Route 150 Brisbane: Timetable, Stops, Fares, and What to Expect

Route 150 Brisbane Cityxpress bus picking up passengers at Queen Street Bus Station in Brisbane CBD on a bright sunny day. Route 150 Brisbane Cityxpress at Queen Street Bus Station, providing a direct service between Browns Plains and Brisbane CBD.

The Route 150 connects Browns Plains to City Express via Runcorn and South East Busway. The frequency of this route is daily. The time duration to reach the destination point in both directions depends upon traffic situation and can be between 55 and 75 minutes. The fare for every trip is 50 cents because of permanent public transport fare in Queensland, hence cheaper than expected by many first-time travelers. If you happen to be at one of the stops right now wondering about which platform to catch the bus on and how much does it take to get there, here is everything you need.

What Route 150 Actually Covers

Route 150 (“Browns Plains – City Express via Runcorn”) runs from the Browns Plains station to Queen Street bus station (Brisbane CBD). In reverse direction, it departs from Queen Street station and ends at the Browns Plains station. The current schedule of this route is available on TransLink’s official page with timetables of all Queensland routes, and you can always find the live version of the schedule here.

The Route 150 belongs to the category of Cityxpress services – limited-stop routes that run directly between outer suburbs and the city center – introduced by TransLink in November 2004 along with other restructuring of the southern corridor routes aimed to reduce travel time for commuters from Logan and southside suburbs.

We have tested Route 150 at different times of the day. Here’s the route snapshot:

DetailInformation
Route typeCityxpress (limited-stop express)
Start pointBrowns Plains Station
End pointQueen Street bus station
Suburbs servedParkinson, Calamvale, Sunnybank Hills, Runcorn, Eight Mile Plains, Upper Mt Gravatt, South Brisbane
Number of stops29-31 (varies slightly by direction)
Scheduled travel time55 to 60 minutes off-peak
Operating hoursFrom roughly 4:45am to past 11pm, daily
OperatorTransport for Brisbane (TransLink network)

It goes down Beaudesert Road and Gowan Road from Parkinson and Calamvale, Warrigal Road from Runcorn to Eight Mile Plains and then continues along the South East Busway via Upper Mt Gravatt and Griffith University stops all the way to the city via Mater Hill, South Bank and Cultural Centre.

Full Stop List for Route 150

This is the stop sequence heading inbound (Browns Plains to Queen Street). Outbound runs the same corridor in reverse.

#StopSuburb
1Browns Plains StationBrowns Plains
2Beaudesert Rd at Illaweena StreetParkinson
3Honeysuckle Way at SunflowerCalamvale
4Honeysuckle Way at CalamvaleCalamvale
5Gowan Rd at The ParksCalamvale
6Gowan Rd at ParksideCalamvale
7Gowan Rd at Pennant HillsCalamvale
8Gowan Rd at Calam NorthCalamvale
9Gowan Rd at Gowan and ComptonSunnybank Hills
10Gowan Rd near Blackbean StSunnybank Hills
11Nemies Rd at Runcorn WestRuncorn
12Nemies Rd at Runcorn HeightsRuncorn
13Nursery Ave at RuncornRuncorn
14Nursery Ave near Marika StRuncorn
15Fruitgrove StationRuncorn
16Warrigal Rd at FruitgroveRuncorn
17Warrigal Rd at Runcorn NorthRuncorn
18Warrigal Rd near Daw RdEight Mile Plains
19Warrigal Rd at FanfareEight Mile Plains
20Warrigal Rd at BordeauxEight Mile Plains
21Warrigal Rd at Padstow ViewsEight Mile Plains
22Warrigal Road Green LinkEight Mile Plains
23MacGregor St at Garden City DepotUpper Mount Gravatt
24Upper Mt Gravatt StationUpper Mount Gravatt
25Griffith University StationNathan
26Mater Hill StationSouth Brisbane
27South Bank Busway StationSouth Brisbane
28Cultural Centre StationSouth Brisbane
29Queen Street Bus StationBrisbane CBD

Just so you know, if you are boarding anywhere between Fruitgrove and CBD, you have to be aware that the route 150 will not stop at any street stops once it gets to the South East Busway (after the Upper Mt Gravatt station). This is the section that gains back time.

