Whether you will travel through Brisbane’s CBD by bus or you have never been to this city before, Queen Street Bus Station is going to be one of those places that you should definitely know about. Unlike any bus terminal, Queen Street Bus Station is situated underground directly beneath the city’s well-known Queen Street Mall.
This location makes the station one of the busiest transport hubs in Brisbane, and the reason is that many office workers, students, shoppers and tourists pass this way regularly since it provides fast and convenient bus connections with all parts of the city and surrounding suburbs.
- The very first thing that surprises most of the visitors
- Why Queen Street Bus Station is better than other transport hubs in Brisbane
- Is Queen Street Bus Station appropriate for your journey?
- Platform number isn't as complicated as it sounds
- Don't confuse it with King George Square Bus Station
- What you will find inside the station
- How to pay for your journey
- What can you do around?
- When the station is busiest?
- Accessibility
- A few things that are usually overlooked by first-time visitors
- Frequently asked questions
- Final thoughts
The very first thing that surprises most of the visitors
First of all, you won’t see buses when approaching Queen Street Mall.
Actually, the whole station is situated underground and requires you to descent to a special bus station after reaching one of the entrance points of the mall.
The construction of the station in 1988 was aimed to decrease the amount of buses on Brisbane’s CBD’s surface and also to provide a sheltered point for boarding buses in the hot climate of Queensland and during rainy days. At the time of opening, this station was recognized as the world’s largest underground diesel bus station.
Why Queen Street Bus Station is better than other transport hubs in Brisbane
Most transport hubs in any city are located either far away from the city’s center or at least at some distance away from the main business district.
Unlike other transport hubs, this station is right in the heart of Brisbane’s commercial district.
It means that in the course of one single bus ride, you are going to reach:
- Queen Street Mall
- Brisbane City Hall
- King George Square
- Brisbane Square
- Uptown Brisbane
- Hundred offices, restaurants and hotels
That’s why for visitors who are staying in the CBD, Queen Street Bus Station is going to be the easiest station to remember since all the main sights in central Brisbane can be reached from there easily.
Is Queen Street Bus Station appropriate for your journey?
In most cases, the answer is “Yes”.
If your destination is in Brisbane’s city center, there is a big chance that this station is better than getting off the bus in the suburb and walking to the desired location.
Also, it serves as a point for transferring passengers travelling from one bus route to another. Instead of changing buses on the street, most passengers can usually change their buses at the station.
Some of the destinations that can be reached from Queen Street Bus Station are listed below:
| Area | Examples of destination points |
| South Brisbane | Griffith University, Garden City, QEII Hospital |
| Western suburbs | Indooroopilly, Mount Ommaney, Riverhills |
| Eastern suburbs | Carindale |
| Northern suburbs | Aspley, Bracken Ridge |
| South-west | Forest Lake, Browns Plains, Greenbank |
Please, note that the actual list of routes and destination points can be changed, that’s why it’s better to check it before travelling.
Platform number isn’t as complicated as it sounds
Even though the station is quite busy, the structure of the station is quite simple to understand.
There are 13 bus stands which are divided into 3 platform groups. Instead of waiting on the platform, the passengers need to go to the designated bus stands – for example, 1A, 1F, 2B or 3A.
Above each stand, there is an electronic display which shows:
- Next arriving bus
- Number of the route
- Destination
- Scheduled departure time
If you are using TransLink Journey Planner or Google Maps when you are preparing for your journey, you will be able to see your platform number before actually reaching the station.
Don’t confuse it with King George Square Bus Station
Actually, this is the main mistake of first-time visitors.
Despite the fact that both these stations are situated at the CBD of Brisbane and are quite close to each other, and a number of buses passes through the very same point, nevertheless, it is inappropriate to say that they may replace each other.
On the one hand, because Queen Street Bus Station operates as a terminal bus station, King George Square Bus Station operates as a through-service station. That is why whether the chosen route will use these two stations or not will depend on the chosen route. It is necessary to indicate the right starting point of the trip within the CBD.
What you will find inside the station
This station is definitely not a shopping center with transport attached or a basic roadside stop.
