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[QLD] All Fares $0.50 on Translink SEQ Public Transport Network (Bus, Train, CityCat/Ferry, G Link Tram) @ Translink

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[QLD] All Fares $0.50 on Translink SEQ Public Transport Network (Bus, Train, CityCat/Ferry, G Link Tram) @ Translink
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ilove on 26/05/2024 - 07:08 statements.qld.gov.au (4065 clicks)
Last edited 30/11/2024 - 14:27 by 4 other users

50c fares: Qld’s public transport fees slashed, no matter how far you travel.

Public transport fares will be slashed to an unbelievably low price, no matter how far you travel, under a major pre-election trial aimed at easing gridlock and easing cost-of-living pressures.

Update 01/06/2024:

Steven Miles announced Airtrain fares will be slashed by 50% for six months from the same date. Now permanent. See updates below.

Mod: Add started date, end date, linked to public source.

Update 30-Nov-2024

The Crisafulli Government Makes 50 Cent Public Transport Fares Permanent

  • The Crisafulli Government is making 50 cent public transport fares permanent on all Translink networks across Queensland.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads will now make the LNP’s 50 cent fares permanent on all Translink public transport networks in Queensland.

Queenslanders will now permanently continue to travel on South East Queensland (SEQ) bus, train, tram and ferry services, as well as Translink urban bus networks across the state, for a flat 50 cent fare.

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Comments

  • CookieJacker31 on 26/05/2024 - 07:22

    Can't seem to find it reported anywhere else. Why 50c, might as well be free at that point.

    • samdiatmh on 26/05/2024 - 07:24
      +40

      QLD Premier good enough source for you?
      https://x.com/StevenJMiles/status/1794466184169242946

    • ilove on 26/05/2024 - 07:29
      +56

      50 cents adds up to millions.. 0 adds up to 0.

      • CookieJacker31 on 26/05/2024 - 07:37
        +92

        50c is probably for tracking users and total numbers.

        • iSamurai on 26/05/2024 - 07:40
          +1

          interesting, could be. though you can do that with bluetooth beacons these days

          • Nalar on 26/05/2024 - 08:09
            +3

            @iSamurai: @ 50c the user pays you to collect the data.

          • eug on 26/05/2024 - 08:57
            +3

            @iSamurai:

            interesting, could be. though you can do that with bluetooth beacons these days

            It would cost them a lot to negate the alarmist news reports when people start accusing BCC of tracking individuals.

        • SueyJitSu on 26/05/2024 - 08:45
          +3

          100% yes. That's how they analyse the usefulness of services. Add or remove more services based on patronage.

        • Slo20 on 26/05/2024 - 09:23
          +6

          This would exactly be the reason. Then in 6 months they can say bus travel increased x% due to our initiative.

        • Tommyaka on 26/05/2024 - 11:24
          +6

          Yes this data is so valuable to find out where and when demand is.

          This data is used for forecasting and planning of new services.

        • carrawa on 27/05/2024 - 06:44
          +1

          It's probably to pay the GoCard company.

        • kwv42 on 27/05/2024 - 09:41
          +1

          I don't know why people are worried about tracking users and total numbers as people are tracked now especially where they get off and got on.

        • OhPee on 31/05/2024 - 08:31

          Yes good thought, Measuring the potential for lower fare impact. Get a baseline.

        • wisdomtooth on 19/07/2024 - 15:21

          Tracking can be done with sensors around the doors, like every other store. This is, rather, so the ticket systems and consumer habit don't fall by the wayside, and bringing them back up become more costly when this grace period is over.

      • bumluffa on 26/05/2024 - 12:21
        +1

        Millions is nothing in the context of hundreds of billions

        • furyou on 26/05/2024 - 19:22
          +4

          and yet the government is still refusing to give me a free $1,000,000

          • kwv42 on 27/05/2024 - 20:12

            @furyou: Which Government and why the figure of $1,000?

    • chrism238 on 26/05/2024 - 08:02
      +31

      50c stops the homeless from living on public transport
      (in some northern US cities the homeless 'travel' at night because the buses are heated).

