As Brisbane gears up to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the city is looking to do more than just upgrade its transport infrastructure.
The challenge isn’t simply about getting athletes and spectators from point A to point B. It’s about moving people seamlessly and safely, creating an experience that feels effortless, and, most importantly, accessible to everyone.
Transport is the Olympic event no one sees – until it breaks. The Queensland Government is expecting an influx of millions of people, and transport networks will need to flex and adapt to handle Olympic crowds.
Brisbane is already laying the groundwork. With $7 billion committed through the South East Queensland City Deal, and major projects like Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro already under construction, the physical network is growing fast. But in 2032, movement won’t just depend on tunnels, tracks and timetables. It will depend on information.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) defines Olympic legacy as the long-term benefits for the area and its people. It says the Games should lead to better places to live and work, a stronger economy, and a happier society. That includes smart building, using high-quality materials and caring for the environment. But it also includes the digital infrastructure – the intelligent systems and connected technologies that make cities more efficient, inclusive, and ready for the future.
The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games offer a rare chance to get it right. With the right investment in both physical and digital networks, the region can create a transport system that’s not only fit for a global event, but fit for the everyday lives that follow, with benefits that stretch far beyond the stadiums.
A well-designed, data-enhanced network will support South-East Queensland as it grows – and deliver long-lasting value to regional communities through better accessibility, innovative technology, and smarter movement from start to finish.
Smart stations
Speaking of the start of the journey, let’s talk about stations. No matter how advanced trains are, the passenger experience begins long before they step onboard.
For Brisbane 2032, stations will need to do more than move people. They’ll need to inform, guide, and support them in real time.
That’s where KeTech’s real-time Customer Information System or CIS comes in – turning every station into an intelligent hub that keeps passengers connected and in control.
KeTech’s CIS is also available as a web version of the main system. This means that the same live information displayed in the station can be shown on any web-connected device, such as a large screen or TV in nearby locations including cafés and bars, to help with passenger flow and crowding at the stations.
“KeTech’s CIS welcomes passengers into the station with dynamic, intuitive displays offering live, clear journey information,” said Paul Warren, Sales Director for KeTech.
“Want to know which platform has the next train? The next fastest service? The status of lifts for accessibility? It’s all there – updated in real-time.
“This level of intelligence transforms stations from passive transit points into active participants in the passenger journey.”
Operators can manage key pinch points by manually sending targeted messages to specific platforms, individual trains, or entire fleets.
Warren said these capabilities support effective crowd control and zoning, while the system’s ability to display carriage lettering for incoming trains enhances clarity and streamlines passenger boarding.
“KeTech’s systems don’t just push out data – they present the right information, to the right person, at the right time,” said Warren. “That includes those who need it most.
“Real-time updates on lift status, accessible toilets in the station, and on the incoming train, step-free access, and multilingual support ensure that the system works for everyone, not just the confident commuter.
“In an event like the Olympics, inclusivity isn’t optional, it’s essential.”
The future of passenger assistance
Warren said KeTech’s intelligent systems provide clarity for passengers, helping to free up station staff to deliver hands-on support where it’s needed most, managing live operational challenges, and enhancing the overall customer experience.
“When human help isn’t immediately available, KeTech’s interactive help points fill the gap.
“Strategically placed across stations, they’re easy to spot, intuitive and inclusive.”
KeTech’s systems provide real-time, personalised guidance, whether that’s navigating a disruption, re-planning a journey, or updates on accessibility features like lift status or alternative step-free routes.
The help points are multilingual and designed with accessibility in mind, with Australian Sign Language/AUSLAN integration and moveable height for wheelchair users.
“Brisbane doesn’t just need smarter trains; it needs smarter stations,” said Warren.
“With KeTech’s systems in place, the network becomes cohesive, inclusive, and built around real passenger needs from platform to venue, during, and long after the Games.”
Real-time, all the time
“New trains are being built for modern travel – but Brisbane still needs to give them a brain,” said Warren.
KeTech’s Passenger Information System or PIS is the intelligence that transforms a train from a mode of transport into a real-time, enhanced travel experience.
It connects passengers to accurate, up-to-the-minute information, on-seat availability, station stops, service changes, and onward multimodal connections so they can make better decisions, faster.
Warren said clarity is critical during the Olympic Games, when millions will be navigating an unfamiliar network under pressure.
“KeTech’s system can provide consistent, network-wide updates that reduce confusion, manage crowding, and optimise passenger flow across the city.
“Live updates help passengers adapt on the go, rerouting around congestion, arriving relaxed, not rushed. The result? A more resilient, responsive transport system, not just for the Games, but for the everyday journeys that follow.
“This is technology that’s already loved by passengers and UK operators, proven in rail networks, ready to scale, and built to meet the pressures of a high-demand rail environment.”
The art of the available
The 2032 Olympic Games provide a unique opportunity to showcase Brisbane as a modern, forward-thinking city.
“By leveraging KeTech’s smart technology, Brisbane could lead the world in offering a seamless, intuitive, and accessible transport experience,” said Warren.
“The combination of real-time data, interactive help points, and end-to-end journey information will not only make the Olympics a smoother experience for all involved but will set a new standard for rail transport in the years to come.”
Warren said that unlike traditional solutions that rely on multiple disconnected systems, KeTech doesn’t bring five different systems to the table – it brings one.
“KeTech’s Universal Information System or UIS is the overarching architecture that integrates information systems seamlessly across the rail environment.
“It enables systems to talk to each other, for data to be shared and disseminated in real time, delivering consistent, rich journey information through every channel – on station, on platform, on train, in the driver’s cab, and in the control room.”
With UIS, Brisbane gains a “truly connected” network that communicates as one, ensuring every part of the system works together to enhance the passenger experience and streamline operations before, during, and long after the Games.
“This is more than just an innovation, it’s a revolution, and KeTech is at the heart of it,” said Warren.
“The future of transport in Brisbane is already here, and it’s looking smarter, smoother, and more inclusive than before.
“Let’s get ready for a journey that is as unforgettable as the Games themselves.”
