The system services Brisbane CBD every five minutes during peak times, terminating at Eight Mile Plains, and the University of Queensland and Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital respectively. The system initially began on the 28 January 2025 with the introduction of the M2, and was subsequently followed by the introduction of the M1 on 20 June 2025.[2][3][4] Four extensions have been proposed and are currently in business case stage.[5]
Nomenclature
The interior of a Hess lighTram 25 travelling to Eight Mile Plains
In 2022, the project's name was criticised by a rail lobby group for having a misleading name that implied it was a rail system, but Brisbane City Council rejected the idea of changing its name.[7] In late 2023, further complaints about the name were raised.[8] A poll by the Brisbane Times revealed 71% of respondents thought that Brisbane Electric Rapid Transit (BERT) was a better name.[9] Robert Dowe of RAIL Back on Track said "They're very good buses, but that's what they are; they're not trains, they're not trams."[10] The Chair of Brisbane Transport Ryan Murphy has admitted the name had caused "some confusion".[11]
Since the 1990s, busways were considered as one of the options when the Queensland Government developed the 25 year Integrated Regional Transport Plan.[12][13] It was recommended that a 75km (47mi) network of busway corridors to complement the existing Queensland Rail City network.[14]
The first section of busway, between the CBD and Woolloongabba, opened in September 2000, with the rest of the South East Busway to Eight Mile Plains opening in April 2001 at a final cost of over $600 million.[15] Planning and construction of the Northern and Eastern Busways began soon after the success of the first section, increasing bus commuter statistics.[16] As of 2025, the city has three busways, spanning 29 kilometres, including 28 stations and 20 tunnels.[17]
In 2007, 294 buses per hour (one way) (1 every 12 seconds)[18] passed the busway network's busiest point (a section of the South East Busway north of Woolloongabba station). Further, capacity issues at Cultural Centre Station created a bottle neck in the network, with long lines of busses often queuing over the Victoria Bridge during peak.[19][20]
Planning history
Geometric map of Brisbane Metro
In order to meet the capacity bottlenecks of the busway system, various solutions have been proposed, including conversion to light rail, the BaT tunnel, a second Victoria Bridge, bus route changes, and later, Brisbane Metro.[21]
2016 rubber-tyred metro proposal
In January 2016, the Brisbane City Council (BCC) announced a Brisbane Metro system to address the current constraints and challenges facing the busway network.[22] This proposal incorporated the conversion of the busway from Woolloongabba to Herston into a rubber-tyred metro, with a single track to provide power and enable driverless operations.[23]
Major retrofitting would have been required, including special guideways, rolling pads and tunnel interfaces, none of which existed on the busways.[24] This would have closed the inner-city access the busways provid for busses and introduced specialised infrastructure and incompatibility with existing bus and rail systems.[24]
2017 bi-articulated bus proposal
In March 2017, the project was redefined shifting to operating high capacity bi-articulated buses, reducing the cost by one-third.[25] The new buses would operate two routes, with one replacing the existing route 66, and the other replacing routes 111 and 160.[2] In November 2017 the BCC released its business case, detailing the benefits, costs and impacts of delivering the project. In November 2017, the project was budgeted to cost $944 million.[26]
The BCC released a draft design report for the project in April 2018 with a project concept displayed publicly for community feedback, following the announcement that Brisbane Metro has been confirmed as a high priority project on Infrastructure Australia's priority list.[26][27] In April 2018, the federal government agreed to contribute $300 million.[28][29]
Hess lighTram 25 in testing, June 2023
On 24 November 2019, BCC announced a consortium of Hess, Volgren and ABB had been awarded a contract for 60 buses. The buses were to be fully electric via overhead wireless charging that will charge at the end of each route for less than six minutes.[30]
A pilot bus was built and tested in Europe in 2021, arriving in Brisbane for testing in early 2022.[31] Following successful testing, an order was placed for the remaining 59, with close to 1000 modifications based of the original pilot vehicle.[32] The 60 vehicles cost $190 million, an increase of $100 million compared to more traditionally powered vehicles,[33] with deliveries beginning in late 2023. As of 2026, the full 60 ordered are still being delivered.[34]
