20-year Brisbane Metro maintenance deal with Swiss approved by Council

Brisbane City Council has greenlit a 20-year maintenance deal with Swiss manufacturers of the Brisbane Metro just days after the $1.5bn project was taken off the road.

Council has voted on a 20-year maintenance deal for its Metro buses. Picture: Richard Walker

• Council’s stunning Metro admission

A 20-year maintenance deal with the Swiss manufacturers of Brisbane Metro has been approved by council which it says will save ratepayers money.

It comes just days after the controversial four-week trial of the Metro on the 169 route ended and claims from the Labor Opposition that the two main routes might not be running until as late as the end of next year.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner told Tuesday’s council meeting that he had recently toured the Hess factory where the buses would be made and said the family-owned business had an impressive track record on electric buses stretching back four decades.

“They are respected as a world leader when it comes to electric buses,’’ he said.

“They have a three-year pipeline of current orders, so their services, their technology, their vehicles are in huge demand around the world, particularly in Europe.

“This is not a technology that has not been tested or proven in real-life situations.’

The buses were used by more than one million passengers a week, he said.

Council has voted on a 20-year Metro bus maintenance deal. Picture: Richard Walker

“They are great vehicles, they are reliable vehicles,’’ he said.

He said the electric, bendy 24m buses had a two decade lifespan and the contract included spare parts and maintenance support, with less complex work to be done at the new Rochedale depot.

Civic Cabinet Chair for Transport Ryan Murphy said diesel or gas buses cost $27,000 each per year to service, compared with estimated costs for the much larger Metro buses of $21,000 per year.

Mr Schrinner also revealed the updated cost of building Metro was now $1.55bn, up slightly from the recently-announced figure of $1.52bn. It was originally supposed to be $944m.

Labor Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy told the council meeting he was concerned bus station upgrades at Griffith University, Buranda, the Cultural Centre and King George Square were “desperately behind schedule’’.

He also claimed the Adelaide Street tunnel would not open until mid-2025. or even late next year, after Mr Murphy admitted on Tuesday that the Metro 1 and 2 lines would not be running until sometime in 2025.

Audio of a media conference Mr Murphy held at the launch last month revealed he did briefly say, near the end of the event, that it was a “preview’’ and a “trial’’.

“It’s (the launch event) also the start of the preview of the 169. Services will start later this year on M1 and M2,’’ he said.

“We hope (in) the next four weeks of the trial for things to go off without as hitch. This is what the preview is for.’’

But as late as council’s October 29 transport committee meeting there was still no written mention of a trial ending on November 17.

Mr Schrinner told the council meeting that the trial was outlined in an August 23 service change proposal.

But it was unclear when, or if, the “stage 1’’ document was sighted by senior TransLink officials.

Ryan Murphy on board Brisbane Metro. Picture: Richard Walker

Former Labor transport minister Bart Mellish insisted on Tuesday that he was never made aware the 169 launch was only a trial, but Mr Murphy said if the former minister was being honest about his claim then it showed he was “incompetent’’.

Mr Murphy said the trial involved extensive testing on a range of matters like accessibility, driveability, on-board systems, charging and driver training.

He said it was an “incredible success’’ despite complaints that overhead grab bars were too low, doors did not open properly in wet weather, audio of stop announcements was not loud enough and the ride was not comfortable.

About 800 tests were conducted before the October 21 trial began.

“The four-week trial was an incredible success, with 94 per cent of services running on-time and an overall customer satisfaction rating of 4.3 out of 5,’’ Mr Murphy said.

Council has voted on a 20-year Metro bus maintenance deal. Picture: Richard Walker

“Nothing can compare to the real-life experience, which is why our four-week 169 trial was so important.

“The fact is the Brisbane Metro would be operating already if it wasn’t for the recalcitrance and delaying tactics of the former Labor government.’’

Incoming LNP Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said he was working with council on delivering Metro M1 and M2 “as per community expectations’’.

“The results of the recent trial, agreed to by the former Labor Government, as well as community feedback, will be used to shape the permanent service,’’ he said.

“My initial meeting with Councillor Murphy was a productive one and I am committed to ensuring a good working relationship with Brisbane City Council moving forward.’’