Well, it looks like this is another one of those railway stations where they have gone and built a…read moreshopping centre on top of it. Then again, I probably shouldn't be all that surprised considering that Fortitude Valley does happen to be one of Brisbane's entertainment districts. Then again, it actually reminds me a lot of Darlinghurst Road in Kings Cross - in more ways than one - particularly what happens to be located across the road.

The Fortitude Valley train station is located inside the Valley Metro mall on the corner of…read moreBrunswick and Wickham Streets. I remember the days when it was called Brunswick Street station (in my late teens when catching the train to the Valley with friends to go clubbing was the norm). Not much has changed since then. The station has had a bit of a facelift and all the train services and lines pass through Fortitude Valley on the way to or from Central Station. If you're heading to the Valley for a gig, to eat out, to go to Chinatown or to browse some of the fabulous shops on James or Ann Streets, than the train is one of the easiest places to start. The services are regular, but I will pass out a word of warning for anyone traveling alone. The Valley station can become a bit rough, particularly at night, so if you're a young woman or you're waiting by yourself than be a little careful because there are some pretty interesting characters who hang out there at night. Generally it is well lit and there are Queensland Rail officials around, but better be safe than sorry. Also, avoid using the toilets!

First time to see Brisbane Australia . This is a beautiful, clean , quiet city. My family drove us…read morearound and it was splendid . It was recommended that we take the City Cat ferry and we saw the city nightlife and lights. It was spectacular. As we passed by the Victoria, Storybook bridges were lit up. The city buildings had this sparkling lights like NYC and Los Angeles It took us around the Brisbane River and different area where we saw buildings, condos and houses along the riverbend I would recommend for first time visitors.

absolutely marvelous don't miss this wonderful asset of the city of Brisbane. Where else can you…read moretravel in style for $.50? Badging on and off is never easier the queue to wait is marginal. Staff is trained, upbeat and always moving. you can sit in or outside and have phenomenal views of the city even if you don't need the ferry so to speak it's worth it just to take it for the views whether you're visiting Brisbane for the day or for a few it's a wonderful option if you live in Brisbane, this is a terrific feature of your city. I really enjoyed using the ferry to get around and I deeply appreciated the site, especially at night with all the lights, I've taken such fantastic views of the river from the city cat hats off to all the city, fathers and mothers that implemented the city cat hats off to the engineers that maintain it you've set the standard for sure. I'm safely home now back in the concrete jungle of Houston, Texas USA, but I will not soon forget this amazing get around town feature. Your city is welcoming and easy for a visitors to get about. There's much to look at and enjoy. And you've made it pretty and gone to great lengths to do so having a functional ferry has added to the jewels in your crown. While I was in Brisbane, I often wondered if other cities are also moving in the direction of Brisbane and I dreamed what could other cities become if they adopted some of the features that you have. No city is perfect, but you all have done a marvelous job. It would be so cool if Houston had a city cat for its waterways in addition to our state run ferry that holds cars.

I guess the name comes more from this station being centrally located than actually being…read moreBrisbane's central station - that title belongs to Roma Street, which is the next stop along. However, as a railway station it is pretty large, and in fact reminds me of some of the European stations that I have visited. Well, the architecture outside is really nice, though I have found that it does happen to be a bit of a maze inside. Still, it is a pretty decent station.

Let me set something straight away. I love Brisbane! I think it's such a great city, but I will say…read moresomething that it is lacking is a regular, reliable public transport system. Central Train Station is a clear indicator of this. It's a bit embarrassing compared to the likes of Flinders Street Station in Melbourne or Grand Central in Sydney, but it's important to bare in mind that little old Brisbane is just that in terms of population...little. My qualm is that the trains can often be so unreliable and so expensive that people just don't see the point of traveling that way. Central also has a strange layout in the sense that sometimes it's OK to use the subway and sometimes it's not, so finding an entry to the station would be tricky for people who don't know the city very well. Central Train Station definitely succeeds in its purpose...but it doesn't exceed. With a bit of a makeover and a plan for it to be a little more user and tourist friendly, it could be able to make people's commute that touch easier.

The trains in Brisbane aren't the strength of its public transit system, they certainly aren't…read moreperfect, but let's keep things in perspective. They're better than the ones in Los Angeles, which has twenty times as many people to deal with. They are somewhat limited in their reach. The system is highly centralized, meaning it is really only useful for trips to or from the heart of the city. But it has its uses. Notable among them is that it goes to the airport (which seems obvious until you travel to a city that neglected to connect its airport to anything), and it goes to the beach towns. An express train from Brisbane to Gold Coast is likely not much slower than driving. The cost is not small (though the categories of people eligible for reduced fares are broad; which I imagine is more irksome if you are not among them). However, with a card, after nine trips in a week, all further travel that week is free, making long weekend trips routinely free for regular users. The trains are generally reasonably clean, the stations accessible, and secondary transport options ample.