In June 2020, after state and council disagreements, the Cultural Centre underground station plan was scrapped, leading to a proposed rebuild of the existing above‑ground station with an extra platform instead.[35]
Upgrades to Mater Hill, Griffith University and Eight Mile Plains stations, as well as dynamic platform allocation, were pushed back to 2034 and 2044 respectively.[36]
Construction
In October 2018 five consortia were shortlisted to bid for the building of stage 1.[37]
ADCO Constructions began work on a 10-hectare (25-acre) depot at Rochedale in October 2021.[38]
By February 2023, the project's cost had increased to an expected $1.7 billion.[39][3] A contributing factor was the inclusion of a new $450 million bus station to be built at Woolloongabba, in line with the main South East Busway.[40] This was to be funded with $150 Million contributed by all three levels of government under the SEQ City deal.[41] The project would've seen $70 million in resumptions with the new station requiring the deviation of the existing busway, and new layover facilities for charging electric buses with the existing facilities sold off to private developers.[42][43] A $9.5 million business case completed into the station with the project deemed complete.[44] The remaining funding was then pulled from the project with $150 million going into the business case for extensions and new routes[45] This funding is not included in the overall total for the Brisbane Metro project of $1.55 billion.
King George Square station undergoing upgrade work for Brisbane Metro.
In October 2024, it was announced that Melanie Zanetti, the voice of Chilli Heeler from popular TV show Bluey would provide the voiceover for the passenger announcement system on the Brisbane Metro.[47]
Brisbane Metro Hess Lightram 25 vehicles began trial passenger service on the morning of 21 October 2024, operating on route 169 between Eight Mile Plains and the University of Queensland.[48] This trial ended on 18 November 2024, with regular buses returning to the 169.[49]
On 5 December 2024, it was announced that route M2 would begin full services on 28 January 2025.[1] Initially services would operate at a maximum of every 5 minutes during peak.[1] Frequency is planned to be increased to every 3 minutes after the opening of the Adelaide Street tunnel and delivery of all 60 vechiles.[1]
Despite community support for the continuation of route 86, it was announced that the Brisbane City Council would not supply further funding for the trial service beyond January 2025,[50][51][52] and it was removed from operation on 28 January 2025,[53] coinciding with the introduction of route M2.
Route 111 and 160 ran their final services on the night of 29 June 2025. Route M1 began operations on the morning of 30 June 2025, along with the introduction of Brisbane's New Bus Network.
The new Adelaide Street Tunnel opened on 29 September 2025.
Metro fleet
Inside a Hess lighTram 25
The Brisbane Metro fleet consists of 60 HESS lighTram 25low-floorbi-articulated busses, manufactured by Carrosserie HESS AG.[54] For operation in Australia, a right-hand-drive version of the lighTram was developed, as well as inclusion of the rapid-charging system TOSA (Trolleybus Optimisation du Système d’Alimentation) for fast charging at ends of routes.[55] The buses have lithium-titanium-oxide batteries.[56]
The vehicles have a top speed of 90km/h (56mph) with provision to carry 150 passengers or 170 during events[26], with seating for 64, including 10 priority seats.[57] The bus features three double doors to support all‑door boarding, along with automated front‑door ramp. Inside the front segment of the bus, there are three large mobility bay.[55]
Hess lighTram 25 charging at UQ Lakes station
There are dynamic route displays showing the next stop and real‑time arrival information, supported by audio announcements and hearing loops. Tthe vehicle includes USB‑A and USB‑C charging ports as well as onboard Wi‑Fi.[58]
The vehicles have been delivered gradually to the Brisbane Metro depot at Rochedale, which was specially constructed to host the new buses.[58] The 10-hectare site hosts stabling and maintenance facilities for the fleet.[56] The design of the depot is based on sustainability.[59] There are 2,300 solar panels in use. Rainwater harvesting and recycled water systems for vehicle washing are both used. Sixty 50kW slow chargers are hosted here to be used during off-peak times.[59]