Route 150 Timetable: What to Expect

TransLink runs the 150 on a fixed timetable rather than a real-time frequency service, so departure times matter more than they would on a high-frequency route.

Weekday service:

  • First departure from Browns Plains: around 4:45am
  • First departure from Queen Street: around 4:43am
  • Last services: around 11pm-11:20pm from either end
  • Peak frequency (6:30am-9am and 3pm-6:30pm): every 15-20 minutes
  • Off-peak frequency: every 30-40 minutes

Weekend service:

  • Starts later, generally from around 5:30am-6am
  • Runs on a reduced frequency, roughly every 30-60 minutes
  • Last trip typically leaves before midnight

As this is an express bus, rather than a turn-up-and-go service, it would always be advisable to consult the real-time departure boards on translink.com.au or the MyTransLink app prior to your departure from home. This service has more cancellations and consolidations than the BUZ services that operate frequently.

Route 150 Timetable Quick Reference

Time periodFrequencyNotes
Weekday AM peak15-20 minBusiest between Runcorn and Upper Mt Gravatt
Weekday interpeak30-40 minReliable, less crowding
Weekday PM peak15-20 minCity-bound trips fill first near South Bank
Saturday30-60 minFewer early morning trips
Sunday30-60 minShortest operating window

How Long Does the Trip Actually Take?

The scheduled travel time is given by TransLink at about 55 minutes in total, whereas in reality, it tends to take us 65-75 minutes during weekday peak hours due to the congestion on Warrigal Road between Eight Mile Plains and Runcorn.

Here’s the pattern we’ve noticed after multiple trips:

  1. Browns Plains to Runcorn (street running): This section is the slowest relative to distance. Traffic lights and school zones around Calamvale add 5-10 minutes during peak.
  2. Runcorn to Upper Mt Gravatt Station: Still on-street, but Warrigal Road moves more freely outside of peak hour.
  3. Upper Mt Gravatt Station to Queen Street (busway): This is where the bus makes up time. The dedicated lanes virtually guarantee that there will be virtually no waiting time regardless of the traffic volume on the parallel highway.

Should you need to arrive on time for the purposes of a job interview or meeting, it would be advisable to account for an extra 15 minutes when travelling on any route starting before 9am and after 3pm on a weekday. The rider reported on-time rate based on transit apps shows the 150 as operating at the low 70 percent level in recent polls, in line with our experience.

Route 150 Fares

This is the part most guides get wrong because it changed recently: fares on Route 150, like every other TransLink bus, train, tram, and ferry service in Queensland, are a flat 50 cents per trip, regardless of how many zones you cross. Browns Plains to Queen Street costs exactly the same as a two-stop hop.

This was put forward by Queensland as part of its efforts to address cost of living in August 2024. It became permanent after the government put it in place in its 2026-27 budget. The current policy on this can be found on the official website of Translink’s 50 cents fares.

What that means in practice for Route 150 riders:

DetailWhat applies
Standard adult fare50 cents, any distance on this route
Zone-based pricingNo longer applies to this trip
Off-peak discountNot needed; the fare is already flat
Payment methodgo card, contactless debit/credit card, or paper ticket, all charged the same 50 cents
Children under 5Free, no card needed
Children 5-14Free on weekends with an orange go card

A few practical points:

  • Even though the fare is not distance based, you will have to tap on and off or have a valid ticket to avoid being charged for the maximum fare in case your trip could not be determined.
  • No cash is accepted for SEQ buses, including the 150. Load a go card in advance or use a contactless bank card at the reader.
  • Concession, senior, and student riders pay the same 50 cents as everyone else while this policy is in place, so there’s no separate discount card benefit on this specific route right now.

Route 150 vs Other Ways to Reach the City

If you live near Browns Plains or Runcorn, the 150 isn’t your only option, and it isn’t always the fastest one.

