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[QLD] Free Train Travel (Including Airtrain) on Four Consecutive Mondays Leading up to Christmas @ Queensland Rail

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Customers won’t need to use their go card or purchase a ticket on those days, because all travel is free from 12am – 12pm. There’s no need to touch on or touch off. For stations with fare gates, just walk on through.


Free train travel for the following days -

  • Monday 18 November
  • Monday 25 November
  • Monday 02 December
  • Monday 09 December

South east Queensland commuters will enjoy free train rides on four consecutive Mondays in the lead up to Christmas.

The free train travel days that will start from Monday 18 November are being offered to thank customers for their loyalty as Queensland Rail worked to restore services earlier this year.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said rail passengers deserved thanks and appreciation for standing by the service.

More info here.

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  • +7

    Reminder for QLD Seniors travelling in Brisbane with Seniors GoCard
    Free off-peak buses^ (daily) & ferries (weekdays) ^Only on BCC buses.

    Error on Translink system: After 2 free off-peak fares (with over 1hr gap between) - peak fare is also free! (Tested twice mid-Oct)

    • Error on Translink system: After 2 free off-peak fares (with over 1hr gap between) - peak fare is also free!

      Are you sure that's an error, or are you saying it's available to everyone? It's supposed to be one, two, free for seniors…

      https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares-and-zones/d…

      • +1

        Yes, that was how the system worked on 2 paid journeys before the free Brisbane travel was introduced for Seniors.

        1-2-free still works for those on Concession or Seniors GoCards using other paid transport services on Translink.

        Now Seniors using BCC run transport don't pay for off-peak trips. But it seems 1-2-free has been retained.

        That's why I listed it as a hack for Seniors, rather than Error on Translink system elsewhere. It's an anomaly, rather than an error. It may not last.

        • +1

          Okay sorry was a bit slow. That's a good hack.

          • +1

            @inherentchoice: I'm still getting my bargain head around it. Your comment made me consider it again👍

            As the 1-2-free fare system has been retained…
            That means after 2 free off-peak BCC run services, Seniors can travel free anywhere on normal Translink system, to Gold Coast etc (not to Brisbane Airport - take the free shuttle bus from Skygate).

            It's a free way to travel further - just takes the 2 off-peak journeys & 2 1hr gaps between journeys…

            I've considered using it to travel to Gold Coast Airport (got $1 each way to Adelaide!), by jumping on buses going 1 stop (twice) over 2+ hours - just not worth the time & effort.

        • 1-2-free fare T&C: who use go card for 2 paid journeys in 1 day, travel free for the rest of the day

          Effectively, the BCC is paying for these free fares under a $3.1M paid agreement.

          It's an anomaly. It may not last.

          • @INFIDEL: It's possible to travel to say Noosa / Gold Coast very cheap on Concession or even free for Brisbane Seniors. (Just takes longer)

            Using Translink's 1-2-free fare system… taking 2 discounted Concession / (free in Brisbane) Seniors journeys, further travel that day is free. Journeys 0830-1530M-F & all weekend (off-peak) are cheaper / free.

            1hr time limit between transfers / Maximum of 3 transfers per journey for each separate journey

            So, to make 2 journeys:
            catch 1 service, wait 1 hr, catch another, wait another hour
            OR hop on & off 8 services if you're on a busy route (eg in City or on busways)
            OR 5 services then wait 1 hr etc
            It's free after that👍

  • Can we travel to North QLD

    • i dont think so . it would be great if allowed it would probably take over 24hrs up to 35hrs to get there so i wouldn't recommend it. i think its for only South east Queensland commuters.

    • +4

      Well it's only for South east Queensland commuters. Once you get outside that area - you pay normal fares!

      Riding on any long distance train requires a ticket - at normal fare. It's a different system to commuter lines.

      South East Queensland
      The network stretches from Gympie in the north to Coolangatta in the south and west to Helidon.

      Have fun in Gympie😉

      • +3

        I'm usually one for exploiting a bargain to capacity but Gympie is more than enough to make me think twice

        • New to QLD. Curious to know what do you mean about Gympie.

          • +11

            @amorn: Gympie has one of the few remaining Pizza Hut Dine In restaurants. So..

            1. Free train trip to Gympie
            2. 11am store open > begin pizza gluttony
            3. ???
            4. PROFIT
            • @jnrbargainr: Browns Plains also has one, though unfortunately there's no train line out there.

