Ventura Systems helping move millions in Brisbane

Brisbane is one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities, and with more than two-thirds of public transport users travelling by bus, Brisbane City Council is introducing Brisbane Metro Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services.

With a new fleet of high-capacity, high-frequency turn-up-and-go electric metro vehicles, Council is meeting the growing demand for fast and reliable ways to travel.

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Operating on Brisbane’s busways, the metros move more people, more often, transforming urban mobility by delivering two dedicated routes (M1 and M2) that provide fast, frequent and reliable turn-up-and-go services.

Council has worked closely with Swiss bus manufacturer HESS to design the metro fleet using the lighTram®25 model as the base design and completing extensive local testing to deliver a vehicle that is built for Brisbane.

With a spacious 24.5 metre bi-articulated design, each metro can transport up to 170 passengers, using three large double doors. The door system, supplied by Ventura Systems, plays a crucial role in delivering safe and efficient all-door boarding. The M1 and M2 routes connect some of Brisbane’s busiest busway stations and the boarding experience is crucial to ensure both customer safety and service reliability is maintained to the highest standard.

The launch of metro services marks the beginning of transforming the way people move across Brisbane. The early success of Brisbane Metro has resulted in a $50 million business case to explore the expansion of metro routes across Brisbane.

The challenge for any mass transit system lies in efficiently transporting high volumes of passengers with frequent stops and short intervals while ensuring equal accessibility for all passengers. The metro design reflects its ability to handle high passenger volumes, particularly through its door system configuration.

“Unlike many conventional buses, metros feature outward-opening doors rather than inward-gliding doors,” Ventura Systems Australia and New Zealand general manager Wolter Meijerhof told ABC.

“At the front, a unique rapid sliding door system serves as a dedicated entrance for the driver’s compartment. By moving outward, it maximises interior space and offers better sealing compared to an inward-gliding door system.”

To facilitate efficient passenger boarding and alighting, three wide plug sliding door systems have been installed, ensuring completely unobstructed doorways. Unlike inward-swinging doors, plug sliding doors do not take up interior space or obstruct passengers waiting to exit. This makes them ideal for all-door boarding, significantly reducing dwell times.

“For passengers with accessibility requirements, the first plug sliding door system is integrated with an electric ramp from a third-party supplier, designed to function seamlessly with the door system,” Meijerhof says.

“For customers that are able to, pressing the ramp request button activates the request for automated ramps to be deployed by the metro operator and opens the doors accordingly.

“The additional interior space created by the door system configuration gives designers greater flexibility to enhance accessibility and optimise seating arrangements.”

Passenger safety and comfort was prioritised when designing the metro fleet, with the first customer touchpoint being the doors. Each door system is equipped with a sensitive edge as well as obstruction detection that prevents the doors from closing while passengers are boarding or alighting.

If the edge or the obstruction detection sensor detects movement, the doors automatically reopen. The sensitive edge and obstruction detection remains active during door operation to alert the driver of any activity that may require attention.

The door control unit serves as the system’s central intelligence, enhancing safety through preset parameters and ensuring a secure journey for all passengers.

The door system is electric, replacing older pneumatic technology. While a minimal amount of compressed air is required for the emergency system, the doors operate entirely without compressed air. This reduces movement forces, enhancing drivetrain durability and minimising wear.

Additionally, electric door systems require fewer adjustments during operation, as they are less affected by variations in compressed air quality. They are also quieter and more energy-efficient, benefiting both passengers and operators.

“The design of the vehicle and door systems addresses not only the challenges of public transport but also the demands of Brisbane’s unique climate,” Meijerhof says.

“Unlike typical urban environments, Brisbane’s weather conditions directly influence the configuration of the door systems and overall vehicle design.”

High temperatures and prolonged sun exposure can lead to material expansion and increased wear on seals, hinges and electronic components while high humidity can lead to condensation, potentially affecting electrical components.

Frequent heavy rainfall requires effective sealing to prevent water ingress. Brisbane experiences severe summer storms with strong winds, which can put additional pressure on door mechanisms. Coastal winds can carry salt and fine dust, leading to corrosion and increased maintenance requirements.

“To ensure reliable operation in Brisbane’s demanding climate, Ventura Systems’ door solutions are engineered with durability, safety and efficiency in mind,” Meijerhof says.

“Drawing from extensive experience in global markets with similar environmental challenges, the door systems incorporate advanced materials, intelligent design and rigorous testing to withstand extreme temperatures, humidity, heavy rainfall and coastal exposure.”

Brisbane Metro is just the beginning of a new era of bus rapid transit mobility: one that prioritises efficiency, sustainability and an enhanced passenger experience. With future expansions set to move even more passengers each year, the city is embracing a smarter, more connected future.

As Brisbane Metro continues to evolve, so too will the technology behind it. With each new stage, Ventura’s advanced door systems will remain a critical component in moving the city forward – one safe and efficient journey at a time.