Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Jackie Trad said the cheaper fares would increase job prospects for Queenslanders looking for work and new asylum seekers joining the community. "These fare concessions will encourage travel across the Queensland public transport network connecting job seekers with employment services and job interviews," Ms Trad said. "Asylum seekers who also rely on public transport to access important services like education and settlement support services will be able to apply. "We have a responsibility to help those in our community who are often doing it tough while they are looking for work and accessing community services." Eligible applicants include job seekers on Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance and asylum seekers.

People can apply via the TransLink website and, if eligible, the concession will be applied to their go card within 14 days or a concession card will arrive by mail within 14 business days. Asylum seekers may also visit their Status Resolution Support Service. Meanwhile, Queensland Rail has announced a new timetable for Easter, which will include reductions in services on the weekends. The Easter timetable will include hourly services on most lines, two hourly on the Sunshine Coast line, and half-hourly on the Airport line. From Good Friday to Easter Sunday night, buses will replace trains, running half-hourly, between Park Road and Kuraby on the Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines, so works can be completed ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

There will be 120 extra services before and after four major sporting events scheduled at Suncorp Stadium and the Gabba. The changes will take place on the weekend of April 8-9 and the Easter long weekend, April 14-17. All other days are unaffected and will operate to the normal train timetable. Ms Trad said about 70 per cent fewer people travelled by rail over the Easter long weekend. "There will be four major sporting events happening over the Easter long weekend, so we have planned 120 additional services to ensure fans can get to and from these games as quickly as possible," Ms Trad said. QR board chairman Phillip Strachan said the services over the Easter period would be reliable, a core recommendation of the Commission of Inquiry.

"As we train more drivers and move towards a robust and sustainable timetable, changes like this are essential," Mr Strachan said. Public transport advocate Robert Dow, from the Rail: Back on Track group, said any cancellation when services were at one- or two-hour intervals would result in very long waits. "Due to the debacle at Queensland Rail this is sadly necessary but the impact on the travelling public will be profound, and it will force even more people onto dangerous and often congested roads," he said. Loading In March, Mr Strachan said the team was working on the Easter timetable to prevent a Christmas Day-style meltdown, when more than one-third of services were cancelled.

Acting QR chief executive Neil Scales previously said the November 7 version of the timetable, reintroduced in January, would be in place for the remainder of 2017.