Brisbane Light Rail

A New Public Utility for Brisbane

This briefing outlines the urgent case for a light rail network in Brisbane's southern suburbs. We propose a vision that treats light rail as a public utility—a city-shaping investment measured not by farebox profit, but by its power to solve congestion, enable sustainable growth, and provide equitable transport access for all residents.

Explore the Case

The Gridlock Crisis

Our southern suburbs are choking on traffic. Major arterials like Beaudesert Road and the M3 are at a breaking point, costing our economy millions and residents their valuable time. This section breaks down the tangible cost of inaction. You can toggle the chart to see the scale of the problem in both economic terms and lost hours.

Source: Modeled from QLD Dept. of Transport & Main Roads (TMR) Annual Congestion Report, 2024.

A Connected Southern Corridor

We propose a starter line for Brisbane's south, creating a permanent, high-capacity link along a key corridor like Beaudesert Road. This isn't just a transport line; it's a backbone for future-focused urban development, connecting key residential, employment, and education hubs. Below are the strategic destinations this corridor would serve.

1

CBD Connection

Integrates with the existing CBD transit network, including the Brisbane Metro and Cross River Rail.

Connects to major employment and transport hubs.
2

Health & Education Precinct

Services the QEII Jubilee Hospital and Griffith University (Nathan Campus).

Links thousands of students and staff to high-quality transit.
3

Sunnybank Hub

Connects the major retail and cultural centre of Sunnybank.

Supports a key commercial and community destination.
4

Calamvale & Southern Suburbs

Provides a fast, reliable service for major and growing residential areas.

Delivers high-capacity transit to underserved growth areas.

The Case for Investment

This project's value isn't in the farebox; it's in the city it builds. This section explores the two pillars of the investment case: the powerful Wider Economic Benefits (WEBs) and the success stories from cities just like ours. Use the tabs to switch between the economic model and real-world examples.

Wider Economic Benefits (WEBs)

A public utility model looks at the total value created. Light rail is a catalyst for economic activity, generating returns far beyond ticket sales. The chart shows a typical breakdown of these WEBs, while the sections below explain each component.

Source: Typical breakdown adapted from UK Treasury 'Green Book' and Infrastructure Australia guidelines.

Why Light Rail, Not More Buses?

The Brisbane Metro is a positive step, but it is a bus-based solution. For long-term, high-growth corridors, light rail offers distinct advantages that buses cannot match. This section provides a clear comparison. Select a metric from the dropdown to see how they stack up on capacity, environmental impact, and their power to attract investment.

Source: UITP, 2024; Transdev (G:link) & Brisbane City Council (Metro) specifications.

The "Metro" Problem

The chart above is a direct comparison. A single G:link light rail vehicle (LRV) has a capacity of 309 passengers. The new Brisbane Metro vehicle has a stated capacity of 170. Light rail moves almost double the people per vehicle, with a smaller on-road footprint and superior reliability.

Ride Quality & User Experience

Light rail offers a superior ride: smoother, quieter, and more comfortable. This higher quality of service is proven to attract more "choice" riders—people who have the option to drive but choose transit instead.

Permanence & Investment

Bus routes can be changed overnight. Steel tracks in the ground cannot. This physical permanence gives developers and investors the long-term certainty they need to commit to major, multi-decade urban renewal projects along the corridor.

A Fairer, More Connected Brisbane

This project is fundamentally about equity. For too long, the middle and outer suburbs have been left with congested roads and infrequent bus services while inner-city projects get priority. This section provides the key arguments for framing light rail as a project for all of Brisbane, especially for an opposition councillor representing a ward like Calamvale.

The Path Forward: Building the Case

A strong proposal must be built on a foundation of solid data. To move this from an idea to a feasible project, we need to gather specific evidence for a southern suburbs corridor. This checklist outlines the key data points that will be essential for a formal business case.

  • Analyse population growth projections (BCC's Future Blueprint confirms this corridor as a key growth area).
    Why: To forecast future demand and justify the need for a high-capacity system.
  • Quantify current traffic volumes & congestion data (Beaudesert Rd is already identified by TMR as a critical bottleneck).
    Why: To quantify the "problem" and model the potential congestion-reduction benefits.
  • Map major destinations & trip generators (e.g., Griffith Uni, QEII Hospital, and 2032 Olympic venues like QSAC).
    Why: To identify key nodes that will anchor ridership, including Olympic legacy infrastructure.
  • Establish baseline bus patronage & reliability statistics (Key routes like the 130, 140, 150 are high-patronage but suffer from congestion delays).
    Why: To establish a baseline of existing transit demand and identify current service failings (e.g., unreliability).

Detailed Briefing Document

A comprehensive analysis prepared using Gemini Deep Research. Not authored by any public official. Draft for discussion purposes.

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