              On the plus side, it's a fair bit closer than Gympie.

              • +1

                @MuchUsernameWow: Finally I understand why it's called Browns Plains.

              • +1

                @MuchUsernameWow: Though, it's a 5.5km walk from Gympie North station to the Pizza Hut, but the Pizza Hut in Browns Plains is right out the front of Grand Plaza so close to buses. It's about 8km walk from the nearest train station, which does involve Woodridge.

                • +1

                  @Zemm: I've heard that Woodridge station is better than Kingston these days - possibly because there's a Police Beat right out the front.

              • @MuchUsernameWow: I wouldn’t recommend the Browns Plains one. I think the water was the best tasting thing there.

  • -5

    why only the love for Christmas?

    • +2

      If QR wants good publicity (to cover up numerous failures) - that's the best time to do it. (An easy positive story to write & slower time for the media.)

      And it's paid for with cancelled (Christmas) Bonuses…
      the cost of the free travel would be covered with funding that had been set aside for bonuses for senior managers at Queensland Rail

      • … with funding that had been set aside for bonuses for senior managers at Queensland Rail

        How many senior managers are affected? Imagine a few senior managers' bonus could cover millions of commuters' 4 days travel.

      • +2

        And it's paid for with cancelled (Christmas) Bonuses…

        Something that would never happen in the private sector.

        • Private sector don't have an election coming up😉

          • @INFIDEL: Well it is an interesting question: does the freebies in SEQ give enough extra votes to offset the votes lost outside of SEQ from those annoyed at yet another government delivered benefit that SEQ people get that others don’t. Or maybe those votes are already written off and it is just about shoring up Brisbane votes

            • @entropysbane: Most outside SEQLD would not have been CityTrain commuters affected by the rail failures. They probably don't know, or don't care.

              So not much use trying to win over those not affected.
              But I think not paying execs a bonus (part of this Deal) also may go over well outside SEQLD.

              As a non train commuter in Brisbane it won't influence me.

              Commuters affected would see it as due compensation. That's likely how this will be presented - saying thanks to the suffering commuters & how things are better now. They might otherwise seek revenge through the ballot box.

              I don't think it would affect the election, but a sweetener like this may ease the pain. Without it, the LNP may use the failures to their greater advantage.

              But who was to blame for initial stuff up with specs for new trains? Both major Parties played a part in the rail fails.

            • @entropysbane: It's a fact that regional people benefit by more government infrastructure spending per capita than people in urban areas.

              • @inherentchoice: True, but don't go into a country pub & say that😉

                They would argue it should not be per capita spending, but per square km spending…

                There's always a different way of thinking about things, depending on what benefits your group.

                That thinking kept the voting system rigged to give the good people of the sparsely populated Roma electorate 3 times the vote of those packed in the Logan electorate - in Qlds past. Their MP required 1/3 the votes to be elected than in Logan.

  • -4

    It’s not loyalty, it’s a monopoly.

    • +1

      So you are saying there is no other possible way to travel in South east Queensland??
      That would be a monopoly.

      Train lines are far too far away from me in Brisbane to use. Luckily there are other options! And BCC buses are free off-peak for Seniors, making trains far less attractive for those users.

    • +1

      It's creating many jobs, offering a very cheap and sustainable alternative to cars.

  • I’m saying that people are not loyal to qld rail, rather for some it’s the best option from a limited range of choices. Traffic can be woeful, parking in the city can be cost prohibitive, etc.

    Technically speaking, there is only one heavy rail service, so there could be an argument for a monopoly on heavy rail, but that wasn’t my point.

    • +1

      "loyalty" is just the way QR / QLD Govt is spinning this.

      Of course it's not past loyalty that is being rewarded. Saying it's to make up for past failures draws too much attention to what they are trying to cover up!

      Maybe there is an election soon…😉

    • Expensive city travel is not only the case in QLD and QLD Rail offers a very good alternative.

    • Yes it's either suck up the fare increases or pay more for a taxi or ubber

  • -1

    First a $1,250 bonus and now this.
    I'm definitely voting Labor

    • But that $1,250 bonus to Public Servants is to promote the economy & cap wage growth!
      Bribe is such an ugly word😉

      • -1

        Bribery does not exist in capitalism. There is only lobbying, 100% legal.

