Public Transport to our airports - what's cheapest?

[Jacques Vert]

So I had to deactivate +1's mobile Myki, apply for a refund and then install a new Myki with a general concession based on her NSW Seniors Card (but not a Seniors Myki as you need a Vic seniors card for that). What a process! Pity they don't explain the different types of concessions more clearly on the App and website.

 

[Flyfrequently]

What a process! Pity they don't explain the different types of concessions more clearly on the App and website.

Welcome to Victoria @Jacques Vert

 

[SYD]

I showed my interstates senior card at Southern Cross station and was provided a new Myki card with. Concession handwritten on the back of it and the remaining balance on my old card transferred over

It’s programmed to enable the Concession level fare = max $5.50 per day. This you can see on the machines when you go to recharge it

You can buy a concession card from the machines also. Obviously an honour system and you can be asked to provide proof of age when using one. It makes a double beep when you “touch on”. So everyone on the tram knows how old you are….

 

[kpc]

Surely the workers at Sydney airport would just catch the train to Mascot, followed by the bus to the airport?

Might be behind a pay wall:

State reaps $800m from extra charge on airport train passengers over decade

The $17.92 station access fee for an adult passenger, which is charged on top of a train fare, hits low-paid workers at Sydney Airport the hardest financially.

www.smh.com.au

"The NSW government has collected almost $800 million from extra fees charged to passengers who pass through station gates at Sydney Airport over the past decade, sparking fresh calls for some of it to be used to cut charges for thousands of workers who catch the train there.
Accounts filed by the private operator of the terminal stations on the T8 Airport line show it paid almost $110 million to the government from so-called station access fees in the 12 months to June. It takes the total amount that has flowed into the state’s coffers from the charges to $796 million over the past 10 years."

 

[clifford]

"The NSW government has collected almost $800 million from extra fees charged to passengers who pass through station gates at Sydney Airport over the past decade, sparking fresh calls for some of it to be used to cut charges for thousands of workers who catch the train there.
Accounts filed by the private operator of the terminal stations on the T8 Airport line show it paid almost $110 million to the government from so-called station access fees in the 12 months to June. It takes the total amount that has flowed into the state’s coffers from the charges to $796 million over the past 10 years."

And do you think the NSW Govt is going to change this any time soon.

Gravy trains are few and far between, so you don't let them go without a quid pro quo.

 

[moa999]

The NSW government has collected almost $800 million from extra fees charged to passengers who pass through station

Fairly misleading article given they don't mention how much the NSW Govt pays to remove the surcharges that are still in the contract at Mascot and Green Square
(Both areas where usage of the line and population has exploded as the area is developed)

My understanding is it's somewhat higher than what the Govt collects from the airport stations.

Both payments expire in early 2030.

 

[mrsterryn]

Fairly misleading article given they don't mention how much the NSW Govt pays to remove the surcharges that are still in the contract at Mascot and Green Square
(Both areas where usage of the line and population has exploded as the area is developed)

My understanding is it's somewhat higher than what the Govt collects from the airport stations.

Both payments expire in early 2030.

As a local it was great when they took away the gate charge on green square and mascot.

 

[kpc]

As a local it was great when they took away the gate charge on green square and mascot.

Agree. Unless I'm running really late, I always take the train to Mascot, then bus to Domestic and vv (after the Opal card with low balance loop hole was finally closed!). I have walked from Mascot station to Domestic once before but was so drenched in sweat that I had to head straight to the showers in the lounge at the airport!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Both payments expire in early 2030.

(((Re SYD Airport train system gate fee))).
Do you really think the gov will drop the commissisiare and give Airportlink to someone else or take it back?

 

[AYP]

Interested by a recent post in the SkyBus discussion, I've just spent too long looking at transport to/from airports. Arguably Adelaide has the easiest/cheapest service at $3.70 and a direct bus to the CBD. Brisbane also takes the cake for cheapest parking with Sydney parking being more than some return flights for a Jetstar/Tiger weekend away. Below are the results:

Comparison of Fastest and Cheapest Public Transport services to/from major Australian airports. The services must be regularly scheduled (ie. be a timetabled service to count). Prices and times were sourced from each cities transit website.

For comparison the cheapest weekend parking (Friday 6pm until Sunday 9pm searching using a random weekend in May) attached to the terminal (ie. within walking distance) has been included below each airport.

