policy
South East Queensland Transport Plan Review Adjusts Brisbane Bus and Rail Timelines
Brisbane residents in Logan, Ipswich and inner north corridors will see bus frequency increases and rail integration work start from late 2027 under the revised schedule.
How we reported this
The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads released its 2026 review of the South East Queensland Transport Plan on 10 July. The document resets delivery dates for multiple bus rapid transit extensions and feeder service upgrades that serve Brisbane's outer suburbs and Olympic venues. Residents who rely on routes along the Logan and Ipswich motorways will encounter the first timetable adjustments no earlier than the second half of 2027.
The review follows the release of updated population projections in the SEQ Growth Plan and the need to align transport works with the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games venues at the Gabba and Rivermakers precinct. Earlier versions of the plan had targeted some bus corridor improvements for 2026. The new timetable stretches those stages across 2027 to 2029 to accommodate construction sequencing around the Cross River Rail tunnels and stadium redevelopment.
Daily travel changes for Brisbane commuters
Workers travelling from Logan to the Brisbane CBD can expect an extra morning service every 15 minutes on the 555 route from December 2027 rather than the originally listed June 2026 date. Ipswich line rail customers will see new bus connections at Redbank station introduced in the first quarter of 2028 once the reviewed park-and-ride expansions are completed. Inner-north residents near the Gabba will face temporary stop relocations during 2027 while bus lanes are widened to meet projected event-day demand.
The 2025-26 Queensland Budget Papers allocated $2.8 billion to SEQ bus and rail integration projects over four years. The review document states that $410 million of that funding will now be spent after June 2028, shifting expenditure timing for the final stage of the Eastern Busway extension.
Next steps in the review process
Public submissions on the revised timelines close on 15 August 2026. The department will publish a final implementation schedule by November. Construction notices for the first delayed projects are expected to appear in local government gazettes from February 2027, giving residents in affected suburbs at least six months' notice of changed stop locations and service patterns.