Smiling woman on board a metro

You may have seen our metros undergoing extensive testing on the busways. As we get closer to the start of full Brisbane Metro services, the next step in our journey is to welcome customers on board to preview the state-of-the-art electric vehicles.

From Monday 21 October, Brisbane Metro is launching on the popular 169 route between Eight Mile Plains station and UQ Lakes station.

There will be minor timetable changes to route 169 services. Customers are encouraged to visit the Translink website to plan their journey. 

From time to time, you may continue to see regular buses operating on route 169 as we finalise our testing.

We'd love your feedback

We're inviting you to share your feedback on your metro experience during this preview phase, with QR codes available on board to scan.

Your valuable insights, and our ongoing collaboration with Translink, will help us prepare for full Brisbane Metro M1 (Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street) and M2 (RBWH to UQ Lakes) services.

Accessibility and customer features

The onboard metro experience is different to a regular bus. To support customers, we've developed a metro fact sheet and video highlighting onboard accessibility and customer features. 

The metro design has been informed by the accessibility sector to help deliver a vehicle that better reflects the diverse needs of our community.

Video transcript

Brisbane City Council is delivering the turn-up-and-go Brisbane Metro, a new fleet of electric, high‑capacity vehicles.

We’ve developed this video to highlight the on board accessibility and customer features, to support you to travel with confidence.

If you’re boarding this vehicle for the first time, there are a number of key things you need to know. 

The metros are 24.4 metres long, approximately double the length of a standard bus.

There are three customer compartments, with all door boarding available at the first, middle and rear compartments. 

For customers with wheelchairs, prams or personal mobility devices, three large mobility bays are located in the first compartment. 

There is also a separated driver cabin, just before the first compartment. This means how you communicate with a driver is different to a regular bus.

To catch a metro, you will still need to hail the service, or use the help phone on the platform to request the service.

Once the vehicle stops at the platform, all doors will open. Please wait until other customers have exited the vehicle before boarding, and then tapping on with your go card.

Customers with mobility requirements are encouraged to board at the first compartment door. It’s important to note, customers with a pram or mobility device will not be able to move between compartments.

All metro vehicles feature an automatic ramp in the first compartment, which can be deployed upon request. 

To request the ramp, press the blue ramp request button located on the left panel of the first compartment door. 

Once the ramp is requested, an audio announcement will alert you to move back, to allow the ramp to be deployed. 

Ramp requested, please move back. Ramp is being deployed.

Before the ramp is deployed, the metro will lower – allowing for smoother boarding.

Once the ramp is fully extended, the doors will open, allowing you to board the metro. 

All vehicles are fitted with a manual ramp. If your preference is to board using a manual ramp, please use the help phone on the platform. If you are on board the metro, you can use a help point to communicate directly to the driver to request the manual ramp. 

The metro vehicles can comfortably carry 150 customers. There are 64 seats on board and space for standing room. 

Hand rails and grab rails are positioned around seating and standing areas.

The first compartment has three large mobility bay areas, with eight blue flip-seats. There is also a number of support features, including railings, padded back rests and passive restraint handles. 

Throughout the vehicle, there are 10 red priority seats and 46 blue seats, including a combination of floor level and raised seats.

The vehicle has a low floor design with ground level LED lighting from front to rear to support customers as they move through the vehicle.

There are 6 large screens located throughout the vehicle, with real-time journey information including next stop and arrival times. They will also display if the next stop or ramp request button has been activated.

There are 6 small LED screens throughout the vehicle, with scrolling next stop information.

Audio announcements will play throughout the journey to notify customers of the next stop.

Customers with hearing devices can connect to the on board hearing loop throughout the vehicle.

All buttons and information signs include braille and tactile features. 

To request the next stop, press the red next stop button.

Next stop buttons are located throughout the vehicle. When a next stop button is pressed, a beep sound will play.

 you require the automatic ramp to exit the vehicle, press the blue ramp request button.

There are four automatic ramp request buttons located in the first compartment in each mobility bay and the red priority seats.

When a ramp request button is pressed, an audio announcement will confirm that the ramp will deploy at the next stop. 

Should you require support during your journey, there are six help points located throughout the vehicle.

