Brisbane Airtrain service to Ipswich line

[albatross710]

I was just researching for a journey from the Airport on Thursday afternoon and notice that there is an Airtrain service that continues onto the Ipswich line to Redbank. Previously I thought that all Airtrain services headed to the Gold Coast.

The service Departs Brisbane Domestic 3:45pm.

I didn't see any other regular services onto or from the Ipswich line so I guess this must just be a repositioning of the rolling stock.

Anyway, looks like one less connection for me this week.

Alby

 

[medhead]

good news for the direct train.

Just thought I'd mention that I was looking at the Courier Mail online today. There was a story about how great that public transport card is, (forgot the name of the card, sorry). One of the comments on the story said something about "switching" trains at central if going to the airport to save money. I assume this means that you exit and re enter at central, thus being charged a normal fare to central and then the airtrain fare from central, instead of the airtrain fare from where you started (in your case Ipswich?).

Depending on the other stations and the time available it might even be possible to do this at a station closer to the airport. :?:

 

[mh75]

While most trains from Brisbane Airport head to the Gold Goast, there are a few odd ones like the afternoon one to Redbank, generally during Peak Hour.

There are a few odd things in the fare structure of tickets to/from the Airport whether with paper tickets or using Go-Card, firstly there is no discount on using Go-Card, secondly Airtrain uses a point to point fare structure that predates the Zone structure, so it can be cheaper to get a ticket to Central, and then use Go-Card from there

Cheapest thing to do is to book a ticket to Central online and save 10%, and you can also get an open ended return ticket. Now the big trick is to get a ticket to Central and carefully read what the ticket says, it is the same Zone 1-2 + Airport Ticket if you go to Central, as to somewhere like Toowong, even though they will charge you more for a ticket to Toowong

 

[Mal]

Just thought I'd mention that I was looking at the Courier Mail online today. There was a story about how great that public transport card is, (forgot the name of the card, sorry). One of the comments on the story said something about "switching" trains at central if going to the airport to save money. I assume this means that you exit and re enter at central, thus being charged a normal fare to central and then the airtrain fare from central, instead of the airtrain fare from where you started (in your case Ipswich?).

Yeah, the Airtrain consortium dictate the fares from the Airport to anywhere on the rail network. This doesn't tally with Translink fares on the network, so problems can occur. This occurs with both goCard and paper ticket fares.

So trips using a goCard are a rip-off unless you go to one of the Airtrain stations (Eagle Junction, Fortitude Valley, Central, Roma Street, Southbank and perhaps South Brisbane?). If you go further than any of these, then tapping off and re-tapping on normally at one of the stations above gives a better price for the journey.

The differences aren't huge, and most people won't care... but it has raised attention before.

 

[JeniSkunk]

Yeah, the Airtrain consortium dictate the fares from the Airport to anywhere on the rail network. This doesn't tally with Translink fares on the network, so problems can occur. This occurs with both goCard and paper ticket fares.

So trips using a goCard are a rip-off unless you go to one of the Airtrain stations (Eagle Junction, Fortitude Valley, Central, Roma Street, Southbank and perhaps South Brisbane?). If you go further than any of these, then tapping off and re-tapping on normally at one of the stations above gives a better price for the journey.

The differences aren't huge, and most people won't care... but it has raised attention before.

Bowen Hills is also a station that Airtrain stops at.

The best station for getting the most value for money out of an Airtrain fare is Roma Street, as its same $15 fare for Brisbane Airport to Eagle Junction as it is Brisbane Airport to Roma Street. So if you're doing Brisbane CBD to the airport use Roma Street for the transfer from Translink to Airtrain.

Jenifur Charne

 

[Mal]

Bowen Hills is also a station that Airtrain stops at.

The best station for getting the most value for money out of an Airtrain fare is Roma Street, as its same $15 fare for Brisbane Airport to Eagle Junction as it is Brisbane Airport to Roma Street. So if you're doing Brisbane CBD to the airport use Roma Street for the transfer from Translink to Airtrain.

Yeah, forgot about Bowen Hills. Also as Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, Central, Roma Street and South Brisbane stations are all in the Zone 1 Translink area, they are all good stations to transfer at depending on the rail line required.

Eagle Junction is in Translink Zone 2. So definitely not a good place to "tap off, then on" at for most people.

Anyway, the zonal system used by Airtrain is stupid, the 10% off for online purchases of tickets from Airtrain is good in some scenarios, but bad in others.

I wish it was much simpler - but it isn't.

 

[serfty]

While most trains from Brisbane Airport head to the Gold Goast, there are a few odd ones like the afternoon one to Redbank, generally during Peak Hour. ..

Thankyou for the information mh75

... and welcome to FT

[aside]
Note that Bowen Hills is about a 10 minute walk from the Breakky Ck Hotel
[/aside]

 

[JeniSkunk]

Another thing that makes Airtrain a ripoff is they do not do concession fares for pensioners.

Jenifur Charne