Trains are always an interesting form of public transport and the Brisbane Trains are just that. I…read moreenjoy people watching on the trains because you really get a diverse group of people from suits to that guy that mumbles to himself in the corner. Depending on the day and the train you happen to get, you can get wildly different experiences. Go during peak hour and you will be hard pressed to find a seat or even a post to hold onto. The majority of passengers at this time will have their earphones in, books or ipads out, or be reading the MX newspaper that is often shoved in your face before you enter the station. Go late at night and you will get youths gallivanting around the place, talking loudly and joking around, or else girls dressed up to the nines for a night out in the Valley. Sometimes the train smells clean and fresh, sometimes it smells a bit musty or slightly like urine. There are always unexplained stains on the seats which make me wonder whether cloth was the best material to use here. Metal may not be as comfortable but might just be more hygienic. You will often see security on the trains which makes me feel a little bit safer as a lone girl going home at night. The trains will also run quite late and start early in the morning. They are a great way to avoid the traffic and often are more direct than the roads anyway. The more prominent stations like Roma Street, Central and Brunswick Street are experiences in and of themselves. Filled with people, food, and newsagents you will often have to push your way up crowded stairways. Alternatively, going out to the more suburban stops you find not even a person around. Just an empty and plain looking stop with a few metal seats and go card machine. Speaking of Go Cards, they are the way to go with any public transport in Brisbane. Buy one for $5 and top it up as you go. Just remember to tap on and off with every leg of your journey. The tap spots are a little less obvious at the suburban train stations and would be very easy to forget so keep a look out for them. Overall, the Brisbane Trains are pretty convenient and not the worst trains I have ever been on. Still, they are a solid and useful form of public transport. Check out the Translink Website for more info on times and trains.

It's free!!! Although the stops are VERY limited…read more Being from the US, not much at home is truly free - especially public transportation. So we were surprised and thrilled to find this service available on our recent visit to Brisbane. CityHoppers are the red & white ferries connecting mostly Fortitude Valley and Kangaroo Point. Runs every 15/20 minutes (or so), 7 days a week. A GREAT way to get an inexpensive river tour. And did I mention IT'S FREE!!!

If you're in Brisbane, have a morning free and want to see the city from the water, you couldn't do…read moremuch better than the CityHopper. Find a pier, wait for up to 30 mins in the sunshine (not guaranteed) and jump onto the big red boat when it comes around. The service is completely free, and can take you to around 8 different stops along the river, including excellent views as you pass under Story Bridge. There's an open-air deck for sunny days, and a sheltered indoor area for rainy days. I did find the boat a little slow, with long waits at some docks - so it's not recommended if you're in a hurry. Unfortunately, as of winter 2015 improvement works are underway, so the service doesn't go all the way up to North Quay, Maritime Museum and Sydney Street, so the final stop is QUT Gardens Point. Overall though it's lovely that this is a free service, and it's a brilliant way to see the city on a nice day - highly recommended.

I should point out that all of the buses that stop here don't stop at the bus station at the Myer…read moreCentre, which probably makes a lot of sense since it does happen to be just around the corner. Mind you, there isn't a direct access to the Myer Centre bus station either. However, it does happen to be pretty cool, and it is somewhat easier to navigate that the one down at the myer centre, when the elevators work of course.

This 'bus only' station is central, air-conditioned and clean - You don't really need much else…read morefrom a bus station though really do you? There are lifts, escalators and stairs available to get you to your bus depending on your needs. There are often roaming trans-link representatives to give you information and security (although not always in sight) on site. Once you head down from the street level you will have access to electronic bus timetable information on the screens descending from the roof and if you need to plan your journey, purchase a ticket or top up your Go Card there are facilities for that too. If you want more information regarding Brisbane Bus times and the like across the road (Ann street not Adelaide) and across from the Sebel hotel there is a trans-information center.

Great transportation for anyone. Particularly for tourists. Use Google maps. It will tell you…read morethe bus route, stops, etc. Get a transit card which is can be used (discounted) on the buses, trains, river ferries. Get unused $$ back when you leave town/Queensland.

Buses are never going to be the cool mode of public transit (despite Brisbane's efforts to get you…read moreto "catch the Buz"), but the system here is quite useful. Substantial bus-only roads and bridges cover routes complementary to the train system, enabling the buses to still be useful during rush hour. The system is quite well integrated with its counterparts, allowing easy access to ferry stops and train stations. I've had mostly good experiences with the drivers. Giant bus depots with many routes coming through make travel much more efficient when changing routes. The buses are quite clean for public transit, and by and large the services are regular and fast enough to be useful. The worst things I've experienced are the occasional overcrowded bus (but nowhere near as often as I'm used to) and the occasional late or missing bus (again, not that often). There's no such thing as 100% reliability, but I feel comfortable making long trips to unknown areas and trusting my Translink app to find me a way back, which I would never have risked where I come from. The protected bus routes are very much oriented around the universities and hospitals, which pushes the clientele even more towards students and hospital workers than one would expect. However, since I happen to be both of those things, I am okay with that.

Below the Brisbane city are various underground bus tunnels and the main station below is Queens St…read moreBus Terminal. It is locate below Queen St Mall and the Myer Centre and is used by many. It is convenient to access and has plenty of surrounding shops and eateries. This bus terminal services those passengers who need buses to Southern, Eastern and Western (Indooroopilly, Kenmore coridor) areas of Brisbane I used to use this bus a fair bit when I used to go to QUT Gardens Point and I've always thought this station seemed a bit unique. Compared to other big bus terminals where there are several rows or platforms to wait on, this terminal runs along a corridor with doors opening up to the buses that stop by. In some ways it is convenient, but it can also get extremely crowded and hot down there. Too many people combined with little space to move about makes me feel a little cluster-phobic despite the aircon that they apparently have running down there. This bus terminal is decent enough and has information machines to help you calculate the best bus routes in case you are lost. They are touch screen, so be patient as it can be a little slow and frustrating.