Brisbane Metro has delivered more than 6.8 million trips in its first year, helping drive a 27 per cent increase in bus patronage across Brisbane over two years.
The start of permanent Brisbane Metro services marked the biggest evolution of Brisbane’s bus network in decades, boosting capacity by more than 30 million seats each year.
Before permanent Brisbane Metro services began, 50c 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, 50c fares, Brisbane Metro and Brisbane’s New Bus Network 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.
Since permanent services launched on 28 January 2025, on-time travel has improved by more than five per cent on the M1 route between Eight Mile Plains and Roma Street and more than three per cent on the M2 route between UQ and the RBWH.
Each vehicle is 24.4 metres long, can carry up to 170 passengers and will be named after something unique to Brisbane.
The first vehicle was named after NRL legend Darren Lockyer with 3 additional vehicles since named after local legends Sister Angela Mary Doyle, Brisbane Lions and The Ten Tenors.
The fleet of fully-electric metros is housed at Australia’s largest electric bus depot in Rochedale, which features 60 slow charges, five fast chargers and onsite maintenance and staff facilities.
The more than 2300 solar panels at the depot provide enough clean energy to power 280 homes every year, helping to take the equivalent of 50 cars off the road in reduced carbon emissions.
The rollout of Brisbane’s New Bus Network in June 2025 has further strengthened Brisbane’s public network.
Brisbane’s New Bus Network delivered 160,000 new bus trips, faster trips for more than 45 million people, an additional 44 bus stops and 1.4 million extra kilometres of services across the network.
Linking local buses with turn-up-and-go metro services on dedicated busways is the only way to continue growing the city’s bus network, delivering more services to more places, more often.
The CBD was the biggest choke point for Brisbane buses before the introduction of Brisbane Metro and the new network.
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.
Brisbane Metro by numbers:
Over 6.8 million trips delivered across M1 and M2
Over 4.7 million passengers on M2, a 46 per cent increase on the service it replaced
• Average weekday patronage on M2 services is around 19,000
2.09 million passengers on M1 since June, a 43 per cent increase on previous routes
• Average weekday patronage on M1 services is around 16,000
On-time performance up 5.1 per cent on M1 and 3.3 per cent on M2
40 per cent faster bus trips between South Bank and Queen Street bus stations
M1 and M2 metro services are just the first stage of Brisbane Metro, laying the foundations for better public transport right across Queensland.
The expansion of Brisbane Metro is a long-term program that will be delivered in stages as planning is completed and funding is secured.
Planning on future Brisbane Metro extensions has been underway for more than a year, including route investigations, depot planning and engagement with industry and other levels of government.
The State’s Brisbane 2032 delivery plan already recognises future northern and eastern Brisbane Metro corridors as part of the city’s long-term transport network.
The formal business case process is continuing and will help inform future decisions under the State’s Olympic Transport Plan, providing options based on demand and confirmed venue locations.
Some expansion options may progress sooner, such as the Springwood extension, while others will support Brisbane’s growth well beyond the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
We’ll continue working constructively with all levels of government to advance the next stages of Brisbane Metro and deliver a public transport network that serves Brisbane for decades to come.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner:
“It’s been just one year since we introduced our first permanent Brisbane Metro service and it’s already changed how our city moves.
“Metro bus rapid transit is the leap our city needed to move from traditional public transport to mass transit so we can keep Brisbane moving as we grow.
“In a fast-growing city, people need transport they can rely on and Metro is stepping up, day in and day out.
“Brisbane Metro has been a huge success in its first twelve months, making it easier for people to leave their cars at home, ease congestion and helping them get home sooner and safer for just 50 cents.
“More than six million trips in a year demonstrates how Brisbane residents are embracing this new way of moving around our city and this is only the beginning.”
Quotes attributable to RACQ’s General Manager of Advocacy, Joshua Cooney:
“The Brisbane Metro has been successful for the River City and it’s time to plan a full expansion to the Metro network across South East Queensland.
“The northern suburbs of Brisbane, in particular, are in urgent need of a reliable, high frequency alternative to sitting in traffic on Gympie Road.
“Investing in more sustainable, affordable, and high-frequency public transport will enhance regional connectivity and offer commuters a compelling alternative to driving and adding to congestion.
“With our population expected to continue growing rapidly, now is critical for all levels of Government to work together to bolster public transport and futureproof the liveability of South East Queensland.”
Quotes attributable to Andrew Flannery, Chief Operating Officer, University of Queensland (UQ):
“The Metro has provided a reliable, cost effective and consistent connection and encouraged more people to use public transport to travel to UQ sites, in line with our own transport and sustainability strategies.
“The UQ community is diverse with many individuals embarking on opportunities through teaching, learning and research, as well as participating in community and leisure activities.
“The assurance provided by the Metro enables people to attend campus with confidence, allowing them to focus on these opportunities enabled by reliable transport.”