      • CookieJacker31 on 26/05/2024 - 08:09
        +12

        I don't think 50c would be enough to stop them if they wanted to ride. The big issue our public transport shuts down overnight night so they get kicked out into the cold anyway. They'd be better finding somewhere else earlier.

      • ATangk on 26/05/2024 - 17:11
        +3

        They should have set it to $1. Nominally, it makes no difference in the user, maybe it is even easier to market or sell.

        • SlickMick on 27/05/2024 - 08:20

          Also getting rid of cash, so could have made it 50.0025 if that's what would make thier budget

      • drivatruk on 26/05/2024 - 21:01

        There's a known train that leaves Sydney late at night that a lot of homeless catch for the same reason. Don't remember the details but they get 5 or 6 hours on the return journey. Plus safety in numbers.

        • carrawa on 27/05/2024 - 06:46

          Probably the Newcastle route, 3.5 hour one way.

          • aidenh37 on 03/06/2024 - 23:01
            +1

            @carrawa: It is. …Interesting… to ride on. Most are calm and sleeping, some are the exact opposite. Toilet vandalised to the point it's useless.

    • gumbs on 26/05/2024 - 09:38
      +9

      It's probably around proving usage numbers for the trial. By setting the fare at a low number they can see usage before and after in the same system and justify the change.

      It also gives them the ability to try and calculate the optimum price vs usage level point as public transport is way too expensive at present. On a 5 day a week commute a $5k motor bike on a 6% loan (money from my mortgage offset) is neutral cost with catching a bus to the city. A $3k ebike is break even in 2 years.

      • Japius on 26/05/2024 - 09:46

        and to provide a distraction in the media about the 4.2% electricity price rise that was just approved

      • sistermay on 26/05/2024 - 11:22
        +1

        But it might also gives wrong data. I am sure there would be people like me who plan to travel to places where they don't normally go because of this low fare.

        • gumbs on 26/05/2024 - 12:09
          +3

          Yep that's part of the data modelling problem. Cheap travel doesn't just displace cars, it displaces other ones (walking, bikes, motorcycles, ebikes/scooters) and it encourages additional travel, specifically travel to areas that are already congested, mainly cbds.

          While this change can be modelled by comparing other data sources (fuel excise, pedestrian congestion in the cbd etc) the cynic in me knows that politicians don't care about the accuracy of data. They care about data that tells the story they want to tell.

          I would guarantee they model the success of this as if every extea person on a bus would have done the same journey on their own in dual cab ute if fares hadn't been dropped.

        • eggboi on 26/05/2024 - 22:51
          +1

          more travel is still a good thing though. if people are getting out and about and using public spaces, enjoying cafes and bars etc when they would usually just binge-watch a tv show and guzzle a 6-pack, then that is a plus.

          The biggest unintended side-effect risk of this policy is that they don't foresee increased peak demand (saving $80/week on transport more than offsets buying a coffee AND lunch every single day) and chaos ensues, with people an hour late to work and hating public transport due to the shitty experience. Then they finally get around to putting on more peak services (if they even can with current infrastructure assets) and by then it's too little too late. I really foresee this becoming an off-peak only thing for that reason…

      • NigelTufnel on 26/05/2024 - 10:14
        +17

        Or make people who rent escooters around the city to take public transport. Which I am totally okay with.

        • Tleyx on 26/05/2024 - 21:45
          +3

          The city circle bus is already free

          • NigelTufnel on 27/05/2024 - 10:30

            @Tleyx: Can't get to the valley with that though or across the river. This opens up far more options.

            • Tleyx on 27/05/2024 - 11:08

              @NigelTufnel: I thought when you said around city i thought you meant the suburb of brisbane city

              • NigelTufnel on 27/05/2024 - 12:04

                @Tleyx: I was more referring to the city suburbs that people tend to use escooters to get around in. The sort of Valley - South bank, Milton - Gabba area.

                • kwv42 on 27/05/2024 - 12:24

                  @NigelTufnel: I don't use escooters and ebikes to get around city suburbs I use mostly buses

                • Tleyx on 29/05/2024 - 11:37

                  @NigelTufnel: Going to be very expensive to ride a rental scooter that far. Its better for short distance .

