REDLANDS, Logan and Scenic Rim travellers will benefit from an extension to the state government's public transport fare freeze.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said a scheduled price hike would be postponed until July, with work from home arrangements impacting public transport use amid the COVID surge.
Fares are normally adusted each January in line with the consumer price index, but have not changed since January 2021.
"We did this coupled with additional bus and train services ... so that public transport passengers would know there were more seats available to allow for social distancing," Mr Bailey said.
"The emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and efforts of Queenslanders to work from home to slow the spread of virus have had a substantial impact on public transportation use.
"In recognition of this, the scheduled fare increase will be implemented in July 2022 instead, to support Queenslanders through this difficult time."
Public transport services could be impacted in coming weeks, as Queensland Rail and Translink closely monitor how COVID spread on busses and trains is impacting staff availability.
Mr Bailey said a range of contingency measures were being considered, but so far there had been minimal disruption to services.
Translink reported a significant downturn in patronage during 2020 after two years of record public transport use in Queensland.
"A delay in implementing the fare increase will support Queenslanders still using public transport services," Mr Bailey said.
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