Public Transport to our airports - what's cheapest?

[clifford]

So theoretically you can travel from QLD to NSW for 50¢

Well, not theoretically.

 

[Quickstatus]

they kept the tolls to fund the Harbour Tunnel, and now the same again for the Western Harbour Tunnel.

Im all for tolling roads and related critical bottlenecks. Increasingly city roads should have more public transport

 

[Jacques Vert]

Train to/from SYD from city, inner west, east, inner south or lower north shore only ever makes financial sense (costs less than other options) if it is a single person travelling to/from airport at peak time (when traffic is bad) as once you add a second person Uber is cheaper and way less hassle.

Unless you have a gold opal

 

[Jacques Vert]

Noting that whilst Sydney Harbour Bridge Toll was not eliminated it was reduced to one way only once paid off.

IIRC, the fee was changed to one-way only long before the loan was paid off and was doubled to allow for the change. Saved money by reducing the number of toll collectors and sped up traffic flow in one direction. At that time the toll was costing more to collect than the amount raised.

I can remember people discussing crossing the bridge in the free direction and returning via the Gladesville Bridge to avoid the toll.

 

[Lynda2475]

Unless you have a gold opal

Gold Opal doesn't avoid the station access fee, you save $2 bringing it down to $15.50 platform access + your usual $2.50 fare so its hardly a bargain at $18 one way per person.

I can get an Uber to airport for $30 (in about under 20 mins, 30mins at peak time) and that includes the tunnel toll, so even two pensioners travelling from mine would have to take a bus to nearest station + train to Central station + train to airport would still pay $36 (and hour or more in time) so my statement stands, cheaper to not take PT if there is ore than 1 person and you live in Sydney proper.

At that time the toll was costing more to collect than the amount raised.

Cant find any evidence to support this claim.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Gold Opal doesn't avoid the station access fee, you save $2 bringing it down to $15.50 platform access + your usual $2.50 fare so its hardly a bargain at $18 one way per person.

I can get an Uber to airport for $30 (in about under 20 mins, 30mins at peak time) and that includes the tunnel toll, so even two pensioners travelling from mine would have to take a bus to nearest station + train to Central station + train to airport would still pay $36 (and hour or more in time) so my statement stands, cheaper to not take PT if there is ore than 1 person and you live in Sydney proper.

Of course you are correct. I misread your post and thought you were referring to Uber versus the Train to Mascot then the Bus from there. Sorry.

 

[SYD]

Noting that whilst Sydney Harbour Bridge Toll was not eliminated it was reduced to one way only once paid off.

OT, but for as long as I can remember, there hasn’t been a north bound toll on the SHB. It was 20c south bound for years and was about to be scrapped when the token debt was paid off but was retained in line with the south bound harbour tunnel toll.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Cant find any evidence to support this claim.

I don't have evidence. I started my post by saying IIRC.

I used to drive across the bridge a number of times per week back when there were toll booths at both ends. There were no automatic, drive through type "gates"; each toll booth had a person there to collect cash and give change as necessary. I can remember one of the reasons given for changing the tolls to one-way was because the wages and other costs had become more than the revenue being raised. Perhaps my memory is faulty, perhaps not, but that is what I remember.

 

[SYD]

I don't have evidence. I started my post by saying IIRC.

I used to drive across the bridge a number of times per week back when there were toll booths at both ends. There were no automatic, drive through type "gates"; each toll booth had a person there to collect cash and give change as necessary. I can remember one of the reasons given for changing the tolls to one-way was because the wages and other costs had become more than the revenue being raised. Perhaps my memory is faulty, perhaps not, but that is what I remember.

The south bound toll booths on the Bradfield Hwy used to be on the southern end (and adjustable for traffic flow). South bound Cahill Express way booths were on the Nth Sydney side. My memory goes back to the ‘80s (and SYD+1 long before! ).

I can only assume the one way toll South was introduced from the beginning because it was the “Kowloon” residents who benefited the most?

 

[Jacques Vert]

The south bound toll booths on the Bradfield Hwy used to be on the southern end (and adjustable for traffic flow). South bound Cahill Express way booths were on the Nth Sydney side. My memory goes back to the ‘80s (and SYD+1 long before! ).