                  Way cheaper to catch bus even before discount

                  • NigelTufnel on 29/05/2024 - 12:56

                    @Tleyx: Never actually used them, so have no idea how much they are, but they seem popular and I've seen them down at Auchenflower, so i figure they get there somehow…
                    And it seems they offer weekly/monthly passes which would make them preferable over the bus. But if all PT is only 50c hard to justify that subscription…

                    • Tleyx on 29/05/2024 - 14:45

                      @NigelTufnel: I use them fairly frequently but still find the bus cheaper a lot of the time. Uber is cheaper for some trips.

                      If you ride like a lunatic it might be cheaper but the hospital visits might balance the costs out

      • EFC94 on 26/05/2024 - 10:34
        +27

        On the flip side, it will make me seriously consider taking PT to work rather than driving, easing congestion on roads.

        • donga100 on 26/05/2024 - 23:15
          +5

          I drive to the city for work and am going to start using the bus instead now. I pay $18 for parking and bus was about $9 return so wasn't quite enough of a difference to bother with the slower journey, wait times, longer walk to bus stops, other PT users, etc. but now I'm willing to try it.

      • gaosong2101 on 26/05/2024 - 15:15
        -4

        I don't understand why people downvoting my comment here. Do they think having a more overcrowded system with many passengers who suppose to just walk to their destination is a good thing?

        • SlickMick on 27/05/2024 - 08:25
          +1

          I don't think there are many how walk because they can't afford the bus. I'll come back and apologise it it's walkers rather than drivers who overcrowd the system.

          Additionally, the best thing that could happen to our public transport system is to be overcrowded, so that we need to upgrade infrastructure. Australian public transport is in the dark ages. How good will it be when buses run continually rather than hourly?

          • gaosong2101 on 27/05/2024 - 10:31

            @SlickMick: It's not about whether people can afford the fare.

            When it's free, people will prefer to use it even if it does save any travel time compare to walking.

            This is also one of the critiques of free city tram zone. Many people take those trams anyways because they don't cost anything, whereas it takes the same amount of time if they walk to their destination instead.

            50c is better than free because it would stop those people from taking the PT for no reasons. Although I think 50c is a bit too cheap that it may not stop all of those people.

            • SlickMick on 27/05/2024 - 11:04

              @gaosong2101: I understand your point, I just believe there are few that see it your way.

              I walk when I can because I want to walk. Cheap or free public transport wouldn't affect my decision any more than the car sitting in my garage.
              They'd have to pay me to take public transport when I can walk, and I don't see that happening.

      • CodeExplode on 26/05/2024 - 17:13
        +4

        I'm somebody who walks everywhere. I'm not going to start taking public transport if I can walk it, it's the only decent exercise I get and is something I've been doing for decades, and I suspect most other people who walk in this world made for car travel are similar.

        There are very, very few of us anyway. I've never once seen another person carrying their groceries home on foot since moving out of student areas years ago. Years of regular walking and not a single other person while roads are packed with cars.

    • TheMills on 26/05/2024 - 10:21

      So that they can impose fines on people w/o tickets.
      Jokes apart, its the best way to find how many people travelled/used the service so that the effectiveness of the trial can be evaluated.

    • unifex on 26/05/2024 - 10:33
      +8

      That is free is not valued.

      • ruprectaus on 26/05/2024 - 16:06
        +1

        Luxemburg has free public transport

        Thay aside that platitude is an obvious nonsese, I love swmming in the ocean and value the experience immensely. Ask any surfer what they think of being charged to surf

    • gakko on 26/05/2024 - 11:22
      +5

      A small price is very different to no price. It will make sure that people still use the service with intent for the most part, rather than just for the hell of it which would overcrowd it quickly. It's a studied phenomenon. The cost to administer a small price is probably more expensive than making it free, but still cheaper than the cost of overcrowding.

      • MakeBread on 26/05/2024 - 18:15
        +1

        Correct! Fare collection and enforcement costs more than what is earned. Ads largely pay for public transportation. Fares are there as a mechanism to control attendance. Free would swamp and cripple the network, $0.50 will be interesting

    • MakeBread on 26/05/2024 - 18:13
      +1

      So they can track passenger numbers more reliably

    • kwv42 on 27/05/2024 - 09:03

      Even those Translink are known for giving out incorrect information especially 131230, hopefully the following is correct?

      https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/50-cent-fares

    • LFO on 27/05/2024 - 09:37
      +1

      Why 50c, might as well be free at that point.

