Brisbane buses go cashless

Jason WhittakerSeptember 30, 2009, 10:47 amAugust 18, 2023

TransLink is moving to cut queues and improve boarding times by introducing more prepaid bus services to Brisbane’s public transport

TransLink is moving to cut queues and improve boarding times by introducing more prepaid bus services to Brisbane’s public transport network.

Thirty-six bus routes across Brisbane will be served by prepaid buses from November 16.

The prepaid routes will feature a ‘P’ next to the route number on the front of the bus or by a sign in the front window, meaning passengers must have a go card or paper (single, daily, weekly or monthly) ticket before they catch a bus.

A TransLink spokesman says the prepaid routes will also be serviced by regular buses, which will run to the same areas.

“There will be a two-week amnesty so passengers can buy tickets if they need to on board until Friday, November 27,” he says.

“After the amnesty, passengers without a go card or ticket will not be able to board the prepaid service.”

The prepaid expansion follows a successful trial of current prepaid routes across the network including routes: 137 (Sunnybank Hills-City), 569 (Loganholme-City), 581 (Springwood-City), 157 (Runcorn-City) and 343 (Aspley-City).

“Prepaid services have been well accepted by commuters with patronage across all current five pre-paid services averaging 57,863 trips per month between January and June this year,” the spokesman says.

In total, the 41 routes – including the five current pre-paid routes – carried 364,234 passengers in July with 2770 bus trips made each week.

The 36 bus routes that will become prepaid are:

Brisbane south: