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High public transport fares will ease slightly for showgoers during the 10-day Brisbane Ekka event

August 7, 2013

The high cost of attending, and enjoying, Brisbane’s annual Ekka event which starts Thursday will be reduced for some public transport patrons getting to the show, as long as they have a prepaid show ticket.

Queensland Transport Minister Scott Emerson says passengers who pre-purchased their Ekka entry ticket could access discount travel on all TransLink trains, buses and ferries.

“Anyone with a pre-purchased Ekka ticket can travel from anywhere on the TransLink network to the RNA Showgrounds (at Bowen Hills) and home again for just $6 for adults and $3 for concessions,” Emerson says.

As an example of the costs associated with this week’s ‘deal’, a passenger travelling to the show from eastern suburb Morningside could save $1.70, while someone travelling from the Gold Coast could save up to $25.

TransLink’s Ekka travel ticket was introduced last year, increasing public transport use to the annual Brisbane Exhibition by more than 50 per cent – 297,000 trips taken compared with 196,000 in 2011.

Tickets can be purchased from any attended Queensland Rail station or on board any bus or ferry by presenting a valid Ekka entry ticket.

But not everyone gets the discount.

Normal fares will apply for trips taken using go cards and single paper tickets, which can still be used for travel to and from the Ekka.

Hundreds of additional bus and train services have been scheduled for the show which runs from August 8-17, including 15-minute frequency, loop train services running to and from the Exhibition station and Roma Street.

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