        • No, that’s corporatism. Bribery most definitely exists in all systems, but lobbying only really works in corporatist states when you have Big Government getting in bed with Big Business, with Big Union cheering on.

        • Police & even the Police Commissioner went to jail in the bad days of QLD a few decades back for the practice…

    • When does the $1250 get disbursed?

  • +1

    Does the free train travel cover the airtrain service?

  • +2

    sydney train will never do such thing.

    • What are you talking about? Sydney trains never make a mistake!

      /s

      • There is everyday fault/mistakes/issues somewhere or other but they never gives free rides.
        not even on new year eve.

  • +1

    Why doesn't the govt make all public transport free on those days? Sometimes I prefer bus rides to trains.

    • +1

      Because they didn't f**k up the buses and ferries for three years.

      …But really, yeah, they should make it all free. Those of us who have to transfer from train to bus are barely benefiting from this, and we've had to put up with three years of #railfail.

  • -1

    So they offer when most people on holidays and don't need to travel to work

    • +2

      Who's already on holidays?

      • +1

        people get holidays?

    • I can guarantee you that every man and his (carefully disguised) dog will be on the train on each and every one of those Mondays just for the free travel.

      RIP to all the regular commuters.

      • I won't - too far to catch the train. Bus is 5 minute walk.
        I get free off-peak bus (plus free Peak home) any day in Brissie, which suits me better😉

        • How do you get free off peak bus

  • Nice, basically a $32 saving! (2 trips each Monday at approx $4 each)

  • Does this offer include free travel on GC light rail?

    • No.. citytrain only

  • -3

    I don't take public transport to work but I have to drive to work through multiple toll roads. There should be toll free Mondays as well i think…

    • But why would Qld Rail pay for your private travel on a privately operated tollway? That makes no sense!
      Ask the motorway operators for that (if there have been repeated failures, like QR commuters have experienced)!

      This gimmick… the cost of the free travel would be covered with funding that had been set aside for bonuses for senior managers at Queensland Rail.

      It's compensation for inconvenienced CityTrain commuters, to help get good PR for QR (ahead of an election).

      Nothing to do with your private travel, or other public transport. Not even available on rail outside SEQld CityTrain network!

  • Can I use on Sydney trains? Its ok to say No.

    • +1

      Is Sydney on the SE Qld CityTrain commuter network?
      Limit of commuter travel has already been discussed (Gympie in North to Varsity Lakes on Gold Coast in South).

    • Your post makes nosense. Stop being a nuisance, newsense.

  • thats Great, thanks for the heads up.

  • I can't remember I might have taken only the airtrain at some point, but is it enjoyable (e.g. some scenery, smooth ride, infrequent stops, not noisy) to just take the train from Brisbane to Gold Coast or is it super crowded?

  • Will this work to Brisbane from say Cooroy or Nambour ?

    • +1

      Discussed already

      • +1

        Thanks. Yep up to Gympie and down to Coolangatta. Woohoo

        • +1

          Well Varsity Lakes, Helensvale etc - connecting bus or tram is not included. Just CityTrain network. The only beach on the free train is South Bank😉
          Enjoy!

          • @INFIDEL: yeah I live in noosa, not after lesser beaches ;-)
            would need to bus it to cooroy or nambour to take advantage of the reduced rate which is still a good deal but meh, effort.

            • +1

              @ndftz: That's a long day out - to the Gold Coast😉 I've considered it & decided against it.

            • +1

              @ndftz: Considering popping up to Noosa - on the Ozbargainer exchange program. (Will wait for smoke to clear!)
              Total cost from home in Brisbane, $1.61 (4hrs) on Senior GoCard😉

              Seniors can get long journeys free

  • +1

    Airtrain is included. My first post.

    All aboard for free train travel!
    From Monday 18 November, for four consecutive Mondays, there'll be free travel on Queensland Rail Citytrain services, including Airtrain.
    TRANSLINK

  • +2

    Customers won’t need to use their go card or purchase a ticket on those days, because all travel is free from 12am – 12pm. There’s no need to touch on or touch off. For stations with fare gates, just walk on through.

    https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/aboutus/mediacentre/free-t…

  • Haha Brisbane Airport Corporation must be pissed off with everyone getting free train rides into the city and not having to pay for their exorbitant parking!

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