Everything you need to know about the Brisbane Metro

Something new is rolling out on Brisbane’s roads.

It’s not a tram, and it’s definitely not a train. It’s more like a bus. (But don’t call it a bus.)

Almost nine years after then-lord mayor Graham Quirk announced his Brisbane Metro plan, the first vehicles are taking to the streets.

From Monday, the Metro is running along the 169 route, between Eight Mile Plains and UQ Lakes.Credit: Brisbane City Council

So what is the $1.4 billion Brisbane Metro, and how do you use it?

The Metro, which launched on Monday at 6.30am, is initially running services on the existing 169 bus route on the South East Busway, Eastern Busway and across the Eleanor Schonell Bridge.

It services nine stations:

• Eight Mile Plains
• Upper Mount Gravatt (Garden City)
• Griffith University
• Holland Park West
• Greenslopes
• Buranda
• PA Hospital
• Boggo Road
• UQ Lakes

To begin with, the Metro is running on the same frequency and hours as the 169 route, with minor timetable adjustments, and there are 145 services over the day.

People can hail it just like they would a bus, and tap on with a go card. Trips cost 50¢.

Three large doors help passengers board efficiently, and once onboard they will hear a familiar voice – Brisbane-raised Bluey star Melanie Zanetti, known for her character Chilli – announcing the stop, interchange opportunities and points of interest.

The vehicles feature Wi-Fi and USB charging points, real-time information screens, a panoramic rear window and other large windows.

The Metro vehicles will travel along the South-East busway and through dedicated tunnels.Credit: Brisbane City Council

Much has been said about how the Brisbane Metro is not a “metro” in the international sense, and could cause confusion for some who think it is a train line.

But whatever you call it, switching from Brisbane’s current buses on these dedicated busways to the much bigger Metro vehicles could double capacity.

That means an extra 7300 people travelling on the already busy routes each day, or an additional 30 million trips per year.

Council’s 60 fully electric Metro vehicles are 24.4 metres long – double the length of a standard bus – and can accommodate even more people.

The vehicles are fully electric, and can charge in under six minutes.Credit: Brisbane City Council

Metro vehicles have a 150-passenger capacity – with 63 seats and up to 87 standing – or up to 170 people in total in “event mode”.

That compares to standard buses, which at 12.5 metres long have a capacity of 79 people, or existing bendy buses, which at 18 metres long can hold more than 110 people.

The Metro between Eight Mile Plains and UQ is just the beginning.

The next stages will see the network service 18 stations across new Metro 1 and Metro 2 lines, stopping at South Bank, King George Square, QUT Kelvin Grove and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

And there are plans to extend it further, to Carseldine in the north, Capalaba in the east, Springwood in the south and to the Brisbane Airport, with 22 new suburban stations.

Council’s transport chair, Councillor Ryan Murphy, said it was the start of “turn up and go” public transport in Brisbane, meaning passengers could stop relying on bus timetables.

“This is the kind of thing that big global cities have had for many years,” he said.

Murphy admitted the Brisbane Metro name caused “some confusion”, and hinted there might be changes in the future.

“We’re having a good look at the name at the moment … but ultimately, we’re not obsessed with the name.”

Murphy said Metro 1 and 2 would run at five-minute frequencies, but could be ramped up to three-minutes in peak hour.

A date for a full opening depended on negotiations with the state government, which was in caretaker mode, he said.

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