Get on Board with Fairer Fares

The Palaszczuk Government will slash public transport fares for commuters across south-east Queensland from Monday, 19 December ahead of its official launch on 1 January next year. 

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said under the Fairer Fares package customers will save several hundred dollars each year with cheaper fares across new larger zones of travel, as well as an extended off-peak discount, kids go free on weekends, and a range of travel incentives.

“These fare reforms are the most significant change to South East Queensland’s public transport network in a decade and will deliver cost of living relief to at least 93 per cent of commuters,” Minister Hinchliffe said. 

“The Fairer Fares package was announced in June for a 1 January 2017 start.  We will roll it out from Monday to provide an extra two weeks of fare relief for customers. 

“TransLink has been able roll out the package ahead of schedule with lower fares starting from first service on all public transport modes from Monday, 19 December.”

 Minister Hinchliffe said most customers could expect to save between four and 34 per cent per trip. 

“I’m proud the Palaszczuk Government has been able to help family budgets by making public transport fares more affordable for the vast majority of users,” The Minister said. 

Minister Hinchliffe said the Fairer Fares package, which was subject to wide-ranging consultation through the SEQ Fare Review Taskforce, would encourage more people to choose public transport over private vehicles. 

“Taking the equivalent of seven million cars off our roads every year will mean less congestion on our local and major road networks,” Minister Hinchliffe said. 

Minister Hinchliffe said compressing the zonal structure would benefit commuters in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Sunshine Coast, Redland and Moreton Bay. 

“Commuters will pay less across the whole network including for local travel within their communities as well as for longer trips,” Minister Hinchliffe said. 

For information on the new fares and zones visit www.translink.com.au, use the online journey planner, download the MyTransLink app or call TransLink on 13 12 30 any time. 

Zones Map https://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/plan-your-journey/maps/161219-seq-fare-zone.pdf

Fare Calculator http://jp.translink.com.au/fare-review (external site) Taskforce report (external site)  

 Summer school holiday timetable 

In addition to the roll out of Fairer Fares Minister Hinchliffe said Queensland Rail would be introducing a summer school holiday timetable during December and January that will reflect reduced passenger demand over the holiday period.

 With data showing patronage drops by more than 25 percent in January, Queensland Rail will also introduce a new timetable from 28 December to reflect reduced passenger demand and deliver certainty for commuters. 

“In January train patronage averages 776,749 trips per week, which is more than 25 percent lower than non-holiday patronage at 1,046,675 trips a week,” Minister Hinchliffe said.

 “While patronage drops by more than 25 percent at this time of year, services will only be reduced by 11 percent across the network and the majority of changes will be outside of peak. 

“Airport services won’t be changed reflecting the demand for these services over the holiday period. 

“The summer school holiday timetable will run from 28 December to 22 January and we urge customers to check the Translink website from Wednesday 21 December,” Minister Hinchliffe said. 

The key changes to SEQ’s fare structure under the Palaszczuk Government’s Fairer Fares package: 

• Fewer zones: SEQ’s 23 travel zones will be simplified to eight.
• Cheaper fares: Fares for all zones of travel will be slashed.
• Extending off-peak discount: Peak period won’t start until after 6am in the morning to encourage earlier travel and give these users cheaper fares. The 20 per cent off-peak discount will now apply for all travel between 7pm and 6am, between 8.30am and 3.30pm Monday-Friday and all day on weekends.
• Kids go free on weekends: Children under the age of 15 will be able to travel free on the weekend on a child go card.
• Senior discounts: Seniors and pensioners will retain the ‘One, Two FREE’ travel
• 8 and 50 for commuters: The Government will scrap ‘Nine + FREE’ and replace with 8 paid journeys and 50 per cent off subsequent journeys per week to deliver higher travel savings to more customers.
• Concessions for Queensland job seekers: TransLink will work with Federal Agencies so jobseekers on Newstart or Youth Allowance will be able to access concession fares in 2017
• Concession fares for asylum seekers: In line with other states like New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, asylum seekers in Queensland will be able to access concession fares to use public transport in 2017.
• New Fares Advisory Panel: The Government will establish a Public Transport Fares Advisory Panel to provide independent advice on future public transport fares, products and ticketing.

 Some examples of savings under the Palaszczuk Government’s Fairer Fares Package: 

• An average Gold Coast commuter travelling between Robina and Brisbane city would save $1196.64 a year under the changes because their 15-zone trip would become a five-zone trip.
• A Gold Coast family travelling locally, with one parent commuting between Labrador and Robina and another travelling between Labrador and Southport, will save $1196.64 a year because these four and two-zone trips would both become single zone trips.
• Weekly commuters to Brisbane City from Goodna, Strathpine or Samford will save $889.92 and commuters from Morningside or Tarragindi will save $315.36 a year.
• A weekday commuter who travels a single zone, to and from work during peak period, will save $1.30 per week with ‘8 and 50’ combined with the cheaper zone rates. Currently they pay $30.15 per week under ‘Nine and Free’. With ‘8 and 50’ and $3.20 for a single zone of travel they will pay less, only $28.8 per week.
• A commuter travelling on public transport during peak times from Goodna to Brisbane’s CBD each weekday for work, currently pays $5.96 per trip to travel across five zones and in per week with ‘Nine and Free’ would spend $53.64 per week. Under the changes they will only travel two zones and pay $3.90 per trip and with ‘8 and 50’ will end up paying $35.10 per week. That’s a weekly saving of $18.54 with the cheaper zone prices and also ‘8 and 50’.

 School Holiday Summer timetable:

• Services will operate at 15 minute frequencies in AM peak from: Caboolture, Shorncliffe, Ferny Grove, Redcliffe Peninsula, Beenleigh, Gold Coast, Cleveland, Ipswich and Springfield.
• Services will operate at 15 minute frequencies in PM peak to: Caboolture, Shorncliffe, Ferny Grove, Redcliffe Peninsula, Beenleigh, Gold Coast, Cleveland, Ipswich and Springfield.
• Services will operate at 30 minute frequencies in AM peak from the Sunshine Coast and to the Sunshine Coast in PM peak.

 Media Contact:0475 950 772