure and that the aim was to deploy staff at the times and places they are required.
Authorised Officer numbers since 2025
In an answer to a question on notice asked in April 2025, Queensland’s Minister for Transport and Main Roads told state parliament that Queensland Rail had 25 Authorised Officers as at 31 March 2025. A unit of almost 70 would be nearly three times that figure.
