New Cairns bus from Airport to CBD for 50c

[markis10]

Cairns Airport bus service ready to roll
New Cairns Airport Bus route confirmed, connecting the airport and the heart of the CBD by public transport for the first time.
Thanks to the Crisafulli Government’s Permanent 50 Cent Fares commuters and visitors will be able to travel between the airport and CBD for just 50 cents.
The new Cairns Airport Bus is part of the Crisafulli Government’s plan to deliver a better lifestyle through a stronger economy, after a decade of decline under the former Labor Government.  
The Crisafulli Government is delivering for Far North Queensland with a new bus route connecting Cairns Airport to the heart of the city confirmed following community consultation.

The route will travel along Lake Street and serve key destinations including Cairns Airport, Cairns Hospital, Cairns Private Hospital, Cairns City bus station and Cairns Lagoon, providing convenient connections to accommodation, attractions and the wider public transport network.

Route 100 will operate from 4am to 10:30pm, seven days a week (excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day), with services every 30 minutes throughout the day. The first service will depart Cairns Lagoon at 4am, with the final service departing the airport at 10pm.

Throughout their decade of decline, the former State Labor Government put a new airport bus service in the too hard basket, ignoring Cairns’ growing population and tourism industry, leaving locals and visitors without a reliable public transport link between the airport and the CBD.

The brand-new bus service, which will commence by the end of the year, is the first time Cairns Airport and the heart of the city will be connected public transport, and – thanks to the LNP’s Permanent 50 Cent Fares– each trip will be just 50 cents.

The new Cairns Airport bus service is part of the Crisafulli Government's plan to deliver a better lifestyle through a stronger economy and ensure Queensland's growing regions have the transport connections they need.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the introduction of this service responded to calls from the community and industry for public transport access to Cairns Airport.

“The fact there has not already been a dedicated airport bus service connecting Cairns Airport with the CBD is yet another example of the former Labor Government failing to keep pace with the needs of growing regional Queensland communities,” Minister Mickelberg said.

“Cairns is one of Australia's premier tourism destinations, welcoming millions of visitors every year, yet travellers and airport workers have been left without a direct, affordable public transport connection.

“That's why the Crisafulli Government is getting on with the job of delivering this new airport bus service, giving locals and visitors a reliable, convenient and affordable way to travel.

“This is another example of the Crisafulli Government delivering the transport infrastructure and services Queenslanders need after a decade of Labor neglect.”

Member for Barron River Bree James said the new service was a major win for Cairns residents, local businesses and the tourism industry.

"Cairns Airport is the gateway to Tropical North Queensland, and this new service will make it easier than ever for people to get where they need to go," Ms James said.

"Importantly, Route 100 will connect key destinations including our hospitals, the city centre and Cairns Lagoon, making it a valuable service for residents as well as visitors.

"Whether you're a visitor arriving in Cairns, a local resident heading to the airport, or an airport worker travelling to and from work, this service will provide a simple and affordable transport option.

"The Crisafulli Government is focused on delivering practical improvements that make life easier for Queenslanders, and this is another great outcome for our community.

"I'm proud to support this service and look forward to seeing locals and visitors benefiting from better connectivity across Cairns."

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/105629

 

[kpc]

Will there be space for large bags? Can you pay the 50c fare by credit card?

 

[markis10]

Tap and go with credit/debit card has been a feature of translink services in QLD for some time

 

[clifford]

Cairns Airport bus service ready to roll

I'm assuming you're quoting from the Govt's press release, or....

 

[anat0l]

I wonder if instituting this service required paying off anyone, e.g. shuttle service companies, taxis, etc.?

Will there be space for large bags?

Unless it's a special fleet of buses, I'm going to guess it's "no". They'd be wise to do so, but more bag racks mean less seats.

Can you pay the 50c fare by credit card?

Tap and go with credit/debit card has been a feature of translink services in QLD for some time

Only SEQ fares can use tap and go with a contactless card.

Cairns fares are apparently paper tickets, but according to the Translink website you can purchase a ticket using credit or debit card onboard a bus. They even have $1.00 day tickets and $5.00 week tickets available.

go cards can't be used in Cairns.

 

[markis10]

I'm assuming you're quoting from the Govt's press release, or....

Given it’s linked at the end of the post……..

 

[markis10]

Only SEQ fares can use tap and go with a contactless card.

Still tap and go, you just get a receipt! No go card but they’re on their way out anyway. In case folk are wondering since it’s buried in the ministers statement, service commences before the end of the year, I suppose they need time to get the bus stops in place, connect the aircon etc, hang on we are not in the Middle East, scrap the aircon.

 

[Saab34]

Cairns has big clusters of arrivals generally morning, arvo and evening. I’d imagine one bus every 30 minutes will be an issue with 5 A321s rolling on in at the same time.

