[2] Combining the former authority and qconnect, Translink became responsible for providing public transport services across majority of Queensland from 16 January 2023.

With a $21.4 million budget, Translink was tasked to introduce common fares, zones and ticket types irrespective of transit mode, and from mid-2004 a smartcard system.

Prior to Translink's introduction, combined patronage for public transport services was only around 112 million trips per year.

[7][8] In February 2008, the go card was rolled out on bus, rail and ferry services in Brisbane only, as a precursor to its introduction throughout South East Queensland.

[12] On 5 August 2024, Translink decreased fares to $0.50 across all zones and modes, excluding Airtrain and dedicated school buses, as a trial for 6 months.

[14] In South-East Queensland, Translink uses 8 zones to determine fares no matter which transit mode or route a passenger uses.

A journey can comprise any number of individual legs (each recorded by touching the card when entering or leaving a service) within a two-hour period.

Each regional location has individual transport zones they use different fare prices to South East Queensland.

Senior Network Officers also carry handcuffs and can exercise a power to detain for certain offences committed on public transport[22] The Translink South East Queensland network is divided into seven regions, each region operated by different operators contracted by Translink.

The regions are based largely on local government boundaries:[23] Translink operates various types of services under different names.

Both are operated by dedicated fleets of buses vinyled in either blue or maroon liveries with a gliding possum motif.

Bus upgrade zones, commonly abbreviated to BUZ, are a feature of Brisbane's public transport system.

Nearly all BUZ routes are express services which provide quick and frequent access to places along major trunk roads, with the exception of routes 196 and 199, which are the only all-stops BUZ service with bus stops within short walking distances of each other between the inner suburbs of Fairfield, West End, New Farm and Teneriffe.

NightLink is the name given to the all-night Translink services that leave Fortitude Valley, Brisbane City and Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast late Friday and Saturday nights.

The Spring Hill Loop is a free loop service operated by Transport for Brisbane servicing stops popular locations such as Post Office Square, Old Windmill Observatory, St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital, Brisbane Private Hospital and Central Station.