This guide explains how the parts of Brisbane’s public transport fit together. Apart from the pointers to other Brisbane Updates guides, each statement comes from Translink pages read on 10 November 2026. The Translink pages used show no last-updated date, so every statement is given as it stood at 10 November 2026 and may have changed since. The guide leaves out fares, timetables and temporary notices, which change, and points to dedicated guides for the detail of each mode. It does quote a few headline service patterns (high frequency services, the inner-city loop and Nightlink hours), each dated and attributed to Translink.
The four modes in one list
At 10 November 2026, Translink’s page on bus, train, ferry and tram says travellers can use buses across the entire network, trains in South East Queensland, and ferries in Brisbane plus some ferries in Moreton Bay and Townsville. The same page says trams, known as the G:link, run on the Gold Coast.
At that date, per the same page, Translink recommends its journey planner, timetables and app for reaching a destination using all its services or just one. Its maps page, at 10 November 2026, offers a South East Queensland network map as a PDF, with a low vision version, plus ferry network and tram network maps. The same page says route maps for buses, trains and ferries can be viewed on the journey planner, and it points to the Queensland Rail your station page for detailed train station access maps.
Buses, busways and the free city loops
At 10 November 2026, per Translink’s bus, train, ferry and tram page, its busways offer fast congestion-free travel on dedicated roadways. The same page describes CityGlider as a high-frequency bus service that operates throughout the day. For how bus routes and stops work in practice, see Brisbane Buses Explained.
In the inner city, Translink lists free bus services and says they help people get around the inner-city areas, as at 10 November 2026. On that page, the Spring Hill Loop, route 30, operates seven days a week linking the Brisbane City and Spring Hill precincts. Routes 40 and 50 of the Brisbane City Loop run every 10 minutes on weekdays around the City centre, clockwise and anti-clockwise, according to the page at 10 November 2026.
Trains, ferries and how often services run
Train travel is covered in more depth in Brisbane Trains Explained, and river services in Brisbane CityCats and Ferries Guide. At 10 November 2026, per the bus, train, ferry and tram page, Translink says it operates high frequency services on trams and some bus routes and train lines, and that these run every 15 minutes or better. Its high frequency services page says there is no need for a timetable with them, as at 10 November 2026.
After dark, Translink describes Nightlink as bus and train services operating between midnight and 5am on Friday and Saturday nights, per its bus, train, ferry and tram page at 10 November 2026.
Reaching and leaving Brisbane Airport
At 10 November 2026, Translink’s airport page says Airtrain is a non-Translink operator linking the International and Domestic Airports with Brisbane City and the Gold Coast. It says you can catch Airtrain between every South East Queensland train station and Brisbane Airport, with Airtrain stations directly in front of each terminal. For travel to or from the Gold Coast, the page says to use the tram to connect to the Airtrain at Helensvale station.
On tickets, the same page says that, at 10 November 2026, Airtrain tickets are only valid on train and tram services, and that transfers to bus or ferry services are not permitted. It adds that when transferring from Airtrain to another Translink bus, train, ferry or tram service, contactless and go card transfer rules do not apply and a new journey commences. Options between the airport and the city are laid out in Brisbane Airport to the City: Your Options.
Paying across the modes
At 10 November 2026, per Translink’s go card page, a go card allows travel on all Translink bus, train, ferry, tram and on demand services across greater Brisbane, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast regions. The same page describes using one as topping up the card, tapping on at the start of the journey and tapping off at the end. Contactless payment is also available on all South East Queensland trains, trams, ferries and buses, per its contactless page at 10 November 2026. That page says you must use the same payment method to tap on and tap off successfully, and the same method when transferring between any station or service. For ticket types, read Go Card and Public Transport Tickets Explained.
Support options beyond the main network
At 10 November 2026, Translink’s bus, train, ferry and tram page lists two further services. It says free and low-cost transport options are available to help people with a disability travel to and from appointments and various activities. It describes flexible local transport as a flexible, shared and pre-booked service that connects to the wider public transport network in some areas.
Frequently asked questions
Which Translink modes run across South East Queensland?
At 10 November 2026, Translink’s bus, train, ferry and tram page says buses run across the entire network, trains in South East Queensland, and ferries in Brisbane plus some in Moreton Bay and Townsville; trams, known as the G:link, run on the Gold Coast.
Can I use one card on every mode?
At 10 November 2026, Translink says a go card allows travel on all its bus, train, ferry, tram and on demand services across greater Brisbane and other listed regions, and that contactless payment is available on all South East Queensland trains, trams, ferries and buses.
Is Airtrain part of Translink?
At 10 November 2026, Translink describes Airtrain as a non-Translink operator, and says Airtrain tickets are only valid on train and tram services.
Do I need a timetable?
At 10 November 2026, Translink says there is no need for a timetable with its high frequency services, which it says run every 15 minutes or better.
