Wouldn’t that be amazing!
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Is it fair to say there is a general consensus on the forum at this time to build a Skygate station?
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I look forward to the vehicles that will have “Brisbane Actual Metro” labels posted all over them. 
Only if it is built at least partially through value capture.
I don’t think they can value capture in this case. Airports are Federal land and as such a State cannot tax federal land to recover the fee.
And a concern would be about how the fee was collected. It might be a station exit fee, which would then fall on passengers.
Is Skygate DFO on Federal land?
Does the suburb of Brisbane Airport mean everything contained in it is zoned as one?
They could literally just sign an agreement and contribute money to the construction directly.
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The whole of the airport area is subject to Commonwealth jurisdiction, which is why Skygate could be built in the middle of nowhere against all good town planning considerations, and why the Woolworths is open 24 hours a day, outside Queensland retail trading hours.
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From the Archives
https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100464
Published Saturday, 01 June, 2024 at 10:21 AM
(Highlighting added, showing that a subsidy was applied and funded)
Half-price train tickets to Brisbane Airport
- The Miles Government will cut Airtrain ticket prices in half, with the addition of Airport rail services to be included in the massive cost of living relief initiatives on offer across the network.
- Half-price tickets on Airtrain services will be available from 5 August 2024 for 6 months offering more savings to Queenslanders.
- Significantly reducing the cost of catching the train will encourage more people to leave the car at home busting road congestion and providing a cheap, fast and reliable alternative to Queenslanders.
The Miles Government is leading the nation by delivering another massive cost of living relief initiative to Queensland commuters, and busting congestion.
Savings are set to soar, with half-price Airtrain tickets now part of the Queensland Government’s cost busting 6-month initiative across the public transport network.
The Miles Government has negotiated a deal with Airtrain, further bolstering cost of living savings for commuters.
From 5 August 2024, half-price train tickets will be available to Brisbane Airport terminals for a 6-month trial period.
This initiative will result in real savings for Queenslanders, with ticket prices reduced from $21.90 to only $10.95 for go card and EMV and $11 for paper tickets when traveling from Central Station to the Airport.
The reduction of Airtrain fares is just the latest cost-of-living relief initiative the Miles Government has offered to public transport users, having earlier this week announced 50 cent fares on all Translink services across the state from 5 August.
With Airtrain now included in this initiative, this means that commuters can travel on the network, from as far as the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast to the Airport for as little as $11.50.
Significantly reducing the cost of public transport to the Airport will encourage more commuters to hop on board the Airtrain, reducing the pressure on the road network and busting road congestion.
In an effort to better enhance ticketing availability and extending purchase options for workers, work is underway for Airport staff tickets to soon be available at Queensland Rail’s Central Station (worker tickets are currently only available at Brisbane Airport).
Airtrain’s Worker Ticket is included in the significant price reductions, with Weekly Worker Ticket to reduce from $43 to $21.50 and workers Book of 20 tickets reducing from $120 to $60.
Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:
“I am listening to Queenslanders which is why we worked hard to come to an agreement with Airtrain to reduce the cost of travel to Brisbane Airport.
“Rail travel to the terminals will now be included in our six-month cost-busting public transport trial, meaning travellers and workers will pay less to get to the airport.
“We are leading the nation in delivering cost of living relief initiatives and we know this will provide further help to commuters.
“This initiative, combined with our 50 cent fares on Translink services, will make taking public transport more affordable and attractive to Queenslanders and tourists.
“There has never been a better time to leave the car and the stress of airport parking behind and enjoy the half-price train trip instead.
“We’ve got a growing population, with more cars on our roads and more people visiting our sunny state by the day - this initiative is a great way to showcase our public transport network and reduce pressure on our roads.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier and Treasurer Cameron Dick:
“By delivering cost of living relief no matter where people work, we are doing what matters to Queenslanders.
“In a state as big as Queensland, that is important.
“20,000 people work in the airport precinct, and tens of thousands more Queenslanders use Brisbane airport to connect with their jobs and with family.
“Including Airtrain in our six-month trial on cheaper tickets makes perfect sense, but this has taken longer to achieve because of the dud deal the LNP negotiated with Airtrain.
“It’s only Labor Governments that deliver infrastructure in the way that matters to Queenslanders.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish:
“The Miles Government is providing critical cost of living relief to Queenslanders.
“This initiative will mean money in the pockets of Queenslanders including our valuable workers based out of the Brisbane airport.
“We want to encourage more people to use public transport and enjoy stress free transport to the airport, from the Gold Coast, the Sunny Coast or from Brisbane.”
“The Airtrain deal was negotiated by the former LNP government led by Rob Borbidge.
“Former Queensland Liberal Deputy Premier, Joan Sheldon said:
“The Airtrain Citylink was definitely, totally, all the coalition Government’s initiative. I actually negotiated that myself.” (Hansard – 20 July 2000)
“Thanks to the LNP, Queenslanders have had to put up with a 35-year contract that has cost Queenslanders.
“It is the Miles Labor Government who recognised Queenslanders were being duped, and brokered this new deal with Airtrain.
“We will keep working on a long term solution for public transport to the airport, to provide the best value for money for Queenslanders.
For information on Airtrain services visit www.airtrain.com.au.
ENDS
What’s with the old media release?
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Metro is making the point that the Government could again implement a subsidised Airtrain fare, as an alternative to buying out the contract.
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Does that mean that any public transport changes at Skygate must be approved by the relevant Federal minister then?
If the BCC is wanting to add a bus to Skygate would only need Federal support then, not BAC’s?
Adding buses to Skygate doesn’t have anything to do with BAC - if anything, BAC would probably welcome further transport options between the Airport Precinct and the wider city.
The sticking point is Airtrain.
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Brisbane’s “rip-off” airport shuttle service paid zero income tax to Australia while parking its assets overseas, Greens MP Michael Berkman has said.
Financial reports by USS Axle, which owns the Brisbane AirTrain service, show the company paid zero income tax between 2015 and 2025 financial years.
USS Axle’s parent company, Universities Superannuation Scheme, is based in the United Kingdom and holds significant international assets.
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The Greens area really putting the boot into Airtrain!
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Has Airtrain upped it’s prices recently? They sit at $23.30 now.
Also, when Brisbane Airport gets T3 - will we see a third AirTrain stations be added?
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No additional station is in the plans for T3 as far as I know. Domestic train station would need to be heavily reworked to allow track extension too, I can see why they don’t want to touch it.
It’ll be over 1km walk from the furthest gates to Domestic station. Max today with “T2” is more like 600m, it’ll be basically that just to get from the station to the terminal. So hopefully some very well maintained moving walkways are in the plans.
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A previous Airport Master Plan I saw had a separate people mover system connecting the different terminals with carparks and other airport locations. I haven’t seen it in recent plans though.
As you say, moving walkways or something similar would probably be necessary to get people from the Domestic Terminal station to the new terminal. Would seem pretty clunky since I gather that is intended to be the primary terminal.
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