I can only assume the one way toll South was introduced from the beginning because it was the “Kowloon” residents who benefited the most?

The original plan was for trains to run from platforms 1 & 2 at Wynyard, across the eastern side of the bridge (where the Cahill Expressway now is), and continue to the Northern Beaches. As that line was never built, those lanes (and platforms 1 & 2 at Wynyard) were used for trams up until 1958. When they were converted for use by southbound vehicles the toll booths were installed at the northern end. Northbound traffic on the Cahill went under the Bradfield Hwy and did the 270 degree anti-clockwise turn as it does now before entering the toll booths at the southern end of the bridge along with traffic on the Bradfield. As you say the toll booths for southbound traffic on the Bradfield were also at the southern end, adjacent to the ones for north bound traffic.

 

[CMA222]

Yes

I’ve walked many times at night time (especially if winter)

However, it’s no fun in the rain ️ or if running late. So that’s two gin & tonics in the QF lounge that I paid the train operator to “acquire”

Why would you walk (unless its a fitness thing) when the 420 bus passes by Mascot station (well one street away or 3 minutes walk) and goes through the Domestic and International terminals on its normal route to and from its final destination (Burwood) ? There is also the 350 that starts from and on return terminates at the Domestic terminal, going through Mascot station in both directions. If you are using the train to get to/from Mascot station, as mentioned earlier in the thread, the bus fare is a continuation fare, and there is a change of transport mode rebate of $1 each way. So the train/bus combination is the most economic for any number of travellers, avoiding the rip-off airport station gate fee.

 

[SYD]

Why would you walk (unless its a fitness thing) when the 420 bus passes by Mascot station (well one street away or 3 minutes walk) and goes through the Domestic and International terminals on its normal route to and from its final destination (Burwood) ? There is also the 350 that starts from and on return terminates at the Domestic terminal, going through Mascot station in both directions. If you are using the train to get to/from Mascot station, as mentioned earlier in the thread, the bus fare is a continuation fare, and there is a change of transport mode rebate of $1 each way. So the train/bus combination is the most economic for any number of travellers, avoiding the rip-off airport station gate fee.

I caught the 350 home a couple weeks ago and I was surprised how often the 420 (in both directions) was picking up at T3. No brainer to take that to Mascot and onwards if it suits.

 

[AIRwin]

I caught the 350 home a couple weeks ago and I was surprised how often the 420 (in both directions) was picking up at T3. No brainer to take that to Mascot and onwards if it suits.

The bus stop also has an electronic signboard with the countdown to the next bus

 

[Himeno]

Canberra is changing the fare payment system soon. MyWay+ starts in November, with a free fare transition period in October.
Currently an adult cash fare is $5 (pre paid from ticket machines only, Transport Canberra stopped accepting cash on buses during covid) and between $2.32 and $3.22 with MyWay (depending on peak/off peak and how you recharge the myway card).

After MyWay+ starts, I'd be expecting a fare increase. They haven't increased fares since Jan 2019 and had normally been increasing them in Jan every 2nd year.

 

[SeatBackForward]

They say that NZ is going to combine all their different public transport prepaid tix into one, or be able to use visa/mastercard

I was looking up how to use Public Transport from CHC, seems you need a Metrocard or cash. And Metrocards are not sold at the airport or available to pre-purchase and delivery outside NZ. But it lead me down the hole of finding out about the combined travel system - called Motu. Here's the update from June:

The new national system will be called Motu Move. Customers will be able to pay for public transport using contactless debit or credit cards and digital payment methods such as Apple Pay and Google Pay on mobile phones and smart watches, as well as a prepaid Motu Move card and pre-bought tickets

By making payments easier, Motu Move will encourage more people to use public transport more often. The new system will also provide better data on public transport use, which will help Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) to improve their networks in a more targeted way.

Canterbury will be the first region to implement Motu Move starting in Timaru in December 2024, followed by Greater Christchurch as soon as possible in 2025. Rollout will then continue across New Zealand region by region.

The NTS public transport partners are Auckland Transport, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Environment Canterbury, and a Regional Consortium of ten medium and smaller councils that currently use the Bee Card. Those councils are Northland Regional Council, Waikato Regional Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Taranaki Regional Council, Gisborne Regional Council, Horizons Regional Council, Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Nelson City Council, Otago Regional Council, and Invercargill City Council.

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/walking-cycling-and-public-transport/public-transport/national-ticketing-solution/

I'll be in CHC in Jan and Feb 2025, so if I'm lucky this may have been implemented by then.

 

[henrus]

I'll be in CHC in Jan and Feb 2025, so if I'm lucky this may have been implemented by then.

I wouldn’t hold your breath for that… good news is you can get cash out of the ATM fee free in arrivals. To save a few bucks and get the blood pumping walking about a block down to the Woolworths makes the bus half the price as that stop doesn’t attract the extra airport surcharge.

 

[CaptJCool]

I wouldn’t hold your breath for that… good news is you can get cash out of the ATM fee free in arrivals. To save a few bucks and get the blood pumping walking about a block down to the Woolworths makes the bus half the price as that stop doesn’t attract the extra airport surcharge.

what's the cheapest way to get to an Australian Airport?

walking

haha
although the Seniors card here in Adelaide means the bus is FREE

presumably, the most expensive city to airport location is Melbourne or perhaps Newcastle?

 

[SeatBackForward]

I wouldn’t hold your breath for that… good news is you can get cash out of the ATM fee free in arrivals. To save a few bucks and get the blood pumping walking about a block down to the Woolworths makes the bus half the price as that stop doesn’t attract the extra airport surcharge.

The fare is supposedly only NZD$2 using a Metrocard or about $4 in cash. Is there an Airport surcharge on top of that?

 

[henrus]

The fare is supposedly only NZD$2 using a Metrocard or about $4 in cash. Is there an Airport surcharge on top of that?

Ah I didn't realise the airport surcharge has been scrapped, they previously had one but that's no more!

 

[henrus]

what's the cheapest way to get to an Australian Airport?

Over 5 years ago this thread was created, didn't think we'd still be here!
Removing the parking option not much has changed minus fare increases (or decreases in BNE, OOL, CBR, OOL and PER) between 2019 and 2024:

Adelaide Airport (to Rundle Mall)
Fastest - Direct Bus - 21 minutes - $3.70 (now $4.40)

Brisbane Airport (to Queen St Mall)
Fastest - Direct Train - 36 minutes (includes 12 mins walking) - $19 (now $10.95)
Cheapest - 3x Busses via DFO (free shuttle bus) and Toombul - 1hr 16 minutes - $4.03 (now $0.50)

Cairns Airport (to CBD)
Cheapest - Paid Shuttle ($6) to Bus ($2.20) into CBD - 29 minutes - $8.20 (now $20)

Canberra Airport (to Canberra Centre)
Fastest - Direct Bus - 16 minutes - $4.80 (now $3.22 on a card, I think old price was cash))

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

Gold Coast Airport (to Surfers Paradise)
Fastest - SkyBus - ~35 minutes - $21 (no longer operational)
Cheapest - 777 Bus and Tram - 45 minutes - $4.03 (now $0.50)

Hobart Airport (to CBD)
Fastest - SkyBus - ~30 minutes - $19.75 (now $22)

Melbourne Airport (to Melbourne CBD)
Fastest - SkyBus - ~40 minutes - $19.75 (now $23.90)
Cheapest - Bus and Train via Broadmeadows - 1hr 20 minutes - $4.40 (now $5.30)

Perth Airport (to Elizabeth Quay)
Fastest- Direct Bus - 40 minutes - $4.80 (now a train that is $4.68 and takes 18 mins from non Qantas terminals)

Sydney Airport (to Circular Quay)
Fastest - Direct Train - 27 minutes - $16.77 (now $21.54)
Cheapest - 2x Busses - ~1hr 11minutes - $4.71 (now $5.60)

Sunshine Coast Airport (to Mooloolaba)
Fastest- 2x Busses via Maroochydore - 49 minutes - $3.31 (now $0.50)