TransLink's commitment to get people home during Brisbane's wild weather has come at a cost of $850,000.
As the effects of the former cyclone Debbie moved south on March 30, the drastic decision was made about 7.30am to shut hundreds of Queensland schools.
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Most Brisbane businesses followed suit and sent employees home.
But for many the work day had started, so the streets of Brisbane CBD were flooded with people looking for a way home.
Under the direction of the state government, TransLink turned off its Go Card readers about 10am and swung open its ticketing gates and made all public transport free.
A TransLink spokeswoman said the Queensland government's decision to make transport free encouraged most workers to leave the city before the worst of the storm hit.
"While we saw revenue decrease by around $850,000 compared to a normal day, our number-one priority was clearing the city and getting people home safely and quickly," the spokeswoman said.
This is the second time in a week TransLink has suffered a huge financial loss.
It was compelled to offer free transport all day on Sunday, March 25, as the women's AFL grand final was an unticketed event.
The decision was expected to have cost Translink between $300,000 and $400,000.
Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Jackie Trad said the decision was made for public transport to be free during the storm as the government felt the CBD had to be cleared to ensure people's safety before weather conditions got worse.
"People responded well with the overwhelming majority taking the advice and getting home before roads and the transport network were impacted by flash flooding," Ms Trad said.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our community for their understanding last week as well as all the frontline staff at TransLink and Queensland Rail who worked so hard to get people home safely."
The revenue loss comes on the back of a months of trouble for TransLink following the Queensland Rail driver shortage and poor results in the latest feedback.
A spokeswoman for Ms Trad said they had "every confidence in the ability of our transport system and its staff and Thursday was a great example of this".