More than 51.2 million bus and metro bus rapid transit trips have been taken on Brisbane’s new bus network in its first seven months, driving a 4.7 million or 10 per cent increase in bus trips compared to the same period last year.
This is the equivalent of 3.9 million private car trips redirected from Brisbane’s roads, based on an average private vehicle occupancy of 1.2 people per vehicle.
Each year, Council’s bus network moves around 80 million people, which is more than two-thirds of public transport users in Brisbane.
Before permanent Brisbane Metro services began, 50 cent fares drove a 16 per cent increase in bus patronage, lifting trips from 32.7 million to more than 38 million over the equivalent August to January period.
One year later, the launch of permanent Brisbane Metro services alongside Brisbane’s New Bus Network delivered an almost 10 per cent increase, with more than 41.5 million trips recorded.
Together, Brisbane Metro, Brisbane’s New Bus Network and 50 cent fares – made permanent by the Queensland Government in February last year - have helped lift bus patronage in Brisbane by 27 per cent over two years.
The new Adelaide Street Tunnel, delivered as part of the Brisbane Metro project, has also been critical in breaking the bus bottleneck in the CBD with around 1,400 bus and metro services now travelling underground each weekday.
The introduction of the Adelaide Street tunnel, high-capacity Brisbane Metro vehicles and the city’s new bus network have helped make bus trips between South Bank and Queen Street bus stations now 40 per cent faster.
Across the broader Brisbane network, Translink analysis shows bus journey times are 7 per cent faster, including transfers.
More than 600 people a week are moving to Brisbane and our bus network needs to grow with our city, or we risk more cars and more congestion.
Combined with Brisbane Metro, Brisbane’s New Bus Network has added than 30 million seats annually, with an additional 160,000 services being delivered annually.
As part of the transformation, the network has been redesigned to simplify journeys and strengthen suburban connections to shopping centres, hospitals and key community destinations.
The changes included:
- five new routes
- 12 suburban routes redesigned to connect with Metro services
- 12 routes combined for greater efficiency
- three routes divided to improve reliability
In addition to the rollout of the first two stages of Brisbane Metro and the biggest boost to bus services in more than a decade, we have already undertaken significant work over the past year on the Brisbane Metro expansion business case.
This has included planning work on the northern depot, investigations into all four metro expansion routes and engaging with industry and other levels of government - all of which will inform the business case process.
The expansion of Brisbane Metro is a long-term program that will be delivered in stages as planning is completed and funding is secured.
For more information about Brisbane Metro and Brisbane’s New Bus Network, visit brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘Brisbane’s New Bus Network’.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner
"Brisbane’s new bus network is the biggest boost to bus services in generations and it’s delivering quicker, more reliable journeys to over tens of millions of passengers every year.
“A 10 per cent increase in bus trips in just seven months is a huge success and demonstrates how our new bus network will help keep Brisbane moving.
“Every extra person on a bus or Metro one less person in a car in peak hour traffic, which means less congestion, safer roads and shorter travel times for everyone.
“This, coupled with the Queensland Government’s permanent 50 cent fares, tells us the bus network is also keeping more money in resident’s pockets to counter cost of living expenses.
“If we stop investing in reliable public transport, people will return to their cars, congestion will grow and everyone pays a price.
“That is why Brisbane’s New Bus Network matters so much.
“We have built this network for the Brisbane of today and as we continue to grow.”
Brisbane’s New Bus Network fast facts
- More than 51.2 million total trips have been taken across the new network from 1 July 2025 to 31 January 2026
- More than 7 million Metro trips have been taken to date across the M1 and M2 since M2 launched in January 2025
- Patronage increases of over 43 per cent on M1 (compared to former routes 111/160) and over 60 per cent on M2 (compared to former route 66)
- M1 average weekday patronage of 12,000-14,000
- M2 average weekday patronage of 15,000-17,000, peaking at over 24,0000 during university semesters
- 1400 bus and metro services use the Adelaide Street Tunnel each weekday
- Brisbane’s New Bus Network has added an additional 1.4 million in-service kilometres across the network per year
- Top five bus routes with the biggest increase in patronage: