"More savings in the commuter's pockets in an effort to alleviate congestion." - Matthew Lapish, Senior Investment Analyst
The change will kick in on 5 August, applying to trains, buses, CityCat ferries and the light rail on the Gold Coast, and will be trialled for six months (until just after the October state elections).
- From 5 August, all public transport fares in Queensland will be reduced to 50 cents.
- The Miles Government say the changes will also benefit Queenslanders who drive to work.
- Some commuters might be set for thousands of dollars of savings over a six month period.
It will make public transport in Queensland the cheapest in Australia, and Premier Stephen Miles says it could save commuters thousands.
"For someone catching the train to work in Brisbane from Mango Hill, it costs up to $96 per week," Mr Miles said.
"From 5 August 2024, that same trip from Mango Hill to the city and back would only cost $5 for the whole week - that's nearly $90 back in your pocket every week."
That's based on a commuter buying paper tickets travelling twice a day, five times a week at peak times - tickets are cheaper when purchased using a go card or contactless.
The Government also expects the changes to benefit commuters who are driving to work by reducing the number of cars on the road.
"We hope [these changes] will make a lot more people in the South-East consider using public transport for their daily commute, which reduces congestion for everyone," Deputy Premier Cameron Dick explained.
How much can commuters in SEQ save?
Public transport in South East Queensland is divided into eight zones, covering Brisbane, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.
At the moment, fares are calculated based on how many zones you travel, with tickets more expensive at peak hours (6.30am-8.30am and 3.30pm to 7pm on weekdays).
It's also more expensive to travel on a single paper ticket rather than using a go card or contactless payment.
Full Article: Savings.com.au