The number of people catching trains is at an all-time high and public transport usage is up across the board amid the ongoing fuel shock.
Last week more than 1.25 million rail journeys were recorded in south-east Queensland, with well over 200,000 every weekday.
That equated to an increase of about 14 per cent over the same period in 2025.
“Certainly, last week was our best week ever in terms of patronage,” Queensland Rail chief executive Kat Stapleton said on Wednesday.
“Now if you ask me as to why that’s happening, first of all the 50 cents permanent fares are making a difference … we have students back at uni earlier in the month, and my hypothesis would be that because of … the fuel surges people are now choosing to take [public transport].”
Across the board, all public transport usage was up about 7.4 per cent compared to the last week of February.
Bus trips increased 5.3 per cent and ferry trips increased 6.6 per cent.
Weekends saw the biggest uptick, with a 16 per cent rise on Saturday and 19.8 per cent boost on Sunday.
In a statement, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the figures were evidence the network was working well.
“Fifty cent fares are encouraging more people to get on board public transport, especially as global pressures continue to drive up the cost of driving a car,” he said.
“It’s never been easier and more affordable to get around our city, with an extra 160,000 bus services every year as part of our new bus network.”
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