Brisbane Metro’s first high-tech electric charging facilities have been switched on ahead of services commencing this year.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner today inspected the charging facilities in operation along with the latest two Brisbane Metro vehicles.
The four permanent fast-charging bays at Countess Street are the first of their kind in Australia and can charge a Brisbane Metro vehicle in just six minutes.
Cr Schrinner said Brisbane Metro services will deliver quieter, more comfortable and more frequent services for residents and visitors.
“We live in Australia’s fastest growing capital city so it’s critical that we invest in public transport to keep Brisbane moving,” he said.
“That’s why we’re delivering turn-up-and-go Brisbane Metro services to 18 dedicated stations and planning to expand the network to new areas.
“Not only will Brisbane Metro add capacity for an additional 30 million passengers a year by 2031, the fully-electric vehicles will make travelling more comfortable and sustainable.
“Improving the frequency of trips and comfort levels of passengers is critical to increasing public transport use and cutting road congestion.”
Countess Street uses overhead fast-charging arms that connect to the vehicle.
It will be one of four charging stations in the Brisbane Metro network.
The vehicles will also be charged at Ernie’s Roundabout at Herston, UQ Lakes Station and the Metro Depot at Rochedale.
There are now three metro vehicles in testing, with four new vehicles planned to arrive every month between now and services commencing at the end of the year.
Brisbane Civic Cabinet Chair for Transport Ryan Murphy said residents would start to see more Metro vehicles doing test runs across the network.
“Every new vehicle that arrives undergoes rigorous testing on our busways so residents can expect to see them ahead of their inaugural trips later this year,” he said.
“We’ve also engaged a local designer for the vehicle’s livery, which features the colours of the Brisbane Wattle, the city’s new native floral emblem.”
Brisbane Metro is funded in partnership with the Federal Government.
