Data has been released showing that taxpayers are now paying $40 for every trip taken through the South East Queensland train line despite a substantial decrease in commuters since the beginning of the Pandemic.
The subsidy was expected to decrease to $24.21 for rail, $3.42 for bus and $4.21 for light rail by 2023-24, however, Queensland Transport Minister- Mark Bailey, stated,
“It is difficult to accurately predict future patronage levels, with estimates subject to a number of assumptions including vaccination levels and the timing of the opening of Australia’s international borders to students and tourists, as well as population growth and the benefits of the Olympics being secured for Queensland in 2032”