Overview
For six months, getting around the Sunshine State via Translink public transport services is going to be cheap. How cheap? Just 50 cents per journey. That's excellent news for everyone's bank balances, and so is the newly announced next part of the Queensland Government's cost-of-living relief measures relating to travelling from A to B: half-price Airtrain fares.
While the train to and from Brisbane Airport isn't getting quite the hefty discount that general Translink tickets are, it'll still undergo a massive drop in price. Instead of paying $21.90 via Go Card or electronic ticketing to or from Central Station, the cost will be $10.95. And for paper tickets, it'll go down to $11.
MDXR via Wikimedia Commons
The slashed Airtrain fares will also come into effect on Monday, August 5, 2024 and run for six months, just like the 50-cent tickets otherwise. And although anyone heading to or from the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast will still need to pay to get to Brisbane before hopping on the Airtrain, that full one-way journey will start at $11.45 via Go Card given that the non-Airtrain part is 50 cents.
"Rail travel to the terminals will now be included in our six-month cost-busting public transport trial, meaning travellers and workers will pay less to get to the airport," said Queensland Premier Steven Miles.
"This initiative, combined with our 50-cent fares on Translink services, will make taking public transport more affordable and attractive to Queenslanders and tourists. There has never been a better time to leave the car and the stress of airport parking behind and enjoy the half-price train trip instead."
Orderinchaos via Wikimedia Commons
If you need a refresher on the 50-cent news, the price-cutting move will cover Translink services, starting with trains, buses, ferries and trams in southeast Queensland. So for Brisbanites, whether you ride the rails as part of your daily commute, hit the road or hop on a CityCat, you'll be scoring a hefty discount, getting there and home for just $1 a day.
Translink also runs buses in Bowen, Bundaberg, Cairns, the Fraser Coast, Gladstone and Gympie — and in Innisfail, Kilcoy, Mackay, Rockhampton, Yeppoon, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Toowoomba, Townsville, Warwick and The Whitsundays. Yes, this is a statewide measure.
Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons
The 50-cent price will apply to everyone, including concession cardholders, but is only available on Translink services. Accordingly, privately operated transport services won't be doing the cheap fares.
Running for six months, the fare drop isn't a permanent change — but it will help you stop spending more than a fiver to get to and from your job if you work a five-day grind.
Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons
John via Flickr
Half-price fares will come into effect on the Airtrain to and from Brisbane Airport on Monday, August 5, 2024, running for six months. To find out more, head to the Airtrain website.
Top image: MDRX via Wikimedia Commons.
