The cost of travelling to Brisbane's domestic and international airport terminals on the privately-operated train service could be subsidised by the Queensland government. The news comes a day after Premier Steven Miles announced that from August 5, all public bus, ferry and train travel across the state will drop to just 50c under a six-month trial. The government hopes the trial will encourage more commuters to use Translink services as public service usage remains around 13 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.
However, the bargain-basement travel won't apply on trains to-and-from the airport as the Brisbane Airtrain has a monopoly, following a deal signed in 1998. Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. The service is owned by Liverpool-based Universities Superannuation Scheme that bought the entity in 2013, with Queensland Rail slated to take over the contract in 2036.
However, Transport Minister Bart Mellish says the government has submitted an offer to AirTrain operators to lower fares during the trial. A return paper ticket from Brisbane's Central Station to the airport costs $41.80 on the private service.
"This is a really strange contract ...
that was entered into more than 20-years ago," Mr Mellish told ABC radio Brisbane. "It is a privately-run service so we can't direct them to set the fares as we can with the rest of the network. "I've made an offer to AirTrain, we've been in discussions with them for a while to reduce.