Continuing the discussion from Action Required to Deliver Better Public Transport to Brisbane Airport:
Paul will be interviewed on 4BCs Drive program this afternoon at approximately 4:20pm. Tune in to show your support 
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I just cannot believe the contract establishes that you cannot run a single bus service to the airport, no matter how small it is.
Running a few bus routes from all over Brisbane would make wonders for BNE as a whole.
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You can run them to Skygate though just not to the terminals.
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From 52 mins in. It’s disappointing though, as part of the 4 point plan to run the Gold Glider to Skygate wasn’t mentioned. It was all about the Airtrain which is only part of the plan.
The original MR also mentioned the Metro and the time that it takes to implement those types of services, but was edited out. Hence the need for the Gold Glider as a simple but economical solution together with extra BAC terminal shuttles to and from Skygate.
Airtrain fares would likely be driven down on the premise that people choose the bus mode via Skygate.
Saying that it’s better to fund the bus (Gold Glider) than heavily subsidise the Airtrain services.
While Perth does have a publically built train line it also runs a public bus from the CBD to the terminals 24/7.
At the end of the day the MR would have been best to highlight what we can do in the short term with the Boot agreement in place rather than comparing the Airtrain services with Perth.
I’ve also always held the belief that any bus route that should be held to the helm and prestige of ‘Cityglider’ ought to be an articulated bus at the very least. With installed PIDs and barriers for the driver. And at least 2 double rear doors.
The fact that the Gold Glider will only qualify for one of these characteristics (barriers and maybe PIDs) seems like a blunder from my perspective.
Northshore Hamilton might even also benefit from 14.5m TAG axle buses (but Eagle Farm depot has none; the southside depots do though).
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From ~ 53 minutes
Interview 4BC Drive 24th Oct 2025, with host Gary Hardgrave and BTQ Spokesperson Paul Guard :
Well done @paulg ! 
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There was great value in showing that another Australian city with a lower population and lower density can provide 60% more service a week at 4x lower cost than we do.
It holds government to account, which is in line with BTQ’s policy on government relations.
Well done @paulg. The Perth example shows it absolutely can be done at low cost, and quickly!
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But it was publically built to specs and was only opened a couple of years ago. Go figure of course it’s going to be better.
Remember WA only has to look after one major city unlike here in Qld where lots of revenue goes to regional Qld.
The reason why I wrote the MR was to provide quick fixes like buses to DFO with an enhanced connection to the terminals run by BAC. That’s why I asked not to change the wording and the meaning in MR but you went right ahead and changed to how you wanted it without consulting. I couldn’t be bothered to argue as the MR was already a week late. Plus you already mentioned the Perth comparison in the Olympic MR and no one to date has quoted the comparison so to mention it again and again in subsequent MRs will not make a difference.
It was also meant to quote the Airport CEO from what they have planned as well. The intention was never to raise the Boot agreement but advocate for longer operating hours and enhanced discounts from the current operator.vua their app and Translink app via smart ticking once it’s up and running.
Airtrain has in the past offered free returns valid for a year without Government intervention.
By raising the Boot agreement it just leads to no where as we already know from a couple of years ago.
I don’t see anywhere in the MR raising the BOOT agreement? The focus is clearly on the four point plan as quick fixes.
I thought Paul did well getting this message across too in the 4BC interview when the host clearly had their bent to focus on - some strange ideas about Airtrain not really being part of the QR network because it is a branch line and otherwise being disgruntled with QR even though they are just the service provider at end of the decision-making chain.
If you’re disappointed that Gold Glider didn’t get a mention specifically (Noting the host did talk about needing more PT options and people out of cars to the airport), that’s just the rub of the green with media. We can’t control what they’ll pick up. I doubt few people in the general public would have heard anything about the Gold Glider yet - its pretty quiet from BCC, I think the best source of any progress that was shared was a budget paper reference?
If you want more attention on that aspect we would need to find some leverage/interest point around public consultation on the new service or evidence of planning in progress that a MR could pick up on then. Unfortunately BCC’s form will likely mean we just hear about it when launched and then any suggestions will be ‘considered for future planning’…
I’m not sure of the utility of extending though really. Bus to bus transfers with luggage for travel are not convenient, and the DFO stops are not pleasant places to wait. The connections to the bus network is only the half hourly 590? Which will you only get you to Toombul for another transfer, or south to Garden City. Aside from maybe Hamilton itself and through to Cannon Hill, anywhere else I think going to the city and picking up high frequency routes would get you to major destinations quicker or at least more reliably (Garden City, Carindale, Chermside).
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I also think people have it wrong about where airport precinct people work. They don’t necessarily work at the terminals. When they mean airport precinct workers they mean the areas on BAC land. This can be associated businesses like warehousing and airline associated businesses. Hence why the Skygate precinct is equally important as to getting to the terminals.
When Skygate becomes a PT hub it will be easy for those workers to get too and from being by active transport or loop buses around the precinct.
Skygate should also have a bike lock up facility similar to the busway stations. This could help people get to where they need to go if the loop buses aren’t running.
They should also consider extending the hire eScooters and bike to the area.
Together with the Gold Glider, 590, 369, and possibly the GCL I think PT would be a viable option for people.
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Well, there was a lot of possibility to go off-track into secondary things like maybe connecting Airport line up Shorncliffe, heavy infra projects, lamenting Airtrain’s foreign ownership, etc but Paul did a great job of staying on track 
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The prior MR on Brisbane Airtrain also performed very well, with over 10,000+ views and 90+ comments on Facebook (including BTQ replies), which shows our comms are effective.
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But not directly associated with Perth comparisons. People are just wanting better PT to and from the BNE Airport.
The media release was picked up from 4:05. Thanks again THE Brisbane Channel!
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Lol shorncliffe line to airport? Defs not gonna hapoen due to wetlands in some of the sections but lol. We not big enough for a Sydney T8 style hahahaha