Overview
Excellent news for your bank balance: catching Translink public transport across Queensland will soon only cost you 50 cents per journey no matter how far you're going. Sunshine State Premier Steven Miles has announced the price-slashing move, which will kick in on Monday, August 5, 2024 and run for six months, as a cost-of-living relief measure and an effort to reduce traffic congestion.
Translink, which falls within Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads, runs a hefty range of 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.
"We're reducing the cost of all Translink public transport services for six months. This massive cost-of-living relief measure will help bust congestion on our roads," said the Premier on social media, where he announced the 50-cent fares on Sunday, May 26.
"I expect this will save Queenslanders thousands of dollars over six months, and encourage more people to catch our fast, frequent and 50-cent public transport," Miles continued in a statement.
Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons
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. So, this is a statewide measure.
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.
Andrew Thomas via Flickr
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.
The Sunday Mail reports that the Queensland Government will reassess the move in early 2025 if Labour is re-elected in October's state election.
John Robert McPherson via Wikimedia Commons
Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons
Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons
John via Flickr
Fifty-cent fares will start across Translink's Queensland public transport services on Monday, August 5, 2024, running for six months. To find out more information about Translink's services, head to the company's website.
Top image: Tourism and Events Queensland.