Council floats plan to double KittyCat services after passengers give low scores

The push to get more commuters onto Brisbane public transport continues, with residents invited to have their say on a plan to double the frequency of services on the KittyCat network.

Under the proposal, the CityHopper and inner-city cross-river ferry routes would be reconfigured into three cross-river services that would deliver transport every 15 minutes, as opposed to the current 30-to-36-minute frequency.

Brisbane City Council transport chair Ryan Murphy said residents who used the CityHopper “often face overcrowded vessels and want more frequent services”.

The Kangaroo Point Bridge is due to open in December, providing another vital connection point for active and public transport users. Credit: Courtney Kruk

Following the introduction of 50¢ fares in August, ferry patronage increased by 22.7 per cent – a surge coinciding with a drop in CityCat passenger satisfaction, according to Translink’s latest customer experience survey.

Higher-frequency services would run from:

• Maritime Museum – QUT Gardens Point
• Holman Street – Riverside
• Dockside – Sydney Street

Under the plan, there would no longer be an eight-stop KittyCat route between North Quay and Sydney Street.

But Murphy said the timing of arrivals to the Riverside, Sydney Street and QUT Gardens Point terminals would be coordinated with CityCat services.

“By doubling KittyCat services and ensuring they connect into the CityCat timetable, we are making it even easier for people to leave the car at home and travel by the river instead,” Murphy said.

“With more KittyCat services planned alongside the Kangaroo Point Bridge opening on December 15, residents are about to see a huge boost to public and active transport in the area.”

The CityHopper service is currently free of charge, but the council said it would consider introducing 50¢ fares as part of the network improvement plan.

People can provide feedback on the plan through an online survey open for two weeks from October 21, available via QR codes at ferry terminals.

Figures provided by the council showed more than 830,000 trips were taken on the CityHopper and inner-city cross-river services in 2023-24.

CityCat passengers surveyed in August gave worse scores for the availability of seating, cleanliness on board, comfort of the ride, feeling safe on board, punctuality and overall experience, compared with a year ago.

Overall, data has indicated a greater uptake in public transport across Brisbane since fares were slashed.

The new plan for KittyCats was announced on the first day of the long-awaited Brisbane Metro services. More than 140 eager passengers were on board for the first trip of the day, departing the Eight Mile Plains Busway station on Monday morning just after 6.30am.

Initial services are running along the existing 169 bus route on the South East Busway, Eastern Busway and across the Eleanor Schonell Bridge, stopping at nine stations including Garden City, Griffith University, Greenslopes, Buranda, PA Hospital and UQ Lakes.

The fleet of 60 fully electric metros are double the length of a standard bus and have a 150-passenger capacity.

The council will also seek feedback on these services via a QR code onboard, with information used to inform the next phase of the Metro rollout.

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