This will be quite popular, but I think it’s going to be an issue on the demand side. Probably need to run them every 10/15 minutes during about 2/3 selected hours of the day.

 

[jastel]

Good luck with that.
Great Political announcement but -

No drivers for some normal bus routes now. Often cancelled. Never on time.
And wait till you see who you get to ride with!

At $20 toll per commercial coach each bus trip would need to be 3/4 full just to cover the Airport Toll, let alone drivers wages, cost of bus, cleaning, diesel....
But wait! This special bus doesn't go through a toll gate....yet.
Discrimination against other Transport Providers?
Airport doing something nice for free?

As the speed limit is now 60kmh on the road the whole safety argument is moot. No different level of danger than most other streets now.

Another great waste of taxpayers money to fix a nearly non existent problem with no business case ever being made for it...

As people pointed out to the crowing local politicians, BRISBANE AIRPORT doesnt have a 50c bus to the airport...so why do Cairns and Townsville need one.

Im sure most of Cairns would rather a few more Police cars or nurses instead.

 

[markis10]

As people pointed out to the crowing local politicians, BRISBANE AIRPORT doesnt have a 50c bus to the airport...so why do Cairns and Townsville need one.

Brisbane has quite a few 50c busses to the airport in the form of the 590 from toombul or garden city.

 

[Saab34]

I was at the DFO Skygate transfer the other week and while waiting I noted the 590 Bus was full with standing also. Seems quite popular.

 

[jastel]

Ok then, direct ones like we are talking about here...a couple of stops, not via Skygate which is not really "the Airport"

Skygate is very popular. some cheapskates use it to go the airport as well.

 

[markis10]

Ok then, direct ones like we are talking about here...a couple of stops, not via Skygate which is not really "the Airport"

Skygate is very popular. some cheapskates use it to go the airport as well.

Toombul to DFO is a couple of stops, and Townsville of course have the 222 which is also 50c

 

[Captain Halliday]

Brisbane has quite a few 50c busses to the airport in the form of the 590 from toombul or garden city.

For the record, and so future readers don’t get caught out, the 590 bus does not go to what most people would consider to be Brisbane Airport - one of the two terminals.

The comparison with the recently announced Cairns service is therefore not apples with apples IMO.

The 590 bus does go to to the suburb called Brisbane Airport, but people departing either terminal will still need an additional mode of transport.

As you can see from the map below, the bus doesn’t get anywhere near the international terminal.

From the nearest bus stop (DFO) the international terminal is a further 4.9km and domestic is 6.3km.

 

[jastel]

DFO is not the airport but.

Be like the Cairns bus dropping you at Sheridan St corner like they do now. There is no free bus the rest of the way in Cairns.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

BNE is an exception for capital cities on the east coast as MEL, SYD, ADL all have public bus options so that is something perhaps they should include in BNE in the future

 

[Captain Halliday]

BNE is an exception for capital cities on the east coast as MEL, SYD, ADL all have public bus options so that is something perhaps they should include in BNE in the future

Not until 2036 unless the Qld Government is prepared to make what would likely be a very large compensation payment.

This is because Airtrain has exclusivity on public transport to Brisbane airport until 2036.

 

[jastel]

Look Im not against buses per se...I actually raised this topic a few months ago after the Townsville bus started, local rumours were we are going to get one as well.

But the facts are very few people will use it more than once or twice a year, and it is a waste of taxpayers money, especially at the frequency stated. A few trips a day maybe a case can be made for it...but not at 4am continuously till 10pm.

Cairns still has a small town mentality, only students and the elderly catch buses, everyone else drives and complains about the lack (and price) of parking the car.


As Capt said above - Airtrain stops Brisbane having one.

 

[anat0l]

Not until 2036 unless the Qld Government is prepared to make what would likely be a very large compensation payment.

This is because Airtrain has exclusivity on public transport to Brisbane airport until 2036.

Either that or convince the Australian government to seize the Airtrain by legislation. Or plant some dirt on the Airtrain execs so they can get out of the contract scot free or force the company to disband.

So, yeah, basically not happening.

Another classic case of some bonehead stuffy nutcase getting away with lots of moolah by mortgaging the future which they don't have to deal with.

Cairns could only get a public transport bus - no commuter trains, no existing viable tracks and suffice to say building a light rail would be massively an overpriced idea (though it would have damn well rubbed up someone's ego to the max if it happened). So... there's one. Suffice to say it will be interesting to see how well it is used, let alone whether all the bluster about how much Cairns and its tourism/industry will actually grow to bring in the predicted air traffic growth (preferably without having to rely on the AAIF crutch).

 

[Aussie_flyer]

AirTrain can't be considered public transport in my view unless it is the same price as other public transport, same in Sydney with its hideous train prices. I am always on that local bus to Mascot