Translink is the public transit agency for Queensland, and is part of the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Translink was first introduced by the Queensland Government in June 2003 to orchestrate bus, ferry, rail and light rail services. They work with Brisbane Airtrain, Transport for Brisbane, RiverCity Ferries, Queensland Rail and other operators to provide services. Translink operates an integrated ticketing system across Queensland and the go card system to allow the use of one ticket on multiple services in South East Queensland.

Translink
Agency overview
FormedNovember 2012 (2012-11)
Preceding agency
  • Translink Transit Authority
JurisdictionQueensland
Agency executive
  • Sally Stannard[1], Director-General (Department of Transport and Main Roads)
Parent departmentTransport and Main Roads
Websitetranslink.com.au

In July 2008, Translink devolved from being a division of the former Queensland Transport to the more autonomous Translink Transit Authority, before returning to management under the Department of Transport and Main Roads in November 2012.[2] Combining the former authority and qconnect, Translink became responsible for providing public transport services across majority of Queensland from 16 January 2023. Buses in North Stradbroke Island are not part of the Translink network. It is operated by Transit Systems and fares are decided by Transit Systems.

History edit

TransInfo was a phone inquiry and timetable service established in August 1993 by Queensland Transport. It was found to be a very successful service, and in a 1997 research study 99% of surveyed transport users were either very or fairly satisfied with the service.[3] After the success of TransInfo, in June 2003 the Queensland Government introduced Translink as an agency within Queensland Transport, replacing the former TransInfo service. With a $21.4 million budget, Translink was tasked to introduce common fares, zones and ticket types irrespective of transit mode, and from mid-2004 a smartcard system. Prior to Translink's introduction, combined patronage for public transport services was only around 112 million trips per year.[4][5]

Translink delivered the new integrated ticketing system in July 2004. To help facilitate the change-over, Translink employed and deployed throughout South East Queensland 100 assistants. A daily ticket was introduced which allowed unlimited travel on all modes of public transport within the zones specified on the ticket, and for the first time students and aged pensioners throughout South East Queensland received a 50% discount on fares.[6] In just two months an extra 2.3 million passengers travelled on transit services, and ticket sales increased by 11%.[6] Following Translink's introduction, transit passenger numbers grew faster than ever before. In 2005, Translink saw close to a 20% increase in passenger numbers.[7][8]

In February 2008, the go card was rolled out on bus, rail and ferry services in Brisbane only, as a precursor to its introduction throughout South East Queensland.[9] The Queensland Government devolved Translink from being a division of Queensland Transport to the more autonomous Translink Transit Authority in July 2008, increasing its profile with new branding. At the same time a 24 hours a day, seven days a week customer information and support phone number was introduced.[10][11]

In November 2009, Translink introduced cashless tickets during peak times, only accepting only go cards and pre-purchased paper tickets in an effort to improve service efficiency. In late 2009, Translink scrapped monthly and weekly paper tickets, with plans to eliminate paper tickets by the end of 2010.[12][13] On 4 January 2010, to encourage the use of the go card, off-peak discounts and a direct debit top-up option were introduced. At the same time, Translink increased fares and also announced fares would increase by a further 45% over the following three years.[12]

 
The previous Translink logo, used until 2022

Ticketing edit

 
Flag-type bus stop
 
Inala bus station
 
Old style go card reader

South-East Queensland edit

In South-East Queensland, Translink uses 8 zones to determine fares no matter which transit mode or route a passenger uses. In South East Queensland the zones are rings centred on the Brisbane CBD. The South East Queensland zone network stretches from Gympie (170 km north of Brisbane) to Coolangatta (100 km south of Brisbane), and from Helidon (80 km west of Brisbane) in the west to Moreton Bayside suburbs of Brisbane and Redland in the east.

Originally there were 23 zones. On 19 December 2016, the number of zones was reduced to eight. At the same time, a new fare structure was introduced that included:

  • Cheaper fares across all zones
  • Off-peak discounts extended to 6am (from 3am)
  • Free travel for seniors after 2 journeys each day and Concession Pensioner Card holders
  • Free weekend travel on a child go card
  • Half-price journeys after 8 trips in a week

go card edit

Translink offers a contactless fare payment card called go card. It requires passengers to touch the card on a card reader at the start and end of each journey, and when transferring between services. The fare is automatically calculated based on the difference between the highest zone number and the lowest zone number recorded for the journey. A journey can comprise any number of individual legs (each recorded by touching the card when entering or leaving a service) within a two-hour period. The fare is automatically deducted from a pre-paid balance associated with the go card used.