Routes
Brisbane Metro system consists of two routes covering a total of 21 kilometres, with 18 stations in service.[60]
The network uses existing busway infrastructure and provides high-frequency services with 3-5 minute headways from approximately 6:00am to 6:00pm.[2] Outside of this peak, services operate every 10-15 minutes.[61] On weekends, services operate at 10-15 minute frequency with 24-hour service from Friday evening through to Sunday evening.[62] Once all 60 buses are delivered, three minute headways will be introduced.[63]
With the introduction of M1 and M2 routes as well as timetable reform from BCC, various routes now terminate at busway stations outside the city, allowing for transfers with the Brisbane Metro. This reduces bus traffic in busy inner-city stations, with most routes terminating at Queen Street bus station remaining, separating trunk and feeder services.[63]
M1, Eight Mile Plains - Roma Street
The Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street service, referred to as the route number M1 and sometimes stylised as Southern Metro by BCC, began operations on the 30 June 2025, replacing routes 111 and 160.[2]
It provides a key suburban trunk corridor from the southern suburbs to Brisbane CBD along the South East Busway, and provides interchange with various other Translink services.[64]
Stations
Below is a list of stations that M1 services, all of which are existing busway stations used by other bus services, and available transport connections.[65]
The UQ Lakes to RBWH service, referred to as the route number M2 and sometimes stylised as Northern Metro by BCC, began operations on the 28 January 2025, replacing route 66.[2]
Below is a list of stations that M2 services, all of which are existing busway stations used by other bus services, and available transport connections.[65]
Even prior to the opening of routes M1 and M2, Brisbane City Council have proposed several extensions and expansions for the Brisbane Metro system. There have several proposed extensions of the network to Capalaba, Carseldine, Springwood and Brisbane Airport.[66][67]
2018 proposed extensions
In 2018 Brisbane City Council released indicative plans for the expansion of Brisbane Metro and its integration with the existing and future CityGlider network.[68]
The route of the expansions keep to the former Northern and Eastern Busway extension plans from the early 2010s, and follow the Gympie Road and Old-Cleveland Road corridors respectively.[66] As part of that announcement, it was also confirmed that a conversion of the Doomben line to busway for Brisbane Airport was one of the two shortlisted routes, the other being a more direct alignment via the Airportlink tunnel.[70]
In March 2026, these expansions were included in Infrastructure Australia's 2026 Infrastructure Priority List (IPL) within the 2-4 year pipeline for delivery.[71]
Southern Metro (M1), Roma Street to Springwood
Route M1 is proposed to be extended along the completed South East Busway extension to Springwood, via Rochedale busway station.[72]
Northern Metro (M2), UQ Lakes to Carseldine
Route M2 is proposed to be extended to Carseldine with stops or stations at Windsor, Lutwyche, Kedron Brook, Kedron North, Chermside, and Aspley.[72]
↑"Wayback Machine"(PDF). www.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original(PDF) on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2026.{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
↑"Brisbane Metro - Woolloongabba Station". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑"Brisbane Metro Expansion Business Case". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
12Simon Clark - First passenger ride experience - conversations with Project Director and operational staff. The Brisbane Metro Project Director said the following: Services on M1 and M2 will not stop at Woolloongabba station, despite prior proposals. Services will begin operating at 5-minute peak frequencies, but they can still be increased to every 3 minutes if necessary (and possible considering that the services are likely to start before all 60 buses are delivered/ready for service.) 24-hour operation on 7 days a week. First operation will be on 169 because it will be a simple soft opening to allow for testing with real passengers on a route which will not be super busy for this time of year.
12"Home". metro.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
↑Messenger, Andrew. (28 August 2024). Brisbane’s bus rapid transit service to expand to outer suburbs in time for 2032 Olympics. The Guardian. Retrieved on 1 November 2024.
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