Extra Bus Services a Boon for Brisbane's Growing South East

The Queensland Government will next week begin extra bus services between Brisbane city and the south eastern suburbs, encouraging public transport use in a dynamic urban growth corridor.

Premier Peter Beattie and Transport Minister Paul Lucas said the rising popularity of buses with the people of the south eastern suburbs prompted the government to create a new service, the Wishart Rocket (186), and add more frequent Calamvale CityExpress (150) services.

"People power is driving these extra services, which begin on Monday November 8," Mr Beattie said.

"The Government's $2.2 million investment responds to the popularity of our public transport initiatives: South East Busway, Translink and integrated ticketing.

"The extra services reward public transport passengers, encourage others to start using public transport, and put people of the south eastern suburbs in the box seat for future population growth.

"I congratulate the passengers who have made the South East Busway a success. They are the travellers of the future, because increased public transport use is essential for sustainable population growth.

"The extra services have been made possible by the newly-completed upgrade of the Cultural Centre Busway Station at South Brisbane, and the Wishart Rocket is possible because of recent roadworks," Mr Beattie said.

The Premier today commissioned the improved $15.7 million Cultural Centre Busway Station, which was designed by the original Cultural Centre architect, Robin Gibson.

"As well as enabling extra services, the improvements make the station safer and more accessible for passengers and pedestrians and will improve the reliability of buses using the station and Victoria Bridge," Mr Beattie said.

"The Cultural Centre Busway station, near the South Brisbane Railway Station and a short walk over the Victoria Bridge to the CBD, is the busiest of the 10 South East Busway stations.

"It caters for two-thirds of all services entering and leaving the CBD.

"A bus passes through the station every 20 seconds on average during peak times, and on a weekday 3294 buses from 76 routes and five different operators pass through.

"The $15.7 million public transport hub includes three lifts, a roof over the pedestrian overpass, larger platforms, improved seats and shelters and two new bus passing lanes," Mr Beattie said.

Transport Minister Paul Lucas said Translink and integrated ticketing had been an outstanding success in its first three months since its July 1 introduction.

"Public transport patronage in SEQ has increased 8% on the July-September period last year. An extra 2.55 million passengers have used buses, trains and ferries in the region so far thanks to TransLink.

"More commuters are choosing public transport because TransLink has made it more flexible and easy to catch, and given people more choice to explore travel options.

"With 60 percent of fares cheaper under integrated ticketing, the affordability and convenience of public transport has been appealing particularly to students and pensioners," he said.

Mr Lucas said the Cultural Centre Station's bigger platforms and new bus passing lanes allowed for more frequent services for commuters and students.

"The new pedestrian overpass also makes it safer and easier for bus travellers and others who want to access facilities in the Cultural Centre precinct," he said.

Starting Monday, the new Wishart Rocket 186 service will serve all stops between Wishart and Griffith University's Mt Gravatt Campus. It will travel via Mt Gravatt-Capalaba, Dawson and Klumpp Roads, and then direct to the City via the South East Busway and Captain Cook Bridge.

"This new route was made possible by recently completed works allowing buses to enter the South East Busway from Klumpp Road," Mr Lucas said.

"The Wishart Rocket is expected to deliver travel time savings of 10 to 15 minutes over current services. It offers four trips to the city in the morning peak and four trips from the city in the afternoon peak.

"The Calamvale CityExpress (route 150), connecting Calamvale, Runcorn and Eight Mile Plains to the City, will double its existing off-peak and weekend services. Buses will run every 15 minutes rather than the current 30 minutes between 11am and 7pm on weekdays, and during weekends. Peak time services will continue to run every 10 minutes.

"This 'no-timetable' service is the fifth BUZ (Bus Upgrade Zone) route to operate in Brisbane and is expected to emulate the successful 111, 333, 130 and 385 BUZ routes.

"Along with the extra route 150 services, the 156 Rocket service timetable has been expanded to offer two additional morning, and six additional afternoon, services during peak times on the combined routes," Mr Lucas said.

State Member for Mansfield, Phil Reeves, who lobbied on his constituents' behalf for these extra services, welcomed the new Wishart Rocket 186 service as a major improvement for passenger transport in the area.

"The new Rocket service will especially benefit students and city commuters," he said.

"Route 186 will serve all stops between Wishart and Griffith University's Mt Gravatt Campus, travelling via Mt Gravatt-Capalaba, Dawson and Klumpp Roads, and then direct to the City via the South East Busway and Captain Cook Bridge.

"With the introduction of the new Route 186, the peak period Route 181 Rocket has been redesigned to start from Stop 77 on Wishart Rd (adjacent to Ham Road)."

There will be minor timetable improvements to services including the Great Circle Line 598/599, 120, 133, 141, 155, 222, 223, 224, 225 and 232.

It was always intended to develop a second phase of the Busway Station after the initial station was completed in 2000.

The Government is spending $15.8 million recurrently on new bus services and $247.8 million on infrastructure in South East Queensland over the next four years.

Media contacts: Premier's office - 3224 4500; Minister's office - Sonya Gillece 3237 1947/ 0407 166 084