Fairer Fares has ensured this year's public transport fare increase will result in fares that are still lower than 2014.
On January 7, 2019, fares for all TransLink public transport services across South East Queensland will increase based on the Brisbane Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 1.8 per cent.
The introduction of Fairer Fares in December 2016 has seen families save more than $138 million and ensures fares in South East Queensland still remain lower than 2014.
Head of TransLink Matthew Longland said the CPI-based adjustment will mean an increase of between 6 and 11 cents per trip on the majority of journeys, with Fairer Fares still providing travel incentives for many public transport users including children, job seekers, asylum seekers, and anyone travelling off-peak or more than 8 journeys a week.
"Adjusting fares by CPI ensures that fare change is aligned to cost of living measures," Mr Longland said.
"The cost of a 1 zone adult go card journey will increase by 6 cents to $3.31. The same trip was $3.35 back in November 2014.
"A 4-zone adult go card journey which will take you from Brisbane CBD out to Bribie Island, or Ormeau, or west to Rosewood, will increase by 14 cents to $8.11, and for commuters travelling between 5 and 8 zones, the fare rise will be between 19 and 35 cents.
"A tertiary student who is entitled to concession fares and travelling one or two zones to university will see an increase of 3 or 4 cents per trip, which equates to about the price of a cup of coffee for an entire semester's travel."
The cost of an adult zone 2 journey into the city during peak period will be $4.03. The same trip was up to $5.96 in November 2014.
In the 2017-18 financial year, fare revenue contributed about $343 million towards transport operator payments of $1.9 billion a year.
Mr Longland said the State Government contributed more than $313 million to Brisbane City Council to run their buses in 2017-18, nearly $19 million for Brisbane City Council ferries, and more than $86 million for buses on the Gold Coast.
"Revenue from public transport fares falls well short of funding requirements to run public transport, and a CPI-based increase simply assists in keeping pace with the current subsidy levels, which has the State Government subsidising about 80 per cent of a public transport fare."
Fairer fares have not only kept 2019 fare at a level that is less than 5 years ago, Mr Longland said, they have also provided genuine savings since their introduction in 2016.
"As at October 2018 our Fairer Fares package has provided an average saving per trip of 44 cents, and users of the TransLink SEQ public transport network have saved more than $138 million," Mr Longland said.
"The free travel for children on the weekends has been used for more than 1.5 million trips, with an average saving per trip of $1.35 meaning total saving of more than $2.0 million for families with children.
"Extending off-peak to start before 6am to encourage earlier travel has resulted in customer savings of more than $3.2 million, with 4.6 million eligible trips.
"The introduction of eight paid journeys and 50 per cent off subsequent journeys per week, which was designed to deliver higher travel savings to more customers, has recorded more than 22.9 million eligible trips, saving customers more than $31.2 million.
"Concession fares for job seekers and for asylum seekers have driven more savings with more than 1.5 million eligible trips, saving these passengers a total of more than $2.0 million.
"It is obvious that Fairer Fares doing what they set out to do by delivering real cost-of-living savings for passengers on the TransLink network, including limiting the impact of the 2019 fare increase."
Record numbers of people are catching public transport across South East Queensland with 182.83 million passenger trips in the 2017-18 financial year. This was an increase of 5.41 million trips or 3.1% on the 2016-17 patronage figures and is the largest ever annual patronage figure. Bus, train, ferry and tram patronage all increased.
For more information on public transport, visit the TransLink website translink.com.au or phone 13 12 30, anytime.