At a glance
- Children 4 and under
- Free, no ticket needed
- Children 5 to 14
- 50 cents a journey; a child go card also gives free travel on weekends in South East Queensland
- Seniors
- 50 cents a journey; free on Brisbane City Council buses on weekdays 8:30am to 3:30pm and 7pm to 6am and all day on weekends and public holidays; free on Brisbane City Council ferries on weekdays in the same two time bands
- Seniors card options
- Senior go card, or Seniors Card + go (no $5 deposit; minimum $5 credit before you travel)
- Pensioners and veterans
- 50 cents; half-price concession fares no longer apply. TPI/EDA Veteran Travel card holders travel free
- How to pay
- go card, tapped Visa or Mastercard, or a paper ticket
- Help
- Translink 13 12 30, 24 hours
Children aged 5 to 14, seniors, pensioners and veterans all pay 50 cents a journey on Translink services in South East Queensland as of 21 October 2026, because the old half-price concession fares no longer apply. Children aged 4 and under travel free, children with a child go card also travel free on weekends, and seniors can ride Brisbane City Council buses and ferries free at set off-peak times, with weekends and public holidays listed for buses.
This guide sets out the rules for each group, using the Translink concession pages for children, seniors, pensioners and veterans and students, all checked on Wednesday 21 October 2026. For how the flat fare and tapping on and off work, see our Brisbane fares and go card guide.
What do children pay?
| Age | What Translink says |
|---|---|
| 4 and under | Travel free and do not need a ticket |
| 5 to 14 | In South East Queensland, use a child go card, which also lets you travel free on weekends; or a pre-purchased paper ticket from fare machines at train, tram and busway stations and some bus interchanges |
| 15 and over | A blue Adult go card, a green Concession go card, a contactless debit or credit card (on all train, tram, ferry and selected bus services where available), or a pre-purchased paper ticket |
Translink’s children page says the 50% concession fares no longer apply, because every fare is now 50 cents per journey. Its student concessions page says children aged 5 to 14, school students and tertiary students all pay 50 cents per journey. Some students may qualify for assistance under the School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS) or the Non State School Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS).
To protect the money on a child’s card if it is lost or stolen, you can register it. To register a child go card, call Translink on 13 12 30. Prams and strollers have their own rules on Translink’s page about travelling with a pram.
What do seniors pay, and when is it free?
Seniors pay 50 cents per journey, and half-priced concession fares no longer apply. In South East Queensland, Translink lists these ways to travel:
- A Senior go card from your nearest go card retailer or Queensland Rail station ticket office. You can also buy one online or call 13 12 30. You need to show your Seniors Card.
- A Seniors Card + go, available by applying online or calling 13 74 68. It does not need a $5 refundable deposit, but you must add a minimum of $5 credit before you can travel.
- A pre-purchased paper ticket from staffed Queensland Rail station ticket offices and from fare machines at train, tram, bus and busway stations.
Brisbane City Council adds free travel for seniors on selected off-peak services, on Brisbane City Council buses and Brisbane City Council ferries. Translink’s table lists these times:
| When | Brisbane City Council buses | Brisbane City Council ferries |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | 8:30am to 3:30pm and 7pm to 6am | 8:30am to 3:30pm and 7pm to 6am |
| Weekends and public holidays | All day | No free period listed |
Translink says to receive the free travel you simply tap on and off with a senior go card or a Seniors Card + go. The same page says the City of Gold Coast free bus travel initiative for seniors and veterans concluded on 1 July 2025.
Seniors travelling on the regional ferries where the operator sets fares (SeaLink Palm Island, SeaLink Magnetic Island, Stradbroke Ferries, Stradbroke Flyer and Island Taxi and Charter, and Peddells Thursday Island Tours) can get concession fares by showing a Seniors Card issued by any Australian state or territory. Seniors Business Discount Cards are not eligible.
What about pensioners and veterans?
Translink says half-priced concession fares no longer apply to pensioners and defence force veterans, or to holders of Centrelink or Services Australia Pensioner Concession Cards, so they pay the 50 cent fare. On the regional ferry services where the operator sets fares, a current Pensioner Concession Card or a Veteran Card (Gold or White) still gets a concession fare.
The TPI/EDA Veteran Travel card gives eligible ex-service men and women unlimited free travel on approved public transport services. The card is valid for ten years from the date of issue, and you show it to the driver when boarding or to station officers at gated train stations. To be eligible you must hold a Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card embossed TPI or EDA, with a DVA file number beginning with the letter Q. Translink says to allow 15 business days to process an application, and gives the card supplier’s number as 1800 336 678.
In Queensland, the free travel is limited to the TPI/EDA Veteran Travel card holder. A companion may be eligible for the Queensland Government Companion Card program, which gives travel assistance to people who need lifelong attendant care; call 13 74 68 for details. Translink’s concessions page also lists free travel for one companion or carer travelling with a Companion Card holder who has a valid ticket, subject to eligibility and conditions of travel.
Who else travels free?
Translink’s concessions page says these customer groups and card holders travel free if they carry proof of their entitlement and show it to a driver or Authorised Person when asked: children aged 4 and under, TPI/EDA Veteran Travel card holders, Vision Impairment Travel Pass holders, Translink Access Pass and go access holders, Travel Trainer card holders, and one companion or carer with a Companion Card holder.
For any question about which card suits you, Translink’s contact centre is on 13 12 30, 24 hours a day.
Sources
- Translink — Concessions: Children (checked 21 October 2026)
- Translink — Concessions: Seniors
- Translink — Concessions: Pensioners and veterans
- Translink — Concessions: Student concessions
- Translink — Concessions
Featured image: A CityHopper ferry passing the City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane (photo: Kgbo / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Translink or Brisbane City Council. Fares and concessions can change; check the official pages above before you travel.