Brisbane has an extensive public transport network operated by Translink, covering trains, buses, and ferries across the city and into the broader South East Queensland region.
The Go Card — Your Ticket to Everything
The Go Card is a reusable smart card for all Translink services. You tap on at the start of your journey and tap off at the end. Cards cost $10 (refundable deposit) and can be topped up at:
- Newsagents and convenience stores
- 7-Eleven stores
- Train station ticket machines
- Online via the Translink website
Fares are calculated based on 8 zones. Most inner-city travel (e.g., South Brisbane to CBD) falls in Zone 1, costing around $3.70 for an adult peak fare. Off-peak travel (after 9am weekdays, weekends all day) is about 20% cheaper.
Trains
Brisbane's rail network has 11 lines radiating from the CBD's hub stations: Roma Street, Central, and Fortitude Valley. Key lines include:
- Beenleigh Line — to Logan and the Gold Coast
- Cleveland Line — to bayside suburbs
- Ferny Grove Line — to the north-west
- Ipswich Line — to the western suburbs and Ipswich
- Sunshine Coast Line — one train per hour to the Sunshine Coast
Buses
The bus network is extensive, with dedicated busways on the South East, Northern, and Eastern routes that bypass traffic. The Brisbane Metro (introduced 2025) operates high-capacity electric buses on the South East Busway between Eight Mile Plains and Roma Street.
CityCat and CityFerries
Brisbane's CityCat ferries are one of the best ways to see the city. They run along the Brisbane River from the University of Queensland (UQ) in the west to Northshore Hamilton in the east. Key stops include:
- UQ St Lucia
- West End
- South Bank
- CBD (North Quay, Riverside)
- New Farm Park
- Hamilton
Tips for Getting Around
- Use the Translink Journey Planner app or Google Maps for real-time schedules
- A peak hour (7–9am, 4–6:30pm) is busy but reliable
- Get the go explore weekend ticket ($10.60) for unlimited travel Saturday or Sunday
- Consider a bike + train combo — bikes are allowed on trains (off-peak restricted) and CityCats
The Network in Numbers
Brisbane’s Translink network covers trains (11 lines), buses (including the dedicated busways), and the famous CityCat and CityFerry services on the river — around 300,000 boardings a day. The Go Card (or contactless bank card) covers everything, with fares calculated across 8 zones: most inner-city trips are Zone 1 at about $3.70 peak, with off-peak travel (after 9am weekdays, all weekend) around 20% cheaper.
The network is mid-transformation: Cross River Rail (opening in stages through 2026–2028) will add a second river crossing and decongest the inner core, while the Brisbane Metro electric buses now run on the South East Busway. The CityCats remain the star — a ferry ride is the best-value sightseeing in Brisbane.
Commute Times That Apply (2026)
- South Bank to CBD: 5 min by bus or CityCat
- New Farm to CBD: 10 min by CityCat
- Indooroopilly to CBD: 15 min by train
- Eight Mile Plains to CBD: 20 min by busway express
- Chermside to CBD: 30 min by bus (Northern Busway)
- Gold Coast to CBD: 60–70 min by train (Airtrain line)
- Ipswich to CBD: 45 min by train
- Cycling: 500+ km of bikeways — the river loops are flat and fast
Practical Tips
Get a Go Card and register it online — you’ll get automatic refunds for missed taps and can set up auto top-up. The daily fare cap (about $9.80 for 8 zones) means frequent travellers effectively cap their spend. Use the CityCats for anything along the river — they beat driving and are more enjoyable. And plan for summer storms: services slow during downpours, so allow buffer time between November and February.
Driving, Parking, and the Future
Driving in Brisbane is easier than Sydney or Melbourne — no tolls on the inner-city streets, and the Riverside Expressway and the Gateway Motorway move traffic well outside peak. But peak-hour congestion is real and growing: the average Brisbane driver loses about 25 hours a year to delays. CBD parking runs $15–$40 a day, so most commuters park-and-ride at the busway or train stations.
The future is arriving now: Cross River Rail (2026–2028) will cut inner-city travel times dramatically, the Brisbane Metro electric buses are already running on the busways, and the 2032 Olympics will add new stations and lines. Suburbs on the new network — Woolloongabba, Bowen Hills, Boggo Road — are where the commute improvements are landing first.