      It will only be for 6 months so it continues the good old habit/routine of swapping your GoCard (ticket?) before boarding.
      Totally free will mean do nothing … for six month only … and bad habits are hard to fix later.

      I thoroughly and wholeheartedly applaud and commend this move.
      Positive in all aspects.
      Just brilliant.

      • curtiss on 26/05/2024 - 08:22
        +10

        Council decides that. This is state govt.

    • stephendt on 26/05/2024 - 10:17
      +5

      You have no idea. Sorry mate but there is a good reason it's not totally free

    • SlickMick on 27/05/2024 - 08:29
      +1

      Wow. A fantastic announcement but some can't take good news from someone they don't support. The huge flaw with Australian politics.

      • Fergy1987 on 27/05/2024 - 08:40
        +1

        I vote for them. But they are just buying votes with this. In 6 months they will go back to full price and we will be back where we started. And they will probably increase in price.

        • SlickMick on 27/05/2024 - 08:45

          I can imagine trains, buses and platforms being overcrowded and only ozbargainers would end up using PT.

          What they need to do is an enormous infrastructure upgrade, then introduce the cheap fares to ensure it's used. And keep it cheap enough so only a spendthrift would drive into a city.

        • kwv42 on 27/05/2024 - 09:04

          But of course the opposition won't be buying votes if they come out with a similar fare reduction?

          • Fergy1987 on 27/05/2024 - 09:20
            +2

            @kwv42: Both buying votes. Temporary reductions is buying votes. Temporary cash given us is buying votes.

            Putting band aids on things instead of fixing the problem is all they do.

            I would much rather it be 50% cheaper forever than 50cents for 6 months.

            • kwv42 on 27/05/2024 - 12:20

              @Fergy1987: No matter which parties and candidates are running, promises are buying votes

  • silverx on 26/05/2024 - 07:30
    +4

    That's insane i mean it is awesome but regardless of distance? I wonder how long this will last

    • CookieJacker31 on 26/05/2024 - 07:39
      +32

      Election is 26 October 2024. Do the maths.

    • Kanari on 26/05/2024 - 07:41
      +6

      From August 5 for 6 months he said on twitter x

    • unifex on 26/05/2024 - 10:33
      +12

      fares only pay a small proportion of the costs anyway. They are just taking more of a loss.

    • inherentchoice on 27/05/2024 - 00:16
      +1

      Until they get some detailed economic analysis which says that the cost to us as taxpayers wasn't worth it in the end, as has been discovered in numerous locations around the world that did something similar.

      https://youtu.be/2SnJFbeVaIc

      A lot of people will still be driving during peak hour because of convenience factors. Perhaps Government would do better to invest in better town planning and improving public transport reliability and infrastructure?

      • LFO on 27/05/2024 - 09:41

        A lot of people will still be driving during peak hour because of convenience factors.

        Maybe. But nothing beats free … or 50 cents for than matter.

        At today's costs, driving is not-too-bad-after-all but 50 cents is a real spanner thrown in the works.

        • inherentchoice on 27/05/2024 - 19:04

          But if it doubles your commute time or worse, then it's not so attractive to ditch the car…

          • LFO on 28/05/2024 - 10:51

            @inherentchoice: Correct.

            But sometimes it is even shorter times.

            My "visits" to Costco, to only buy Hellmans' mayonnaise is faster by train than driving on the M1.
            Door to door that is.
            Factual.

            I couldn't believe it myself but clocks don't lie.

            • inherentchoice on 28/05/2024 - 12:53

              @LFO: And you'll be going to Costco off peak. But then also lugging your wholesale purchases and/or a cart for them. Literally bulk buys, being moved in bulk on public transport.

              • LFO on 29/05/2024 - 13:41

                @inherentchoice: For this, my particular use of Costco, it limits to 1 (large!) jar of "Hellman's" mayonnaise. No bulk buys.
                For me, its works.

