Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe. Credit:Bradley Kanaris But Mr Hinchliffe also denied the plan was to start the package on January 1, when questioned over why that date was announced if it was not going to be viable. That was despite a press release handed to media at the announcement saying: "The Fairer Fares package was announced in June for a 1 January 2017 start." "It was always going to need to be either delivered a little bit earlier than that 1st of January deadline or a little bit later, so we thought, let's get it in place, make sure we've got it bedded down well and truly before the new year," Mr Hinchliffe said. "It was announced as January and of course that leads to people having an expectation about January 1.

"It was certainly announced in June for a January start, as part of the budget package, certainly the issue of whether it was starting on 1 January came up at the time, and that would have been said, but equally we've got to make sure that it will be available from 1 January, there's no question about that, because we're seeing it start from the 19th of December." The Fairer Fares package includes slashing travel zones from 23 to eight, extending the off peak discount and replacing the nine and free deal with a new model. "This is a bit of a Christmas bonus, of delivering the Fairer Fares package earlier than as it was announced from January ... and provide some very welcome relief to commuters across our network," Mr Hinchliffe said. Mr Hinchliffe said it was believed the new fare package would lead to a modest increase in patronage, with modelling predicting about .75 per cent. From December 28 to January 22, there will also be a service reduction of 11 per cent across the TransLink network.

Mr Hinchliffe said there were typically 22 per cent fewer commuters over the Christmas and school holiday period. "It makes sense that that's a period that we can relieve the pressure on our services and make sure that we deliver a timetable that is reliable and understandable to our commuters, but does take the pressure off during that summer period," he said. "We won't see a reduction in services in any way on the Airport Line." The new summer timetable will be available on the TransLink website from Wednesday* and there will also be printed timetables at stations. It comes after numerous timetable adjustments on the Queensland Rail network as bosses tried to deliver a reliable timetable amid driver shortage issues.

The driver shortage was revealed following the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line in October, when more than 100 services were cancelled. Acting chief executive Neil Scales said the pared back timetable would also help Queensland Rail speed up training new drivers. "While we've got the summer timetable operating, we'll have more of an opportunity to train drivers, particularly on new generation rolling stock, but also make sure that we've got route training as well going on," Mr Scales said. It was also revealed a Transit Oriented Development at the Ferny Grove train station would allow for an extra 250 car parks, adding to the 900 already available. Fairer Fares package:

Fewer zones: 23 travel zones to eight

Cheaper fares: Fares for all zones of travel will be slashed

Extending off-peak discount: Peak period will not start until after 6am in the morning, to encourage earlire travel. The 20 per cent off-peak discount will now apply for all travel between 7pm and 6am, and between 8.30am and 3.30pm Monday-Friday and all day on weekends

Kids go free: Children under the age of 15 will travel free on weekends on a child go card

Senior discounts: Seniors and pensioners will retain the One, Two, Free travel

8 and 50: The government will scrap the nine and free deal, and replace it with eight paid journeys and 50 per cent off subsequent journeys per week

Job seekers: TransLink will work with the federal government so jobseekers on Newstart or Youth Allowance will be able to access concession fares in 2017 * An earlier version of this story said the summer timetable would be released on Tuesday, as mentioned during the press conference. Brisbane Times has been advised it will instead be available from Wednesday. Stay informed. Like the Brisbane Times Facebook page