Queensland Rail has slashed more than half-a-million dollars from its train drivers' annual overtime bill.
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In 2017/18, the driver overtime bill was $14.98 million, a 4.3 per cent decrease from the previous year, when the cost was $15.65 million.
There were 175,588 overtime hours worked in 2017/18, or an 8.2 per cent decrease.
Keeping a lid on overtime at the south-east Queensland rail operator is a key factor in getting the network back on track.
The Strachan inquiry revealed Queensland Rail train drivers were performing unsustainable hours of overtime, which contributed to widespread cancellations following the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line in October 2016.
The figures come as Transport Minister Mark Bailey is due to face a grilling at estimates hearings on Friday morning.
Mr Bailey is also likely to face pressure over the appointment of Mark Algie to the board of Energy Queensland after his resume was forwarded to the then energy minister by a union boss, with cabinet signing off without doing due diligence.
Mr Algie's appointment "lacked transparency and accountability", according to Crime and Corruption Commission Alan MacSporran.
Mr Bailey said the Palaszczuk government was implementing the Strachan recommendations, with net 43 more fully qualified drivers at Queensland Rail now than in October 2016.
"Since October 4, 2016, Queensland Rail has selected 221 trainee drivers and 300 trainee guards, with 90 drivers and 216 guards now fully qualified and working on the south-east Queensland network," he said.
Another 91 trainee drivers and 35 trainee guards are in training. An additional 47 drivers are scheduled to begin their training by the end of 2018.
The Strachan inquiry's report recommended Queensland Rail hire 200 new train drivers and 200 new guards to restore stability to the timetable.
In October 2016, overtime hours worked as a percentage of total time worked for Citytrain drivers was 18.8 per cent, and 15.5 per cent for guards.
In June 2018, overtime hours worked as a percentage of total time worked was reduced to 14.6 per cent for drivers and 9.5 per cent for guards.
Mr Bailey took aim at the LNP for a 25 per cent rise in the cost of driver overtime following the LNP Newman government.
Overtime for Queensland Rail drivers was $8.65 million under the LNP in 2013/14, while the following year, which included the first months of the Palaszczuk Labor government, the cost was $10.83 million.
Mr Bailey said the figure was largely attributed to a reduction in train drivers and no drivers being training in 2014 under the LNP.
Queensland Rail had shed 48 drivers by 2014/15 compared with two years earlier.
