700 Brisbane bus services back in one morning but ferries, trains still out

Brisbane bus drivers braved wild conditions to deliver 700 services Sunday morning before being recalled to their depots just after 11am. PUBLIC TRANSPORT LATEST

Edmonstone Rd at Newmarket in Brisbane's inner north.

Brisbane bus drivers braved wild conditions to deliver 700 services on Sunday morning before being recalled about 11am but the southeast’s trains and ferries are still offline.

Buses would now run across the southeast on a limited capacity from Monday. No buses would run on the Gold Coast.

School buses would also operate for schools which reopened on Monday.

Alternative bus services will run on some lines.

TransLink said most buses were back this morning except for operators Kinetic Gold Coast, Clarks City Bus Services in Logan, Hornibrook Buslines and Thompson Bus Services in Moreton, as well as Transdev and Mt Gravatt Coach and Travel in Redlands.

Trains would start running on Monday, but on a Sunday timetable.

Brisbane River ferries have been suspended until Monday but Southern Moreton Bay Island ferries have conducted some emergency services and recovery efforts.

TransLink said many services would remain offline while its crews carried out critical repairs and clean-up work.

Streets were deserted on Sunday but some bus services returned. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

This was being hampered by localised flooding, road closures and staff availability.

TransLink’s Journey Planner has up-to-date details on specific services.

A Brisbane City Council spokeswoman said the decision to resume some bus services on Sunday morning was made in consultation with TransLink and the State Disaster Management Group.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said council had made it clear bus and bin collection services would begin again Sunday but only where and when safe to do so.

A flooded road in Carina on Sunday. Most residents are staying home but some bus services have resumed and some are taking short trips in their cars. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“Our drivers are professionals and skilled at navigating Brisbane roads during storms and delivered more than 700 services between 7.30am and 10am (this morning),’’ he said.

“This is a fantastic effort that was really welcomed by residents and I am incredibly grateful for everyone who turned up for work to help get Brisbane moving again.’’

A bus underwater near Suncorp stadium in Milton in 2022. The Lord Mayor says buses resumed today only where safe. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

But Rail Tram and Bus Union state secretary Tom Brown slammed the early resumption of services, accusing council of ignoring its “zero harm’’ policy.

He said drivers had been recalled to their depots about 11am, underlining how hasty the decision had been to resume services.

Mr Brown said he was in “disbelief’’.

“There’s relentless rain causing flooding, wind blowing down trees and power lines,’’ he said.

“No one should be out there yet but council did not listened to my pleas to pull the buses back in.

“I was at the depots early this morning and got services pushed back to 7am, but the weather took a huge turn for the worse after that.

“Poor visibility, flooding, trees and power lines down is a bad mix, it appears they have set aside their zero harm policy.’’

Originally published as 700 Brisbane bus services back in one morning but ferries, trains still out