Halving of Airtrain fares labelled a ‘cynical’ election vote grab

Queensland’s opposition has branded Labor’s move to temporarily reduce Airtrain fares just two months before voters cast their ballots as a “cynical” election ploy that lacks a long-term fix to the overpriced service.

On Saturday, the Miles government announced a six-month halving of Airtrain fares to and from Brisbane Airport from August 5, after a years-long attempt to wrest control of the line from the UK-based private operator.

The cost of a one-way trip between Central and the airport will drop from $21.90 to $10.95 during the six-month trial.

The six-month trial, negotiated between the state government and Airtrain, will result in the cost of a one-way trip between Central and the airport falling from $21.90 to $10.95.

Brisbane Times revealed in 2022 the state government was negotiating to bring Airtrain’s 35-year exclusivity agreement, signed by the Borbidge Liberal-National Coalition government in 1998, to a premature end.

Those negotiations under former transport minister Mark Bailey broke down in November, but his successor, Bart Mellish, said on Saturday Labor would “keep working on a long-term solution for public transport to the airport”.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said while the LNP would not stand in the way of any cost-of-living relief, Queenslanders would be “cynical about another short-term announcement” ahead of the October state election.

“The government’s been talking now for years about the Airtrain, and until we deal with the issue at hand, that is the agreement that doesn’t allow consumers to be able to afford the train at an affordable price,” he said.

“A short-term pre-election contribution doesn’t deliver the long-term structural reform that Queenslanders need to be able to afford to use it.”

Mellish said the government and Airtrain were still “miles apart” in terms of how much it might cost to bring the contract to a premature end.

Still, Treasurer Cameron Dick said the government still hoped to negotiate a way out of the contract.

“It’s a dud deal done by a dud LNP government that’s dudded Queenslanders – that’s the reality about this deal,” he said.

“It’s not a public sector line. It’s not a public rail line. It’s a private rail line, which means it’s so hard for the government to provide benefits to Queenslanders using this line.”

Airtrain chief executive Chris Basche said they had worked closely with TMR to participate in the six-month trial.

“Passenger volumes have been growing very strongly and this initiative will encourage even more people to use Airtrain,” he said.

Asked whether an LNP government would be able to break the contract with Airtrain, Crisafulli was not definitive.

“If we have the attitude and discipline to sit down with the Airtrain provider, the airport and the Department of Transport and Main Roads, we can deliver long-term structural reform, which will benefit commuters,” he said.

The 8.5-kilometre train line was completed in 2001 for about $200 million and, in return for building the infrastructure, Airtrain was promised 35 years’ worth of fares.

Patronage never lived up to expectations, and UK pension fund Universities Superannuation Scheme bought Airtrain for $109 million in 2012.

But network changes due to the introduction of Cross River Rail would result in the loss of one of Airtrain’s selling points – a direct connection to the Gold Coast.

That link not only formed a major part of Airtrain’s business case, but was also, it was understood, part of its contract with the Queensland government.

That raised the prospect of legal action against the government, which started the high-level negotiations to bring Airtrain into public hands before the contract’s end.

Critics point to the price – $21.90 one way to and from Central Station – as an impediment to patronage, with taxis and rideshares often a cheaper option, particularly for multiple passengers.

Saturday’s Airtrain announcement came six days after Premier Steven Miles announced a flat 50¢ fare for all Translink trips across the state for six months, also from August 5.