Callers to ABC Radio this morning say they battled packed trains and buses en route to Riverfire, with one woman saying she abandoned efforts to watch the fireworks spectacular in the city because she could not get on a bus.
Carole from Coorparoo told ABC Radio she spent an hour waiting for a bus from 3.15pm at the Hollard Park West stop on the South East Busway.
“Twenty-four [full] buses went by and to rub salt in the wound about four empty buses went by and didn’t stop,” she said.
“Families left the platform … and made some other arrangements.
“We ended up not going in because of the traffic.”
An estimated 82,000 spectators converged on prime vantage points at South Bank, Kangaroo Point, and at Wilsons Outlook above Howard Smith Wharves, to watch the annual Royal Australian Air Force aerial display and fireworks spectacular.
Tony from Bridgeman Downs said he and his family caught a packed train from Alderly.
“But anyone on the platforms from Newmarket couldn’t get on that train [because it was full],” he said. “And those trains were only running every half hour.”
Tony said Translink and Queensland Rail should have had the foresight to run trains every 15 minutes.
“We were travelling at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. With 50 cent fares, people are going to jump on the train in big numbers and people weren’t able to get on the train,” he said.
ABC reported the crowd crush at the Cultural Centre busway after the event was frightening and dangerous, with Metro services not turning up every five minutes as was promised.
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