Adelaide Airport (to Rundle Mall)
Fastest - Direct Bus - 21 minutes - $3.70
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $85

Brisbane Airport (to Queen St Mall)
Fastest - Direct Train - 36 minutes (includes 12 mins walking) - $19
Cheapest - 3x Busses via DFO (free shuttle bus) and Toombul - 1hr 16 minutes - $4.03
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $39

Cairns Airport (to CBD)
Cheapest - Paid Shuttle ($6) to Bus ($2.20) into CBD - 29 minutes - $8.20
(No other scheduled public transport services operate)
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $55

Canberra Airport (to Canberra Centre)
Fastest - Direct Bus - 16 minutes - $4.80
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $73

Darwin Airport (to CBD)
Cheapest - 2x Busses - 1hr 10minutes - $3
Note : Only 5-6 services per day - stop is located at Long Stay Car park 700m from terminal with free shuttle bus to terminal
(No other scheduled public transport services operate)
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $72

Gold Coast Airport (to Surfers Paradise)
Fastest - SkyBus - ~35 minutes - $21
Cheapest - Bus and Tram - 45 minutes - $4.03
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $59

Hobart Airport (to CBD)
Fastest - SkyBus - ~30 minutes - $19.75
(No other scheduled public transport services operate)
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $54

Melbourne Airport (to Melbourne CBD)
Fastest - SkyBus - ~40 minutes - $19.75
Cheapest - Bus and Train via Broadmeadows - 1hr 20 minutes - $4.40
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $85

Perth Airport (to Elizabeth Quay)
Fastest- Direct Bus - 40 minutes - $4.80
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $71.15

Sydney Airport (to Circular Quay)
Fastest - Direct Train - 27 minutes - $16.77
Cheapest - 2x Busses via Westfield Eastgardens - 1hr 11minutes - $4.71
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $114

Sunshine Coast Airport (to Mooloolaba)
Fastest- 2x Busses via Maroochydore - 49 minutes - $3.31
(No other scheduled public transport services operate)
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $52

If I've missed something, made an error or you've found a better/cheaper way - please feel free to share

South East Queensland eg BNE OOL MCY airports the public transport contactless fares reduced to $0.50 cents and this includes up to four transfers between bus train ferry up to 60mins between each service. Also worth noting: the BNE free Skygate DFO loop service operates between 06:00-18:00; and the Brisbane Airport Airtrain (mentioned in the story $19 o/w) does not operate 24hrs, city to airport services operate between 04:30 and 22:00. There's a coach operator named Con-x-ion which I used once, Con-x-ion was THE MOST pleasant no-stress journey to the airport I'd ever had; keep them in mind if there's rail track work!

 

[moa999]

(((Re SYD Airport train system gate fee))).
Do you really think the gov will drop the commissisiare and give Airportlink to someone else or take it back?

No-one really knows.
But particularly if there isn't a gate fee at WSI Airport (there isn't a private party involved in funding), then I suspect there will be a lot of pressure for SYD to have the same..

 

[pangwen]

South East Queensland eg BNE OOL MCY airports the public transport contactless fares reduced to $0.50 cents and this includes up to four transfers between bus train ferry up to 60mins between each service

Some minor clarifications:
- The only service going to (near) BNE that is $0.50 is to 590 at DFO. This bus doesn't go to the terminals, you need to catch a free shuttle operated by BAC to do that. The Airtrain fare is not $0.50
- The maximum number of transfers you can make is 3, not 4. Each journey of $0.50 can have up to 4 trips, between each of which you have 60 minutes to transfer. There are also maximum journey time restrictions which may come into play especially if you are making multiple transfers.

 

[outthere1000]

South East Queensland eg BNE OOL MCY airports the public transport contactless fares reduced to $0.50 cents and this includes up to four transfers between bus train ferry up to 60mins between each service

Canberra has the R3 bus from the airport to the city and on to Belconnen, +/- every 15 minutes, and is free off-peak for interstate seniors on production of one's seniors' card. I think a reduced fare at peak times. Adelaide airport buses are free for SA Seniors.

 

[AIRwin]

the BNE free Skygate DFO loop service operates between 06:00-18:00

08:30 on weekends

 

[elanshin]

After working from MEL dom J for half the day, decided to try Broadmeadow route for the first time. It's reasonably straightforward but adds on about 20-40 minutes during the daytime to the CBD based on connection timing.

(((Re SYD Airport train system gate fee))).
Do you really think the gov will drop the commissisiare and give Airportlink to someone else or take it back?

I think the Gov will officially take it back, but still keep a gate fee.

 

[Larko1]

08:30 on weekends

And it's 40 mins between buses.

 

[AIRwin]

And it's 40 mins between buses.

Frequency of Skygate shuttle is 30 minutes even on weekends:

https://www.bne.com.au/media/21428/download?inline