OptionTravel timeFrequencyBest for
Route 150 (Cityxpress)55-75 min15-40 minDirect trip, no transfers
Beenleigh/Cleveland train line + bus feeder45-60 min15-30 min (train)Faster if you’re near a train station already
Route 130 (Parkinson via Mains Rd)Similar, different corridor20-40 minAlternative if 150 is delayed
Brisbane Metro (M1/M2) from Upper Mt Gravatt or Eight Mile Plains busway stations20-30 min from busway to CBD5-10 minFastest CBD leg if you can get to a busway station first
Interior view of a Route 150 Brisbane Cityxpress bus with passengers seated as it travels toward Brisbane CBD on a sunny day.

Our take: if you live close to the Upper Mt Gravatt Station, Eight Mile Plains, or Griffith University Station, it is much faster to take a bus that goes to the busway station and board a Brisbane Metro into the city than it is to take the 150 all the way, given that the buses run every 5-10 minutes on special bi-articulated buses. The M1 and M2 metro lines started operating in 2025 and travel the same route as the 150 in the South East Busway route, from Upper Mt Gravatt onwards. If you start your journey at Browns Plains, Parkinson, or Calamvale, the 150 will remain the better choice for you to take.

Common Rider Complaints (And How to Avoid Them)

We’ve seen the same handful of issues come up repeatedly with this route, based on rider reports and our own trips:

  • Overcrowding at Upper Mt Gravatt Station in the AM peak. By the time the bus reaches this stop, it’s frequently already at capacity from Browns Plains and Runcorn boardings. If you’re boarding here, get to the stop at least 10 minutes before your scheduled departure.
  • Delays on Warrigal Road during school terms. The street-running section passes several schools. Expect slower running times during term time between 8am-9am and 2:45pm-3:30pm.
  • Confusing “drop-off only” status at Queen Street. On some trips, Queen Street bus station is marked drop-off only, meaning you can’t board there for an outbound trip on that particular service. Always check the specific trip details rather than assuming every listed departure works both ways.
  • Weekend timetable gaps. Waiting times of 45-60 minutes on Sundays catch people out. Plan around the timetable rather than assuming turn-up-and-go frequency.

Quick Checklist Before You Travel

  1. Check today’s live timetable on the TransLink journey planner, not a cached schedule.
  2. Confirm which direction you need (inbound to Queen Street vs. outbound to Browns Plains).
  3. Tap on with a registered go card or contactless bank card; cash isn’t accepted on board and the fare is a flat 50 cents either way.
  4. If boarding after Upper Mt Gravatt Station, note it’s busway-only stops from there.
  5. Build a buffer of 10-15 minutes into peak-hour journeys.
  6. Tap off at your destination anyway, even though the fare is flat, since an incomplete trip can still flag your card for review.

If you’re planning a move to this side of Brisbane and weighing up whether you’ll need a car at all, it’s worth checking your other cost-of-living numbers before you commit. Our team runs through that kind of ground-level budgeting over on ausinside.com.

FAQs

Does Route 150 operate on public holidays?

Yes, but on a reduced schedule that is somewhat like the weekend schedule. Be sure to check the particular date on the Translink website as holiday schedules may have changed starting and stopping times.

Is Route 150 wheelchair friendly?

Yes. Translink’s Cityxpress fleet that operates route 150 employs low floor accessible buses that include wheelchair spots and ramps.

Can I get into Route 150 and Brisbane Metro using the same go card?

Yes. Go card can be used across the entire Translink network, including Brisbane Metro services, trains, buses, ferries, and trams. Given the fact that all fares currently in place are 50 cents flat fare across the network, getting from 150 to Brisbane Metro means tapping off and then on once more at the ordinary fare, rather than paying a multi-zone fare.

How is Route 150 different from Route 130?

They both start from near the Browns Plains/Parkinson area and go to the city center; however, they pass through different streets: Route 130 goes via Mains Road/Sunnybank, and Route 150 passes by Gowan/Warrigal Road in Runcorn. They serve as good alternatives to each other if the other one is late.

Where do I get on Route 150 in the CBD?

Queen Street bus station in the CBD area. On many inbound trips this bus stop is used as a drop-off only spot; therefore, check trip details carefully if you want to board the bus at this stop on outbound trip.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *