Public transport use across South-East Queensland jumped by almost 20 percent across the six-month trial of 50 cent fares.
Queensland Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said over that time, bus, train and ferry users saved more than $180 million.
Minister Mickelberg said with the six-month trial period ending on Sunday (February 9), 50 cent fares were now permanent.
“During the trial, commuters have embraced the cheap fares across Translink’s South-East Queensland bus, train, ferry, tram, on-demand services and regional urban bus networks as well as the Coochiemudlo Island Ferry,” he said.
“South East Queensland public transport users have saved more than $181 million since the introduction of 50 cent fares, with more than 93.3 million trips taken.”
Minister Mickelberg said overall patronage across all modes of transport was 18.3 percent higher than the same period in 2023, and almost five per cent higher than pre-COVID-19 levels.
He said patronage in regional Queensland had grown by an average of about 20 percent from the previous year across the 16 regional urban bus networks.
Fast Facts*
- 50 cent fares were launched as a 6-month trial starting on August 5, 2024.
- The State Government announced them as permanent in November, 2024.
- Public transport users have saved more than $181 million since the introduction of 50 cent fares, based on the same number of trips being taken under the previous fare structure.
- More than 93.3 million trips taken in SEQ, an increase of 18.3 percent from the benchmark period in 2023.
- More people are catching public transport across all local government areas in SEQ, with notable percentage increases in Gympie (+49 percent), Noosa (+35 percent), Logan (+20 percent), Gold Coast (+21 percent) and Sunshine Coast (+37 percent).
- In SEQ the bus service with the biggest uplift of patronage was route 60 with an increase of more than 367,000 trips.
- In SEQ the train station with the biggest increase in patronage was Central Station with an increase of more than 394,000 trips. Other stations such as Helensvale (2), Springfield Central (9) and Coomera (10) made the top 10.
- Patronage growth has also occurred across Translink’s regional Queensland bus networks, averaging 20 percent across all networks with strong outcomes in North Stradbroke Island (39.29 percent), Mackay (40.92 percent), and Townsville (49.29 percent).
- SEQ public transport patronage has had significant growth since the introduction of 50 cent fares across all modes when compared to the 2023 benchmark:
- Light rail increased 27.5 percent.
- Ferry increased 42.8 percent.
- Bus increased 15.8 percent.
- Rail increased 18.6 percent.
*Data up to February 2