Help points include a two-way speaker and camera to provide direct communication between you and the driver. To call the driver, press the red button and hold for three seconds.

The three compartments are connected by two articulation points. You may stand in this area while the vehicle is moving.

We encourage you to take care in this area, as the floor of the articulation joint will rotate as the vehicle moves. 

There are in-built USB charging points throughout the vehicle as well as on-board Wi-Fi for you to use.

We look forward to welcoming you on board.

You can also watch this video on Council's YouTube channel.

Catching the 169 service from UQ Lakes station

If you catch the 169 service from UQ Lakes station, please board at Stop A. 

You can download a fact sheet, developed to support customers at UQ Lakes station, including accessible boarding and platform information:

Frequently asked questions

What's happening with the route 169 and Brisbane Metro?

From 21 October 2024, metro vehicles will be in operation on route 169 between Eight Mile Plains and UQ Lakes. This is ahead of Brisbane Metro's M1 and M2 services officially commencing.

Why are metro vehicles servicing route 169?

With the early introduction of metro vehicles, customers will have the opportunity to experience the state-of-the-art electric vehicles ahead of Brisbane Metro services officially commencing (M1 and M2). By introducing high-capacity metro vehicles that are able to carry up to 170 passengers, we’ll increase bus network capacity, supporting the State Government’s 50 cent fares initiative.

We’re working closely with Translink to determine when metro services commence on M1 and M2.

Will 50 cent fares apply to metros on the route 169?

Yes.

Will the 169 timetable change?

The current service frequency and span of hours will be maintained with minor timetable adjustments. 

For service information, use Journey Planner on the Translink website.

Will the metro vehicles stop at Dutton Park Place when it operates on the route 169?

No, the 169 service will not stop at Dutton Park Place during this time as the bus stop is not suitable for metros due to physical constraints. Multiple frequent bus routes will continue to stop at Dutton Park Place, allowing quick and easy transfers to the 169 service at nearby busway stations including Boggo Road station and UQ Lakes station.

Once M1 and M2 services commence, standard buses will be put back into service and route 169 will return to Dutton Park Place.

How do I board a metro vehicle?

To catch a metro vehicle, you need to hail the service like you would a bus or use the help phone on the platform to request the service. You can board through the first, middle and rear compartment doors. 

We've created a metro vehicle video and fact sheet to help customers using a metro for the first time. 

What ticketing system will be available on the 169?

The Translink ticketing system will be used on metro vehicles for the 169.

Metro vehicles will be installed with Smart Ticketing equipment and will accept go cards and Odin pass until the Smart Ticketing trial for buses commences.

What do I do if my go card doesn't work?

If your go card isn’t working, continue to board the metro vehicle and contact Translink for further information. Unlike buses, you cannot talk to the driver as they sit in a separated driver cabin.

I want to ask the driver a question about my journey - what do I do?

As the driver sits in a separated driver cabin, you can’t speak directly to the driver like you can on a bus. There are passenger information screens with journey information, including route maps, next stop and arrival times.

What do I do if there is an emergency and I need to talk to the driver?

There is a separated driver cabin so communicating with the driver in an emergency is different to a regular bus. Should you require support during your journey, there are six help points located throughout the vehicle. Help points include a two-way speaker and camera to provide direct communication between you and the driver. To call the driver, press the red button and hold for three seconds.

Will metros be the only vehicle servicing the 169 or will buses still be required?

Metros will be the primary vehicle servicing route 169 route during this time.

From time to time, you may continue to see regular buses operating on route 169 as we finalise our testing.

When Brisbane Metro goes live, what will happen to the 169? Will this route continue to be serviced by metros?

No. The metros on the 169 service are being temporarily used to give customers the early opportunity to experience the electric metro vehicles ahead of Brisbane Metro services  (M1 and M2) officially commencing. Metros servicing route 169 will be removed and redirected for M1 and M2 services to commence in time for the launch of Brisbane Metro.

M1 services will travel from Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street, and M2 services will travel from Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to University of Queensland. View a map of the network and services.

Contact us

If you have any questions or would like more information about Brisbane Metro, you can:

Last updated:

Brisbane City Council acknowledges this Country and its Traditional Custodians. We pay our respects to the Elders, those who have passed into the Dreaming; those here today; those of tomorrow.