                By the way, I drive when planing more articles (muffins as an example), when traveling with someone else, when raining and, of course, when getting cheaper fuel.

                As I said, I agree with you that the inconveniences of public transport might/will cancel any savings but in some cases it does work. Like my use for mayonnaise. And I only use the train, no buses or other PT.

                • inherentchoice on 01/06/2024 - 17:28

                  @LFO:

                  in some cases it does work

                  Yes, some. And it works for individuals. But I doubt this will have that much impact on overall traffic congestion during peak hours.

    • inherentchoice on 28/05/2024 - 12:56

      Interesting but that was for local government and they lost that election so promise is only moot.

  • jasonc on 26/05/2024 - 07:39
    +36

    Great. This may reduce the amount of single vehicle cars driving into the city during peak hour. It's smart. Reduce the traffic by 25% and all of a sudden you have road capacity for people who need their cars during the day

    • CookieJacker31 on 26/05/2024 - 07:44
      +4

      I guess it removes one WFH excuse if the premier is trying to boost the CBD.

      • pangwen on 26/05/2024 - 08:34
        +9

        The News Corp articles say the only exclusion is Airtrain. They even give example fares for Gold Coast (Robina) to Bowen Hills and Goodna to Central, neither of which are zone 1 or 2 services.

        • altomic on 26/05/2024 - 17:55
          +4

          Airtrain is privately run. Hence the stupid fare for it.

        • SlickMick on 27/05/2024 - 08:34
          +3

          Airtrain is the primary one that should be discounted. Gov gets thier cut elsewhere from people travelling, and it's the first experience tourists get when they visit. (First experience of Brisbane: gee the train is expensive.)

          AirTrain should run at a loss and get compensated by airport/ airlines/ tourism industry.

          • wisdomtooth on 19/07/2024 - 15:27

            @SlickMick: Clearly, people who've paid $1000s to come to Australia hardly need us to subsidise their train ride off the airport with our taxes. Unsubsidised private train/metro lines to airports are common practice around the world precisely for that reason: Sydney, Tokyo, Osaka…

            • SlickMick on 20/07/2024 - 13:30
              -1

              @wisdomtooth: It's not about subsidising, it's about attracting. The profits come from getting people over here to spend money instead of them finding somewhere more affordable to go.

        • petestrash on 28/05/2024 - 22:18

          Yeah, unfortunately Airtrain is not included. Also mentioned here https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/50-cent-fares

      • Name on 26/05/2024 - 11:05
        +4

        Examples are here which includes Gold Coast to Brisbane ($2,100 saving over 6 months). https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100402

    • RockyRaccoon on 26/05/2024 - 08:18

      True, however its to reduce the traffic so the voter isnt reminded while sitting in a gridlocked highway while the campaign is on.

      Will the average Qld'er think its a vote winner?

      We'll know in 6 months

      • Japius on 26/05/2024 - 09:48
        +3

        Until theyre cramped in standing room only carriages on the way home. I stopped taking the train because while it was lovely in the early mornings I still finish at 4pm most days and sitting in my car listening to podcasts in traffic was better than standing in the train for half an hour after a long day

        • nikey2k27 on 26/05/2024 - 16:20

          how long in car dose take to get home at 4pm ?

          • Japius on 26/05/2024 - 21:50

            @nikey2k27: Adds an extra 15-20 minutes usually but unlike standing for 30 minutes it doesn’t feel it, then again I start at 6am and with no traffic it’s often quicker than the train to drive since I park closer than the station so no added walk so total travel probably evens out time wise

      • inherentchoice on 28/05/2024 - 12:58

        Might win a few votes short term but long term it could prove a poor economic choice.

    • EspadaV8 on 26/05/2024 - 09:22
      +2

      That might be true, but then people see the roads are a lot emptier and suddenly think "maybe I should drive" and then back to square one 😂

  • Iluvfreebies on 26/05/2024 - 07:41
    +14

    I am going to gc every week from now on.

    • CookieJacker31 on 26/05/2024 - 08:11
      +25

      It might be 50c but it's still the gold coast. Why do it too yourself?

      • Iluvfreebies on 26/05/2024 - 08:14
        +7

        I like the beaches there

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