South-east Queensland's public transport system gives fare discounts to just 15 per cent of users. Credit:Michelle Smith The committee questioned the outcome where 85 per cent of public transport users subsidise a benefit used by 15 per cent of commuters. The figures show some commuters take small trips early in the week to build up nine journeys, so a long journey can be claimed free. Fairfax Media understands the state government is considering a range of options to reduce some fares by up to $242 a year, keeping rail revenue stable by increasing train passengers. However on Tuesday morning Opposition transport spokesman Andrew Powell said the planned changes to could make rail travel from the Gold and Sunshine coast more expensive.

Those options are: 50 per cent fare discounts after nine trips, to allow fare revenue to be maintained;

Off-peak discounts rising to 30 per cent, encouraging commuters to travel outside peak-hour; and

A marked reduction in the number of zones, encouraging greater fare consistency. It is understood the full fare review will be announced "very soon". A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe last night confirmed the figures were accurate. "The fare review will be handed down this month and delivers on our election commitment to determine a fare strategy that is fair, affordable and boosts patronage," she said.

"The Palaszczuk government is determined to deliver fare relief and will only support recommendations that address affordability and benefit the vast majority of public transport users." The spokeswoman said the aim was to keep rail revenue at viable levels by encouraging more commuters to the network and said incentives would be offered. "The Palaszczuk government is serious about delivering fairer fares," she said. The reduction in zones from 23 to nine was reported by Fairfax Media on February 4. At that time, Shadow Transport spokesman Scott Emerson said the reduction in zones would benefit people travelling in zones one or two, but would hit longer-distance commuters hardest.

"While commuters from zones one and two could win under the plan, zone three would be hit with an extra $250 a year, while commuting from the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast will also be more expensive," Mr Emerson said. The government has been developing incentives since February 2016. Mr Powell said the full fare review must now be released to judge whether fares would increase and whether patronage would fall. "Labor's decision means 80,000 commuters will pay more each week for public transport," Mr Powell said. "Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe must stop leaking and drip feeding bits of this report and immediately release the rest of his secret fare plan," he said.

"Passengers deserve to know what other measures Labor will introduce that will drive up bus and train fares. Mr Powell said Mr Hinchliffe was making false savings claims to justify axing the policy. "These trips wouldn't have been taken in the first place without '9 and free'," he said. Mr Powell questioned the impact of reducing the number of public transport zones. He said that could mean commuters from hubs like Carindale, Chermside and Jindalee would pay $250 more each year, while commuting from the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast would also be more expensive.

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow, who has seen the figures, said the costs were similar to those revealed after Budget Estimates in 2015. He said the "fare box leakage" of $27 million a year simply had to be stopped. "When you realise that 85 per cent are not getting the benefit, it is not really working that well," Mr Dow said. He said Queensland was following similar changes to Sydney's Opal Card. "Sydney's Opal Card has had a similar fare structure in part - free travel after eight paid journeys in a week," he said.

"From 5 September 2016 this is being replaced with 50 per cent fares after eight paid journeys, similar to what is planned for the Go Card," he said. Mr Dow said both the Opal and Go Card schemes were flawed. "Both are very flawed fare structures." he said. "But making fares fair for all with a much more equitable fare structure overall can be achieved in SEQ." Mr Dow said rationalising the number of zones, increasing off-peak discounts, would mean a lower "base fare cost".