Brisbane’s New Bus Network a Positive Step, but Many Still Left Waiting

Better Transport Queensland
Thursday, 26 June, 2025
For Immediate Release

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Better Transport Queensland (BTQ) welcomes the launch of Brisbane’s New Bus Network on 30 June 2025, coinciding with the introduction of Brisbane Metro Route M1 (Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street). This follows the successful implementation of Route M2 (UQ Lakes to RBWH) in January.

BTQ considers these changes a welcome step forward toward a more connected and frequent public transport network, particularly across Brisbane’s southside. However, Brisbane’s broader bus and public transport network still falls short of the standards expected in a modern, accessible, connected city.

The benefits to commuters

The network redesign focuses on the southside, where the existing busway infrastructure provides the opportunity to adopt a feeder model. Under this approach, many suburban routes have been shortened to terminate at, or provide an interchange at, key busway and Metro stations. This enables passengers to transfer to high-frequency services to complete their journey to major destinations such as the CBD, the University of Queensland, or South Bank, while simultaneously reducing the number of vehicles required to travel along the full length of the busway. This allows for the buses to be redeployed elsewhere: enabling more suburban services.

As a result, the changes deliver several key improvements:

• More suburban service, especially on weekdays during the day
• Simplified routes which are easier to understand and reduce inefficiencies
• Consolidated CBD paths and stop arrangements which are easier to understand and reduce wait times to key destinations
• Splitting certain routes to improve service reliability and streamline operations

University students are among the biggest beneficiaries of these upgrades. The revised network includes significant improvements to routes serving major campuses including Griffith University’s Nathan campus, QUT Gardens Point, and UQ Lakes. These enhancements build on the benefits already delivered through the launch of Metro Route M2 earlier this year, and together they represent a meaningful step forward in improving access, frequency, and reliability for thousands of students across the city.

Good, but more needs to be done

Despite these positives, BTQ remains concerned about the ongoing lack of fully frequent suburban services. No new all-day high-frequency routes have been introduced since the BUZ (Bus Upgrade Zone) program increased the frequency of routes 330 and 340 in 2012 [1] and the Maroon CityGlider was introduced in 2013 [2]. Although these changes see several suburban routes upgraded to have frequent day-time service during the week, these improvements are undermined by limited evening and weekend operations. This means that public transport remains an unviable alternative to car ownership for many. Since the introduction of 50 cent fares, off-peak and weekend travel has surged, yet services during these periods remain minimal or non-existent on many routes [3].

BTQ is particularly concerned about the new network’s reliance on transfers to low-frequency suburban routes when travelling outbound. While BTQ supports a transfer-based network in principle — allowing the same number of buses to operate more suburban trips — this model depends on frequent services to succeed [4]. Transfers should be seamless and reliable, not a barrier. Unfortunately, numerous feeder routes designed to connect with the busway still operate at hourly or worse frequency at least part of time. Among the worst offenders are routes 104, 105, 110, 112, 113, 115, 123, 126, 135, 161, 155, 172, 179, 182, 202, and 203.

BTQ urges all levels of government to continue public transport network modernisation across SEQ. This should include extending bus network reviews to Brisbane’s northern, western, and eastern suburbs, which have yet to receive the same level of attention as the southside.

Additionally, BTQ emphasises the importance of also applying the feeder model demonstrated with the Brisbane Metro to the existing rail network. This is especially true for services in Redland City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Logan City Council, and Ipswich City Council which have largely missed out on substantial improvements to their routes. For these councils, it becomes infeasible to use busways as a trunk due to the lower capacity and lower speeds. It also becomes increasingly wasteful to run buses direct to the city. BTQ believes that there are significant opportunities here to allow buses to be redeployed to provide more frequent feeder services which complement the existing high-capacity rail network.

Quotes attributable to Paul Guard, Better Transport Queensland Spokesperson

“Brisbane Metro and the new southside network represent the kind of modernisation our city needs—just not fast enough or far enough.”

“We welcome the new services and frequency improvements, but without evening and weekend services, many people are still left waiting.”

“Frequent services and the ability to easily transfer turns a collection of routes into a useful network”

“Transfers should be convenient and efficient, not frustrating and unreliable. That’s the only way to build a public transport system people can depend on.”

“Real ambition and forward thinking is needed to deliver a transport system that’s actually world-class for all users, especially with Brisbane 2032 fast approaching.”

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Better Transport Queensland Inc. — Queensland’s leading advocacy group for public, active, and freight transport.

Visit our website at www.bettertransportqueensland.org.

References

1. Translink announcement – June 2012 BUZ upgrade
   

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2. Translink BUZ Network Map – 2013
   

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3. Queensland Government statement on 50 cent fares
   

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4. Human Transit – Why transferring is good
   

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Spokesperson
Paul Guard - BTQ Spokesperson
[email protected]
(+61) 0405 673 986