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Catching the Last Train Home in Brisbane
Because walking from the city to Chermside is a poor plan B.
6 June 2026 · 6 min read
Every Brisbane night out has the same question lurking around 11pm: when is the last train? Get it right and you are home in twenty minutes. Get it wrong and you are haggling with a surge-priced rideshare on a dying phone battery.
Here is how late the network really runs, and how to avoid getting caught out. Our last service home tool was built for exactly this moment.
When the last services run
On weeknights, final trains on most Queensland Rail lines leave the city between roughly 11pm and midnight, with the last few stragglers a little later. Friday and Saturday nights run later, and the NightLink network adds dedicated late buses (and some fixed-fare taxis) on the weekend.
The exact time depends heavily on your line and your night, which is the whole problem: there is no single 'last train' time to memorise. That is what makes checking it for your specific destination worth the ten seconds.
Leave earlier than the absolute last service
A useful habit: do not aim for the very last service, aim for the one before it. That buffer covers the walk to the platform, a delayed friend, or a service that has quietly been replaced by a bus.
Our last service home tool does this for you. Tell it where you are and where you are heading, and it shows the latest safe time to leave, with the absolute last option alongside if you want to push it.
If you miss it
If the trains have stopped, check whether a NightLink bus covers your route, or how far you can still get by public transport before switching to a rideshare for the last leg, which is often cheaper than a door-to-door fare from the city.
Trackwork is the other late-night gotcha: weekend maintenance can swap trains for replacement buses that run to a slower timetable. Always glance at service alerts before you rely on a late train.
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Plan your trip →Common questions
What time does the last train leave Brisbane city?
On weeknights, last trains on most lines depart the city between about 11pm and midnight, with weekends running later. The exact time varies by line and night, so check your specific destination. GoThere's Last Service Home tool shows the latest safe time to leave.
Are there late-night buses in Brisbane?
Yes. On Friday and Saturday nights the NightLink network runs dedicated late buses, and some fixed-fare NightLink taxis, to get people home after the trains stop.
What happens if there's trackwork on my line?
Planned weekend trackwork can replace trains with buses that run to a different, usually slower timetable. Check TransLink service alerts before relying on a late service, especially on weekend nights.
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