Families across South East Queensland are encouraged to plan students’ back-to-school journeys ahead of Term 1 to ensure a stress-free start to the year.
Whether catching a dedicated school bus or a bus, train, ferry or tram on our regular public transport network, students, parents and guardians are urged to familiarise themselves with their journey to school early in the new year to avoid any last-minute confusion during what is expected to be a busy time.
In preparation for the new school year, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has worked with bus operators to introduce new and improved school bus services and a number of route changes across the network.
These updates include 14 new school routes, 232 route modifications and five route removals, to better meet community needs.
New school bus services have been introduced in new residential areas and expanded in areas experiencing population growth. In addition to improving access to bus services, the changes help to address reliability, safety, and overcrowding.
Some changes are a result of new school bell times or changes to the road network. Other changes have been made in response to requests from students, schools, and communities regarding their services.
Families plan their journey in advance by visiting Translink’s school service finder and journey planner and via local bus operators’ websites.
Several ticket options are available for primary and secondary school students, including the School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS) and go cards.
For students who catch public transport to school, the Queensland Government’s permanent 50 cent fares initiative means they can travel for just 50 cents on the Translink network – no matter how far they travel or how they pay.
Additional tips for students and their families to ensure a smooth transition back to school include:
- Buying/checking the validity of travel cards or go cards and considering auto top-up;
- Familiarising themselves with local public transport stops, stations, and services;
- Claiming School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS) if applicable; and
- Checking out Translink’s safe school travel tips.
With changing weather conditions common across the State this time of year, families are encouraged to keep up-to-date with any disruptions to services via the Translink website.
More information about school travel is available on the Translink website, via the Translink app or by calling 13 12 30.
For schools or routes not listed in journey planner, contact your local bus operator, for which other fares may apply.
Change highlights
- Increased capacity on routes servicing the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Technology, Brisbane South State Secondary College, Centenary State High School, Mansfield State High School, and Villanova College.
- Route 957 extended to better service Bridgeman Downs.
- Route 821 extended to Griffith University busway station to reduce crowding at Upper Mt Gravatt busway station.
- The introduction of bus services to the new Pallara State School Junior Campus.
- Improvements and adjustments to better meet bell times on a number of services including changes to route S716 to Indooroopilly State High School following strong community feedback about late arrivals to school.
- Safety improvements for Aspley State High School, Aviation High, Craigslea State High School, and Wavell State High School.
- Updates to ensure consistent morning and afternoon route numbers where this has previously varied.
- The removal of a number of low-patronage routes and trips (817, 818, 842) and adjustments to routes196 [3.19pm service], 306 [8.10am service], 309 [7.44am and 3.12pm services], 320 [2.45pm service], 353 [7.05am service] in response to low demand. All services had low or intermittent student travel last year with alternative options available.
Ipswich (Bus Queensland - Westside Bus Company) -15 modified routes, 2 new routes, no routes removed
- New routes introduced for 5260 and 6260 to cater to schools in the growing Ripley Valley.
- Extensions to four routes (5267, 5206, 6206, 5266) to provide additional capacity and increase coverage for students in the local area.
- Safety improvements in the area to use newly installed signalised intersections.
- Changes to four routes (6211, 6230, 6233, 6239) to improve efficiency.
- On-time running improvements including changes to better align buses with school bell times.
- The introduction of route 8005 servicing Gardner Road, Rochedale to address overcrowding on other routes in the area travelling to Mansfield State High School.
- Extensions to five routes (8013, 8014, 8019, 5009PM, 5045AM) to meet community needs.
- Route 8016 has been realigned to improve coverage for Churchie students in Norman Park and Morningside and route 5176PM will run slightly earlier to address overcrowding.
- New morning and afternoon services 5180 has been introduced for the new Coolnwynpin State School.
- Brisbane Bayside College will see safety improvements, with buses using the on-road stop instead of the school carpark.
- Additional hail ‘n’ ride stops for Wellington Point Farmhouse in a safe location in response to customer requests.
- Updated timetables to align with Morayfield State High School’s earlier bell time.
- Extended coverage to growing residential areas in Morayfield South and Narangba Heights.
- Improved access to Carmichael College from Narangba Heights.
- Improvements and re-routing 7035PM and 7041PM services to avoid congestion and reduce travel times.
- Extensions and modifications to five routes (7062, 7020, 7054, 7237PM and 7311PM) to better service the areas and improve safety for students.
- A number of on-time running improvements, including changes to better meet school bell times.
- Safety improvements at Meridian State College by realigning services to stop at the Senior Campus where there are covered waiting facilities and increased coverage to the Noosa Springs residential development and Boreen Point.
- An additional trip on route 5829 for Sunshine Beach State High School senior students travelling to/from the Cooroibah and Boreen Point areas to better meet bell times.
- New routes 5571 and 5572 will provide a connection between Meridian Plains and Tallara State School will better align with the school bell time.
- Extensions to two routes (5725 and 5829) to better meet community needs.
- Routes 5804 and 5833 realigned due to low patronage and safety reasons.
- Routes 3033 and 3329 extended to improve coverage in response to community feedback.
- Route 3039 realigned to service a formal bus stop in Coombabah to improve legibility.
- Improvements to route 3042 to ensure arrival at Coomera Anglican College before bell time.
- A section of McLaren Road will be removed from route 3347 to reduce journey times for Nerang State High School students travelling south. An alternative is available through route 3315.
- Multiple timetable changes to improve connections between services.
- Safety improvements in a number of locations to avoid unsafe bus stops, hazardous pedestrian crossings, and a three-point turn.
- Updated departure times on routes 4100 and 4102 to reduce overcrowding.
- Modifications and extensions to seven routes (4261, 4264, 561, 6135, 6109, 6110 and 6111) to provide additional capacity and better meet community needs.
- Bus routes 6102 and 6051 to service the new St Bonaventure's College, Flagstone.
- Updates to four routes (6130, 6025, 6125, 6142) due to low patronage numbers.