The turn-up-and-go Brisbane Metro public transport system has notched up another milestone with early works starting in South Brisbane.

Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the Brisbane Metro would get commuters home considerably quicker, with frequent peak hour services to be provided once the project is completed.

“New high-frequency services will link with suburban bus and train services, really helping to connect the city to the suburbs and easing congestion bottlenecks,” Mr Tudge said.

Federal Member for Brisbane Trevor Evans said the project was a great example of what could be achieved when different levels of government work together.

“The $944 million Brisbane Metro project has been jointly funded by the Australian Government and Brisbane City Council, with the Australian Government committing $300 million, and the Brisbane City Council providing the remaining funds,” Mr Evans said.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said the early works were part of the first stage of the project, which would connect 18 stations along dedicated busways between Eight Mile Plains and Roma Street, and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and University of Queensland.

“There will also be a new fleet of comfortable electric metro vehicles, with USB charging points, on board Wi-Fi and large doors for quicker boarding,” Mr Vasta said.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the early works included geotechnical investigations, sewer pump station construction, piling and excavations had started on the mass public transport system.

“This is a critical milestone for the Brisbane Metro. We have work ramping up at the Rochedale depot and now early works underway in the city centre to allow for the new underground station,’’ Cr Schrinner said.

“This project is creating jobs and a world-class public transport system to ensure residents get home quicker and safer, while also catering for future city growth.

“The new underground station at the Cultural Centre will be a key part of Brisbane’s greater transport network and will help link the city to the suburbs, making it easier for you to connect to the people and places you love.”

Once the pump station is built, Alexander Smith Place Park will be rejuvenated with plants, new street furniture and a drinking fountain.

The sewer pump station works are expected to take 12 months to complete at a construction cost of approximately $8.7 million, jointly funded by Council and Urban Utilities.

In November, Cr Schrinner announced the new fleet of 60 high-capacity Metro vehicles would be fully electric and have zero tail-pipe emissions, with the first pilot vehicle to be built by world-leading electric vehicle manufacturers HESS and its partners.

An initial pilot vehicle is expected to arrive in Brisbane in 2020 to commence testing in local operating conditions.

Brisbane Metro services are expected to begin by late 2023.

Construction is ramping up on the state-of-the-art Brisbane Metro depot to house the fleet of fully-electric vehicles.

It is a major milestone for the $944 million Metro project with 165 direct jobs expected to be created during the construction phase.

Brisbane Metro will provide services every three minutes in peak periods, reducing travel times by up to half, busting congestion and improving the greater Brisbane public transport network.

Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge MP said works on the Rochedale site would include the removal and relocation of a number of buildings.

“Construction is underway and this work will continue throughout 2020,” Mr Tudge said.

“The Metro project will revolutionise the way Brisbane commuters travel by doing away with the need for timetables.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said a tender was announced for a fleet of fully-electric Metro vehicles and they were finalising the depot design to include charging infrastructure for these vehicles.

“The depot will be the base for an initial fleet of 60 new electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, maintenance and staff facilities,” Cr Shrinner said.

“There is also capacity for future growth at the School Road location at Rochedale as the Brisbane Metro system expands.

“This major infrastructure development is expected to start next year and take two years to build in time for the delivery of the full Metro vehicle fleet.”

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said Brisbane commuters were excited to see the Brisbane Metro up and running soon.

“Brisbane Metro will have four stops in my electorate of Bonner and I have no doubt once completed we will see thousands of commuters embracing this new public transport infrastructure,” Mr Vasta said.

“This project is expected to provide significant benefits right across the Brisbane CBD and Brisbane’s southern suburbs.”

Intersection upgrades at the corner of Peel and Merivale Street and Peel Street and Cordelia Street, in South Brisbane and Skew Street and Upper Roma Street in the CBD have already been completed as part of the Brisbane Metro project.

