TAFE and university students are being encouraged to take advantage of public transport and cheap 50c fares as their academic year kicks off this week.
Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) spokesperson said the Queensland Government’s permanent 50 cent fares offer Logan University and TAFE students a convenient and affordable way to travel with frequent bus and train services.
“As one of Queensland’s fastest growing regions, the Queensland Government is investing $70 million in bus service improvements across Ipswich and Logan, boosting service frequency and reliability for thousands of students and families,” they said.
“Beyond the cost savings, using public transport allows students to use their travel time to study, relax or connect with friends, without the stress of driving or finding parking.”
Jimboomba resident Christina Kelly said 50c fares helped her save for her first home.
“I was able to save about $15 a day in petrol and $16 a day in tolls using the 50c fares to travel into the city,” she said.
“One thing I really liked about it was you get to sit and relax before work, without worrying about traffic.”
“And it got me moving more, adding additional steps in, as I had to walk a bit further to get to where I was going.”
While it was an affordable option, Mrs Kelly said it was not without a bit of hassle.
“The buses are never on time or sometimes don’t show up at all,” she said.
“At peak times the buses are crammed with people and the public transport schedules are all over the place.”
Translink acting head Dean Helm said public transport remained the easiest and most convenient way to travel.
“Regardless of how far you travel to get to campus, all fares on Translink services are 50c per journey,” he said.
“High-frequency bus, train, tram and ferry services will be running to help students get to campus on time.”
Mr Helm said tertiary students are encouraged to plan their journey ahead through the Translink app to avoid any delays and check if services have been changed.
The 50c fare initiative was brought in by the Labor government as a 6-month trial in the lead up to the State election in 2024 and the Liberal government made it permanent in February last year.
The change has driven an increase in public transport across Queensland in all types of transport.
