BUS services that duplicate train routes or carry fewer than five people a trip are likely to be axed as part of a major review to be announced by Transport Minister Scott Emerson on Tuesday.

TransLink will undertake the review over the next six months in an effort to make public transport more efficient and affordable.

Mr Emerson said latest data showed patronage had declined on 13 of the 16 bus providers in southeast Queensland as a result of annual fare hikes.

"We need to improve the reliability of the network particularly where there are buses that are so full they need to leave passengers behind yet other areas have buses carrying less than three passengers a trip," he said.

Some of those services identified as not performing or doubling up on train services include the 461, 557 and 674.

In the case of route 674, a third of the 26 services a day carry fewer than three people and most of the 557 services are close to empty.

"The ten worst performing routes cost more than $5 million a year with less than five per cent of the cost paid for through fares," said Mr Emerson.

"In Brisbane there are roads with more than 25 different bus routes yet all stop at different locations within the CBD."

He said on the Gold Coast there were routes that had not been reviewed since the 1990s.

The Transport Workers' Union claimed last week the government was planning to cut funding to bus providers by $40 million by axing poorly patronized routes.

A spokesman for Mr Emerson refused to say if the review was targeting a particular figure for cost savings.

TransLink has been instructed to eliminate service duplication, redirect resources to routed where there is overcrowding and manage the infrastructure capacity to address bottlenecks at the Cultural Centre, as part of the review.

It will report to the Minister early next year.

Originally published as Bus services face axe for low patronage