The next stage of Brisbane Metro and the city’s new bus network will launch on Monday 30 June, Brisbane City Council has announced.
The staged introduction of Brisbane Metro is the biggest evolution of Brisbane’s bus network in generations and will help deliver an extra 160,000 services every year together with Brisbane’s new bus network, said Council Chair for Transport, Ryan Murphy.
“We are the only Council in Australia with a track record of delivering city-shaping transport projects like Brisbane Metro, new bridges and tunnels,” said Cr Murphy.
“This is a massive change for Brisbane that will deliver huge benefits for public transport passengers and so its critical people plan their journey ahead of the changes from June 30.
“This is all about delivering more services, more often to help make it easier for people to use our public transport network and ease congestion on our roads.”
The next stage of the Brisbane Metro and the new bus network will feature:
- 24-hour weekend travel on Brisbane Metro services;
- Turn-up-and-go Brisbane Metro services running at five-minute frequences;
- A new ‘M1’ Brisbane Metro service between Roma Street Parkland and Eight Mile Plains, replacing the existing 111 and 160 bus routes;
- Five new bus routes that will improve connectivity to the South East Busway and Fortitude Valley;
- Four new all-day services in streets that currently only have a peak-period buses;
- Twelve combined bus routes that eliminate duplicated services without decreasing the total number of trips;
- Three divided routes that will now finish their service in the city, reducing the likelihood of delays;
- Capacity for an extra 55,000 students to UQ, QUT and Griffith universities.
The Council says more than 1.1 million trips have been taken on the ‘M2’ Brisbane Metro services between UQ and RBWH since 28 January, with services boosted to five-minute frequencies from morning peak to the end of the afternoon peak in preparation for the next stage of metro services.
“Brisbane Metro and our new bus network will help us make the leap from public transport to mass transit, delivering an additional 160,000 services every year,” said Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner.
“The first stage has already been a massive success, with one million trips taken on our first permanent Brisbane Metro services since January this year.
“With local governments collecting just three cents in every tax dollar, collaboration with the Crisafulli Government has been critical to delivering this to delivering better transport for our growing city.”
As works gear up to open the Adelaide Street tunnel in the third quarter of this year, the King George Square, Queen Street and Roma Street bus stations will be temporarily closed during six consecutive super weekends of works from 21 June to 25 July.
Alternative routes will be communicated to passages via in person signage and on the Translink website.
Information and officers will be available at major bus stops to help passengers transition to the new bus network, with changes to be reflected on TransLink’s Journey Planner from Monday 2 June.
“Brisbane’s New Bus Network – developed through a new approach with Council – makes it easier and cheaper than ever to get around the region,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie.
“Along with our 2032 Delivery Plan transport projects, from faster rail to the Gold Coast, The Wave to the Sunshine Coast, and the Bruce Highway upgrades, we’re delivering a boost to connectivity to create a winning long-term legacy,” he said.