Council is finalising the procurement process for the design and construction of the Brisbane Metro depot. The Request for Tender is expected to be released in mid-2020 and awarded by mid to late 2020.

The preferred tenderer involving Brisbane-based suppliers Volgren and world-leading electric-vehicle producer HESS to deliver 60 vehicles for the Brisbane Metro, was announced in November.

The initial Metro pilot vehicle will arrive this year and be housed at Volgren’s Eagle Farm workshop to allow for trials and testing in local operating conditions.

The project will drive jobs and economic growth, with an extra 40 jobs created in Brisbane for fit-out and maintenance of the Metro vehicles when they are delivered.

Flash charging technology at each end of the route will recharge the vehicles in just six minutes, meaning passengers will get home safer and quicker in a Metro vehicle with no tailpipe emissions.

Council is delivering the $944 million fully-funded Brisbane Metro in partnership with the Australian Government which has committed $300 million to the project.

Preliminary works for Brisbane Metro will commence around the Cultural Centre in early 2020.

Stage 1 of Brisbane Metro will provide a 21-kilometre service connecting 18 stations along dedicated busways between Eight Mile Plains and Roma Street, and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and University of Queensland.

Stage 2 may see services expanded to Carindale in Brisbane’s south east and to Chermside and Brisbane Airport in Brisbane’s north.

Construction of the Brisbane Metro is a step closer with more than 200 business leaders from local and international companies expected to attend a special industry briefing today (Wed 25th) to hear about the construction and employment opportunities expected from the $944 million project.

Acting Mayor Adrian Schrinner, who will address the briefing along with Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher, said the specially convened briefing at City Hall would outline key milestones and opportunities and Council’s contracting model. 

“We are gearing up to start procurement for the Brisbane Metro project that will cut travel times, unlock bus congestion in the CBD and improve services to the suburbs,” Acting Mayor Schrinner said.

“Brisbane Metro services will commence in 2023 and will revolutionise the way we travel, getting residents home up to 50 per cent faster on a high-frequency service, reducing bus congestion in inner-city streets and ensuring our city continues to thrive as a great place to live, work and relax.

“This briefing will provide local, national and international firms with the opportunity to start thinking about the skilled teams and innovation they could bring to the Brisbane Metro and kick start the delivery process of significant new infrastructure and a fleet of up to 60 Metro vehicles.

“Following the briefing, Council will commence the Expression of Interest phase for the main Inner City Infrastructure package including a new underground station at the Cultural Centre precinct and a new tunnel beneath Adelaide Street, as well as commencing an international Registration of Interest process for the fleet of 60 high-capacity Metro Vehicles.”

Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said the Turnbull Government was investing $300 million in the transformative Brisbane Metro project as part of its record $75 billion investment in key infrastructure.

“This project is a great example of how the Turnbull Government is investing in vital infrastructure designed to make our cities more liveable,” Mr Fletcher said.

“We are investing more than $20 billion in Queensland infrastructure which is possible because of a stronger economy.

“Whether it’s a tradie able to get to four jobs in a day instead of three, or a parent trying to drop the kids off at school on time, we want to ensure people are spending less time stuck in traffic and more time doing the things they’d rather be doing.”

Federal Member for Brisbane Trevor Evans said the project had been assessed as a High Priority project of national significance by the federal government’s independent advisor, Infrastructure Australia, in its 2018 Infrastructure Priority List.

“With two metro lines operating every three minutes in peak periods, Brisbane Metro will deliver a network of turn-up-and-go services linking the suburbs with the inner city and fixing major bottlenecks in the inner city that cause daily congestion,” Mr Evans said.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said the Brisbane Metro would deliver a high-frequency metro network across 21 kilometres of existing busway linking the Eight Mile Plains, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and University of Queensland Lakes busway stations and all stations in between.

“This congestion-busting project is great news for our community and shows the Turnbull Government is planning for and investing in the future of our city,” Mr Vasta said.