Brisbane council digs in on Metro bus route ‘trial’ amid final rollout cloud
As that launch turned into a “preview”, then quietly described by council transport chair Ryan Murphy as a four-week “trial” mentioned nowhere else, Murphy has flagged further change.
Murphy’s comments on Monday that his “bet is on early 2025” now, also comes despite key infrastructure elements of the project not slated for completion until mid-year.
What they said
The council began describing what had been a “start” or early “launch” of the Metro vehicles on the 169 route as a “preview” in October, with seemingly only Murphy’s sole indication it would end.
A former state government source with knowledge of the July deal, who asked for anonymity to discuss the preceding cross-government talks candidly, said they also expected them to continue.
“It was never talked about in terms of a short-term test or trial,” the source said.
Rail Tram and Bus Union state secretary Tom Brown said he understood the Metro vehicles would continue on the 169 route until December when they were to begin on their actual routes.
“It’s also got to tie into the new network as well, so it’s a double problem – because they can’t do one but not the other,” he said.
“It caught us out, and caught the drivers out. They were sent back to their depots and they don’t know whether they’re coming or going now.”
Brown also spoke of issues discovered with the door electronics fixed before the recent services, and others which emerged in recent rain which interfered with the opening and closing.
Another point of view
Responding to a series of questions from this masthead, a council spokesperson offered a blunt response to a question about the former state government source’s claims, the apparent change of language around the “preview”, and if there was a decision made to make it a time-limited trial.
“This is untrue,” the spokesperson said. “Metro 169 was always a preview.”
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The spokesperson said recent rain-related door issues were not a “technical issue” and would not be drawn on whether there was any broader fix needed as part of others arising from public feedback.
“During a big storm, water was coming in sideways from the busway roof … and this triggered a vehicle safety feature. The driver closed the door manually, which is standard procedure,” they said.
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