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Queensland's 50-Cent Fares Boost Public Transport Ridership

3/22/2026

40 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Queensland Government introduced 50-cent flat fares for public transport in August 2024.
Ridership across buses, trains, and ferries rose between August and October 2024, by 14.3% for buses, 17.9% for trains, and 43.9% for ferries versus the previous year.
Overall patronage is 5.1% above pre-COVID levels.
The policy may cause a $1.5 billion revenue loss over four years, potentially limiting future service improvements.

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Story summary

The Queensland Government introduced 50-cent flat fares for public transport in August 2024.
Ridership across buses, trains, and ferries rose between August and October 2024, by 14.3% for buses, 17.9% for trains, and 43.9% for ferries versus the previous year.
Overall patronage is 5.1% above pre-COVID levels.
The policy may cause a $1.5 billion revenue loss over four years, potentially limiting future service improvements.