Trains, buses but no ferries for Brisbane after flooding

The return of train services will offer some reprieve from road chaos across Brisbane in the aftermath of catastrophic flooding.

The Hawthorn ferry terminal in Brisbane after the weekend’s extreme weather event sent a series of vessels and debris crashing into the facility. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

A reduced schedule of train ser­vices will make a welcome return to Brisbane on Thursday after days of road chaos following the weekend’s extreme weather.

Residents returning to work and taking children to school were met with gridlock across the city on Wednesday thanks to hundreds of closed roads, limited public transport and the reopening of more than 400 schools.

Bus services will keep to a ­restricted schedule for the rest of the week and Brisbane River ferries remain suspended because of floating debris, damaged terminals and high water levels.

It could be months before some terminals reopen after the river’s might sent boats, jet skis and pontoons smashing into jetties. Shipping was expected to remain on hold as the Port of Brisbane stayed closed in line with orders from the harbour master.

The directive has left more than a dozen bulk cargo and container ships at anchorage off the Sunshine Coast, and another five unable to leave Brisbane.

As the flood clean-up continued across the city, Logan and Ipswich, thousands registered to join the “mud army” being co-­ordinated by Volunteering Queens­land.

After the 2011 floods, an army of mop and bucket-wielding volunteers was instrumental in helping people return to their homes and get businesses back up and running.

The disaster did not only bring out the best in community spirit, with police on Wednesday arresting more people for suspected looting.

A 30-year-old Rocklea man was charged with stealing by looting after police pulled over a car towing a trailer loaded with dozens of wheels and tyres allegedly taken from outside a flood-­affected business. Three people were also arrested for allegedly taking camping gear.