What is Metro? Brisbane’s new bus network explained ahead of October 21 opening

Brisbane’s public transport network enters a brave new era on October 21 when the first Metro line opens. We take a look at what the buses will be like, the routes and plans for the future.

One of the new Metro buses.

It’s not really a Metro, which is defined as a train rapid transport system.

But BERT (Busway Electric Rapid Transit), the other name for Brisbane’s shiny new public transport option, sounds like a character from Sesame Street.

Brisbanites got their first chance to try out the long-awaited Metro on Saturday, when winners of a Council competition hopped on board for a trial run through Brisbane’s southside.

Transport nerds who missed out get another chance for a sneak peek at a public open day at the fancy new Metro charging depot in Rochedale, this Sunday from 9am to 3pm.

Buses start rolling for real on a temporary route from UQ Lakes to Eight Mile Plains from October 21 until the next State Government approves an inner north route, Metro 1, and a southside route, Metro 2.

So, what is Metro?

A Metro bus being charged.

Boiled down to basics, it is 60 very big (24.4m), bendy, three-compartment, Swiss-made electric buses costing about $3m each.

They will stop at 18 stations over 21km of busway.

The fleet will be powered by 15, Australia-first overhead 600kW fast chargers capable of doing the job in six minutes, plus 60 slow, overnight chargers, all connected to 1MW of solar panels at the Rochedale depot.

How is a Metro bus different to a normal Council bus?

A Metro bus travelling along Countess St.

The buses can take a lot more passengers — 150, or up to 170 in “event mode’’.

There’s also no need to use a timetable as they will turn up every five minutes, moving up to 1800 people per hour in super smooth, super quiet comfort with unmatched accessibility for people with mobility issues.

Passengers can gaze out panoramic windows at the scenery whizzing by, with real time info on how the journey is progressing.

Or if the scenery gets boring, patrons can surf the net with help from in-built USB charging points and on-board Wi-fi.

Each bus has three large mobility aid bays in the first passenger compartment, low-floor design for easy access, 10 priority seats, next stop audio and hearing loops and automated ramp access at the first passenger door.

Is it safe?

One of the new Metro buses.

Since arriving, the pilot metro has completed more than 800 tests and inspections.

What are the routes?

They mostly run on two busways already in use.

Metro 1 route, when approved, will start at Eight Mile Plains, stopping at Upper Mount Gravatt, Griffith Uni, Holland Park West, Greenslopes, Buranda, Mater Hill, South Bank, Cultural Centre, King George Square and Roma St.

Metro 2, when approved, will run from the UQ Lakes stop at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus to stops at Boggo Rd, PA Hospital, Mater Hill, South Bank, the Cultural Centre, King George Square, Roma St, Normanby, QUT Kelvin Grove, Herston and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Will it be expanded?

Brisbane Metro possible future expansion. Picture: Brisbane City Council

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has pinned his hopes on state and federal help to massively expand the number of stations in time for the 2032 Games.

Now that the Gabba station likely won’t go ahead, $450 million is freed up to help pay for that — something the premier and federal Transport Minister Catherine King have made encouraging noises about.

Proposed extensions, which are contingent on state and federal funding help, include:

Airport line stopping at Eagle Junction, Clayfield, Hendra, Ascot, Doomben, airport DFO and the airport terminals.

Metro Line 1 could also be extended to Rochedale and Springwood.

Metro Line 2 extension would stop at Windsor, Lutwyche, Kedron Brook, Kedron North, Chermside, Aspley and Carseldine.

Eastern line would take in Buranda, Stones Corner, Langlands Park, Coorparoo Square, Camp Hill, Carina, Carindale and Chandler, ending at Capalaba.

What is actually new, apart from 60 buses?

View of the Cultural Centre station.

Smaller infrastructure upgrades built, or under construction, include a 213m tunnel underneath Adelaide Street in the CBD, an upgrade to the Cultural Centre bus station, the removal of car traffic from Victoria Bridge and various streetscape upgrades.

Has the project changed?

Work in progress at the Adelaide St tunnel.

The idea was first announced in 2016 when it involved converting the busway from Woolloongabba to Herston into a rubber-tyred Metro, with a single track to provide power and enable driverless operations.

A year later, it morphed into a high-capacity, bi-articulated bus project on the existing busway, while a spat between Council and the State Government saw the original underground Cultural Centre station change to an above-ground version.

The cost blew out from about $1bn to $1.7bn, mostly due to the addition of the Gabba station, but is now back down to $1.4bn.

Why is Metro better than heavy or light rail?

Mr Schrinner said one of the advantages of Brisbane Metro was that it did not need expensive overhead wires or tracks, meaning future lines could be built much faster and more cheaply than rail.

“With eight years left to prepare for the Brisbane 2032 Games, Brisbane Metro is the only new mass transit solution that can be built and ready for services in time,’’ he pointed out.

Do I need to book for the depot open day?

The Rochedale Metro depot where buses will be charged.

Yes. Numbers for the Rochedale depot open day on Sunday, October 13, are strictly limited.

It is a ticketed event with registration needed via the Council website.

The three sessions run from 9-11am, from 11am-1pm from 1-3pm.