Queen Street Bus Station is constructed as a point for fast passage, but it provides all the necessary facilities for the passengers:
- Step-free access in the whole station
- Lifts and escalators
- Electronic departure boards
- Seating near boarding areas
- CCTV monitoring
- Direct pedestrian connections with Queen Street Mall and Uptown Brisbane
One of the benefits is that passengers stay indoor before boarding, and it makes the station comfortable to stay in even during the rainy weather and hot summer days.
How to pay for your journey
Most of the passengers use go card or contactless Visa, Mastercard or American Express card or digital wallet for payment of Brisbane’s TransLink network trips.
If you are going to visit Brisbane for a few days, contactless payment will be the easiest option since you don’t need to purchase a special travel card. On the other hand, frequent users will prefer go card because of convenience of usage on buses, trains, ferries and trams (where they are available).
Please, check the latest payment options on the TransLink website before boarding, as fare policies and supported payments can be changed from time to time.
What can you do around?
One of the greatest advantages of Queen Street Bus Station is that you are already in the heart of Brisbane when you leave the station.
Only a few minutes of walk and you can get to one of the most popular destinations of the city.
| Place | Approximate walking time |
| Queen Street Mall | Direct access |
| Brisbane City Hall | 3-5 minutes |
| King George Square | 5 minutes |
| Brisbane Square | 5 minutes |
| Treasury Brisbane precinct | 6-8 minutes |
| Brisbane River | Around 10 minutes |
If you are going to spend the whole day in CBD, you don’t need to take another bus right after leaving the station, as there are many offices, cafes, shops and attractions in the walking distance from the station.
When the station is busiest?
Like any other city transport hub, the amount of passengers increases dramatically during the commuting hours.
Usually, you are going to notice the busiest hours:
- Weekdays, 7:00 am – 9:00 am
- Weekdays, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
During these hours, platforms can become quite busy since many services are coming simultaneously. If you don’t know the station well, it’s better to arrive a bit earlier and find the right boarding point without rushing.
During other hours, navigating through the station becomes significantly easier.
Accessibility
Queen Street Bus Station has been constructed with accommodation of all types of passengers.
Some of the facilities provided in this station are:
- Step-free access
- Lifts connecting the street and platforms
- Escalators
- Signage on platforms
- Accessible boarding areas
If you need additional help with your travelling, it’s better to check TransLink’s accessibility information in advance, especially if engineering works or some platform changes are scheduled.
A few things that are usually overlooked by first-time visitors
Most trips through the station are quite easy, but it’s better to prepare before.
- Don’t think that all the buses in Brisbane’s CBD stop here. Brisbane has several bus stations, and some of the buses will depart from other locations.
- Pay attention to platform number and not to route number. Several buses come to the station in a short period of time and neighboring stands can serve different destination points.
- It’s better to leave some time if you are going to transfer. The station is not big, but during peak hours it can be hard to move between platforms.
- Use live departure information. Timetables can be used for planning, but real-time data is more accurate.
Frequently asked questions
Is Queen Street Bus Station open every day?
Yes, the station is open every day. The frequency of services varies depending on the route, day of the week and time.
Can I walk to Brisbane City Hall from the station?
Yes, Brisbane City Hall is one of the nearest destination points after leaving the station.
Is Queen Street Bus Station connected to Queen Street Mall?
Yes, there are several entrances connecting the station and Queen Street Mall directly.
Is there parking in Queen Street Bus Station?
There is no parking in Queen Street Bus Station. If you are going to drive to the CBD, you will need to park in the surrounding commercial facilities.
How to know which platform is used by my bus?
It’s better to check TransLink Journey Planner or departure boards in the station.
Final thoughts
Although Queen Street Bus Station is not considered a sightseeing spot, still it plays an important role of transport hub in Brisbane. Due to its location under the ground, central position and integration into TransLink system, Queen Street Bus Station becomes one of the most convenient points for traveling to the CBD.
For the first-time visitors, the station may seem quite busy. In reality, with good signage, electronic departure boards and direct connection with the surrounding streets, it’s not difficult to navigate in the station if you know the right platform. Only one minute of checking your route in advance is needed to make your journey through the station easy and stress-free.
