Brisbane Metro Depot Ready for October Launch

The Brisbane Metro Depot, Australia’s largest electric bus depot, has reached completion and is set to begin operations on October 21st.

Located on a 10-hectare site at Rochedale, the depot is poised to become a pivotal hub for Brisbane’s new bus rapid transit transportation system.

The depot, which has undergone over 400,000 hours of construction, is designed to support Brisbane’s new fleet of fully electric metros. The facility boasts 65 charging stations, including five fast chargers.

More than 2,300 solar panels have been installed, generating clean energy equivalent to the annual power consumption of 280 homes. This initiative alone is expected to reduce carbon emissions by an amount comparable to removing over 500 cars from Brisbane’s roads each year.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner emphasised the significance of this development, stating, “Brisbane is one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities, and the turn-up-and-go Brisbane Metro services are critical to keeping Brisbane moving. This depot will be home to our fleet of fully electric Brisbane Metro and is now the largest electric bus depot in the country.”

The Brisbane Metro Depot has been awarded a 5 Star Green Rating for its sustainable design. The site incorporates rainwater harvesting and recycled water systems for vehicle washing, further contributing to its environmental credentials.

The construction involved the use of over 500 tonnes of steel, 25 kilometres of electrical and communications cabling, and enough concrete to cover three football fields. A staggering 60 Olympic swimming pools worth of materials were also removed during the depot’s development.

“Council is committed to reducing congestion, and Brisbane Metro services will boost capacity by up to 30 million seats annually,” said Civic Cabinet Chair for Transport Ryan Murphy. He added, “The completion of this state-of-the-art depot at Rochedale means it’s ready to go for when Metro 169 starts on 21 October.”

To celebrate the depot’s completion and engage with the community, a Brisbane Metro Depot Community Open Day is scheduled for October 13th. The event will run from 10 am to 2 pm, offering residents a unique opportunity to explore the depot and the metro vehicles.

MacGregor Ward Councillor Steven Huang encouraged residents to attend, saying, “The Metro Depot Community Open Day on 13 October will be a fantastic opportunity for residents from all corners of Brisbane to come and visit the state-of-the-art depot and see how our newest public transport system will work.”