The following types of go card are available:

  • Adult go card is for use by passengers without concessions. Tertiary students, job seekers and asylum seekers will need to have an adult go card in order to have concession fares activated on the card.
  • Child go card is for use by children under the age of 15 years and provides concession fares for the holder along with free travel on weekends.
  • Concession go card is for use by passengers entitled to a concession, such as secondary students, holders of a Pensioner Concession Card, and holders of a Repatriation Health Card.
  • Seniors go card is for use by passengers who have a Queensland Seniors Card issued by the Queensland Government.
  • Seniors+go card incorporates a Queensland Seniors Card and a go card on both sides.

go seeQ card edit

The go seeQ card was introduced in late 2012 for visitors to South East Queensland. This card provides for travel for a period of 3 or 5 days across the Translink network. The card can also be used to receive discounts at retail locations throughout the South East Queensland region.[14]

Paper tickets edit

A single-fare paper ticket is also available for infrequent travellers and visitors.[15]

  • Single – one-way travel with unlimited transfers for two hours for travel through up to 10 zones and three and a half hours for more than 10 zones.
  • Single (Concession) – for eligible students, pensioners and children, who travel for half the price of an equivalent regular adult fare. Children under five years of age travel free. A valid concession card must be presented when purchasing and presenting a concession ticket.[16]

Regional Queensland edit

In Regional Queensland, the unmber of zones vary between 1 zone and 11 zones, depending on the location. Typically the zones are rings centred on the town centres of reach region. The regional centres where you will find the Translink brand are: Bowen, Bundaberg, Cairns, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gympie, Innisfail, Kilcoy, Mackay, Rockhamption/Yeppoon, Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Toowoomba, Townsville, Warwick and Whitsundays.

Originally, each regional centre had a large difference in the number of zones and fares. From 4 July 2022, Translink progressively took over the qconnect brand in Regional Queensland. By 16 January 2023, previous qconnect regions had transitioned to the new zone and fare structure along with previous Translink regional centres of Cairns, Mackay, Toowoomba and Townsville/Magnetic Island. Each regional location has individual transport zones they use different fare prices to South East Queensland. One-zone fares are $2.40 for adults and $1.20 for concession with zonal increases set at $0.60 for adults and $0.30 for concession. go cards currently cannot be used on Regional Queensland services.[17][18]

Fares edit

South-East Queensland edit

Below are the fares per zone in South-East Queensland:

As of 9 January 2023[19]
Zones

Traveled

Adult Concession
go card go card off-peak Paper go card go card off-peak Paper
1 $3.55 $2.84 $5.10 $1.78 $1.42 $2.60
2 $4.34 $3.47 $6.30 $2.17 $1.74 $3.10
3 $6.63 $5.30 $9.60 $3.32 $2.65 $4.80
4 $8.72 $6.98 $12.60 $4.36 $3.49 $6.30
5 $11.46 $9.17 $16.60 $5.73 $4.58 $8.30
6 $14.55 $11.64 $21.10 $7.28 $5.82 $10.50
7 $18.10 $14.48 $26.20 $9.05 $7.24 $13.10
8 $21.48 $17.18 $31.10 $10.74 $8.59 $15.60

Regional Queensland edit

Below are the fares per zone in Regional Queensland:

As of 4 July 2022[20]
Zones

Traveled

Adult Concession
1 $2.40 $1.20
2 $3.00 $1.50
3 $3.60 $1.80
4 $4.20 $2.10
5 $4.80 $2.40
6 $5.40 $2.70
7 $6.00 $3.00
8 $6.60 $3.30
9 $7.20 $3.60
10 $7.80 $3.90
11 $8.40 $4.20

Zones edit

Currently each transport area has zones individual to the location. Below is the amount of zones there are per location across Queensland:

Location Zones
South East Queensland 8
Bowen 1
Bundaberg 5
Cairns 5
Fraser Coast 6
Gladstone 3
Gympie 11
Innisfail 2
Kilcoy 9
Mackay 7
Rockhampton and Yeppoon 7
Sunshine Coast Hinterland 5
Toowoomba 7
Townsville 4
Warwick 1
Whitsunday 5

Authorised Officers edit

Translink employ a team of authorised officers called Senior Network Officers. Senior Network Officers were introduced in 2010 and they utilise powers available under section 111(3) of the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 and Transport Infrastructure Act 1994. As authorised officers, they enforce Translink's conditions of travel for passengers on the network. Senior Network Officers issue infringement notices for transport offences. Senior Network Officers also carry handcuffs and can exercise a power to detain for certain offences committed on public transport[21]

South East Queensland network edit

 
Translink liveried Logan City Bus Service Bustech bodied Volvo B12BLE in 2013

The Translink South East Queensland network is divided into seven regions, each region operated by different operators contracted by Translink. The regions are based largely on local government boundaries:[22]

Greater Brisbane edit

Northern edit

Southern edit

Eastern edit

Western edit

Sunshine Coast edit

Gold Coast edit

 
G:link's Northcliffe stop

Regional network edit

The Translink Regional network is divided into 16 regions, each region typically operated by different operators. The regions are based largely on local government boundaries:[22]

