Brisbane Metro Expansion Moves Forward with $50M Business Case Funding

Carseldine is set to benefit from a major public transport development, with plans advancing for the Brisbane Metro expansion. The project has received significant funding as part of a broader $200 million investment in Brisbane’s transport projects. 


Read: Brisbane Metro Expansion: New Stations Planned for Carseldine and Beyond


Of this, $50 million has been allocated to support the development of a business case for Brisbane Metro expansion. This funding will allow detailed planning and analysis to progress, ensuring the extension is well-integrated into the city’s transport network.

Photo Credit: QLD/BCC/Brisbane Metro

Brisbane will now proceed with a business case to extend the high-capacity Brisbane Metro system beyond its current routes, reaching Carseldine, Capalaba, Springwood, and Brisbane Airport. The expansion will also include a new Northern Metro Depot to support services in the northern suburbs.

Transport demand modelling has identified the corridor from Chermside to Carseldine as a key priority for high-capacity Metro vehicles. This expansion is expected to significantly enhance public transport options in Brisbane’s north, integrating seamlessly with existing busways and providing a more efficient, fully electric service.

The Future of Public Transport in Brisbane

Photo credit: CC BY-SA 4.0/John Robert McPherson/Wikimedia Commons

Brisbane Metro is a key part of the city’s future transport strategy, featuring fully electric, high-capacity vehicles designed to reduce congestion and improve travel times. Unlike other capital cities, where rail networks dominate, Brisbane relies heavily on bus services, making Metro expansion essential for meeting future demand.

Read: Stage 1 of Beams Road Upgrade Complete – Here’s What’s Next

Brisbane has experienced rapid growth over the past decade, with projections indicating a further 1.55 million residents by 2041. As the city prepares to host the 2032 Olympic Games, improved transport infrastructure will be crucial. During past Olympic Games, such as Sydney 2000 and London 2012, public transport usage surged by nearly one million trips per day, highlighting the importance of reliable transit options.

With construction set to progress in the coming years, residents in Carseldine and surrounding areas can look forward to faster, more sustainable transport solutions that will help shape Brisbane’s future.

Published 8-March-2025

Brisbane Metro Expansion: New Stations Planned for Carseldine and Beyond

Carseldine is set to become an essential stop in the Brisbane Metro expansion, with plans for a new station to be built in time for the 2032 Olympic Games.



Expansion Plans Announced

The Brisbane Metro rapid bus service is gearing up for a significant expansion to extend its reach to the outer suburbs, including Carseldine, Capalaba, Springwood, and the Brisbane Airport. This expansion includes the construction of 22 new stations to improve public transport connectivity across Brisbane and neighbouring communities. 

The proposal aims to develop a high-frequency, high-capacity public transport network crucial for managing the anticipated increase in public transport usage during the 2032 Olympics and beyond. It is expected to alleviate congestion and support the growing population, with an estimated 1.55 million more people predicted to move to Brisbane by 2041.

Brisbane Metro
Photo Credit: QLD/BCC/Brisbane Metro

Community and Infrastructure Development

The expansion plan focuses on enhancing the Metro service to better connect key destinations such as the Brisbane Airport and DFO and extending lines to the north, south, and east of Brisbane. This initiative aims to ensure that more suburbs are linked to the public transport network, which will reduce the number of cars on the road, decrease congestion, and contribute to a cleaner environment.

Transport modelling has highlighted the northern corridor, including Chermside and Carseldine, as a priority area for new Metro stations to support both short—and medium-term transport needs, especially in the lead-up to the Olympics.

In addition to the new stations, plans include establishing a new Metro depot in the northern suburbs to support the extended services. This infrastructure is part of a broader strategy to enhance Brisbane’s public transport network, which features fully-electric, high-capacity buses designed to integrate seamlessly with existing busways.

Brisbane Metro
Photo Credit: QLD/BCC/Brisbane Metro

Challenges and Next Steps

While the expansion plans are ambitious, several challenges remain. The exact cost of the project has yet to be determined, and further discussions regarding funding are ongoing. Additionally, the project must navigate existing agreements, such as the Airtrain exclusivity agreement, which currently restricts public transport links to Brisbane Airport until 2036.

Despite these challenges, all parties involved strongly commit to pushing the project forward. Following changes in priorities and cost assessments, funds have already been redirected from other projects to support the expansion.

The expansion of the Brisbane Metro will begin with the opening of its first stage on October 21, linking Eight Mile Plains and the University of Queensland. The extension to Carseldine and other suburbs will follow, subject to the outcomes of the detailed business case and funding availability.



The 22 new stations planned for the Brisbane Metro expansion:

  1. Eight Mile Plains
  2. Rochedale
  3. Springwood
  4. Upper Mount Gravatt
  5. Griffith University
  6. Holland Park West
  7. Greenslopes
  8. PA Hospital
  9. Boggo Road
  10. UQ Lakes
  11. Buranda
  12. Stones Corner
  13. Coorparoo Square
  14. Camp Hill
  15. Carindale
  16. Chandler
  17. Capalaba
  18. Langlands Park
  19. Carina
  20. Kedron Brook
  21. Kedron North
  22. Chermside

Additionally, there are future Metro extensions indicated to:

  • Carseldine
  • Doomben
  • Brisbane Airport
  • DFO
  • Clayfield
  • Hendra
  • Ascot
  • Eagle Junction
  • Windsor
  • Woolloongabba

Published 30-Aug-2024