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.