Bowen edit

Bundaberg edit

Cairns edit

Fraser Coast edit

  • Bus Services Operator – Wide Bay Transit

Gladstone edit

Gympie edit

  • Bus Services Operator – Polleys Coaches

Innisfail edit

Kilcoy edit

  • Bus Services Operator – Christensen's Bus and Coach

Mackay edit

Rockhampton and Yeppoon edit

Sunshine Coast Hinterland edit

  • Bus Services Operator – Glasshouse Country Coaches

Toowoomba edit

Townsville and Magnetic Island edit

Warwick edit

  • Bus Services Operator – Haidley's Panoramic Coaches

Whitsundays edit

Non-Translink regional bus edit

North Stradbroke Island edit

Services edit

Translink operates various types of services under different names. Below are a few services they operate.

CityGlider edit

CityGlider is a brand name applied to a pair of high-frequency bus routes operated by Transport for Brisbane in Brisbane, Australia. Both are operated by dedicated fleets of buses vinyled in either blue or maroon liveries with a gliding possum motif. Bus stops serviced by the CityGlider services are identified with signs and painted kerb. Both operate 24 hours a day on Fridays and Saturdays.

The CityGlider service is pre-paid only, meaning passengers are required to use a go card to touch on/off when boarding and exiting the service. To assist with keeping the service running on-time, both front and rear boarding is possible, the CityGlider is the only service which allows this.

Bus upgrade zone edit

Bus upgrade zones, commonly abbreviated to BUZ, are a feature of Brisbane's public transport system. The name is given to high-frequency bus routes operated by Transport for Brisbane, the Brisbane City Council agency that operates the city's public bus services for Translink. All BUZ services run at least every fifteen minutes from around 6:00am to 11:30pm seven days a week and at least every ten minutes during peak hours from Monday to Friday.

Nearly all BUZ routes are express services which provide quick and frequent access to places along major trunk roads, with the exception of routes 196 and 199, which are the only all-stops BUZ service with bus stops within short walking distances of each other between the inner suburbs of Fairfield, West End, New Farm and Teneriffe. Most BUZ routes are radial, and commence in or near the Brisbane CBD. However, routes 196 and 199 are again an exception, in that they are cross-town routes that passes through the CBD.

NightLink edit

NightLink is the name given to the all-night Translink services that leave Fortitude Valley, Brisbane City and Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast late Friday and Saturday nights.

Brisbane City Bus Loops edit

Great Circle Line edit

The Great Circle Line is a loop operated by Transport for Brisbane serving various shopping centres and other attractions around Brisbane.

Spring Hill Loop edit

The Spring Hill Loop is a free loop service operated by Transport for Brisbane servicing stops popular locations such as Post Office Square, Old Windmill Observatory, St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital, Brisbane Private Hospital and Central Station.

City Loop edit

The City Loop is a free loop service operated by Transport for Brisbane servicing stops popular locations such as QUT, Alice Street, Botanic Gardens, Queen Street Mall, City Hall, Central Station, Riverside and Eagle Street Pier.

South Brisbane Loop edit

The South Brisbane Loop is a free loop service operated by Transport for Brisbane servicing stops popular locations such as Cineplex at South Brisbane, Gallery of Modern Art, South Brisbane Station / Cultural Centre, Davies Park and South Bank Busway.

Infrastructure edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Our Director-General". Department of Transport and Main Roads. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  2. ^ Qld Parliament approves dissolving Translink Archived 6 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine ABC News 2 November 2012
  3. ^ Johnson, Vaughan (21 November 1997). "TransInfo demand surging". Ministerial Media Statements. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  4. ^ Bredhauer, Stephen (5 June 2003). "New agency to introduce integrated ticketing". Ministerial Media Statements. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  5. ^ Lucas, Paul (23 April 2004). "Information on how to get 'one ticket please' to SEQ". Ministerial Media Statements. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  6. ^ Mickel, John (14 July 2006). "1,000 volunteers to test new smart card". Ministerial Media Statements. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  7. ^ Bligh, Anna (9 October 2007). "Bligh government to create new transit authority". Ministerial Media Statements. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  8. ^ Mickel, John (1 July 2008). "24/7 access to new transit authority". Ministerial Media Statements. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Fare Restructure". Archived from the original on 17 April 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  10. ^ Marissa Calligeros (30 September 2009). "Cash free zones: buses to go card-only". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Digital. Archived from the original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  11. ^ "Exciting changes to regional public transport". Translink. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Milestone nears for regional public transport". Translink. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  13. ^ "South East Queensland fares, zones and tickets". Translink. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Fares, zones and tickets". Translink. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Senior Network Officer Powers". Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Translink regions and service area". Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

External links edit

  Media related to Translink (Queensland) at Wikimedia Commons