18 Jan 2015: Queensland Election: Public Transport Privatisation: Fact Check

[ozbob]

Media Release 18th January 2015

Queensland Election: Public Transport Privatisation: Fact Check

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the Candidate for Ashgrove Kate Jones is currently circulating a petition which reads:

'We are gravely concerned that any such moves will lead to cutbacks and a reduction in much-needed public transport services..... Our State Government and BCC must do more to improve our bus services and increase routes, instead of putting those services at risk through privatisation.' (1)

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"In SEQ, bus routes are contracted out on a region by region basis. TransLink first determines where the buses are routed and how frequently they are run. TransLink then pays operators to run these packages of services. If they don't deliver they are subject to penalties."

"Already in SEQ the majority of public transport is run by Private operators, from G:Link and Surfside on the Gold Coast to Veolia in the Redlands. Even the CityCats are run by a private operator, Transdev.

"Currently, only Queensland Rail and Brisbane transport are the only publicly owned public transport operators in SEQ."

"Privatisation doesn't imply services will be cut back. A private company working for TransLink doesn't have the authority to slash services. They are obliged to run what the government dictates."

"If service cutbacks do occur (For example as happened in Nerang on the Gold Coast) it was a result of government decision making which flowed from the failed bus review for Brisbane."

"In SEQ, our high fares are a combination of successive governments increasing fares above the rate of inflation, and inefficient network design and operating practices that haemorrhage money."

"Outside of SEQ, all urban bus operations are run by private companies with qconnect (TransLink) responsible for setting fares and routings.

"In these regions the public has not been subject to these fare polices, so still enjoy low fares, despite buses being run by private operators (2, 3, 4)."

References:

1. http://queenslandlabor.org.au/saveourbuses/

2. http://www.sunbus.com.au/documents/2013Fares_Townsville_001.pdf

3. http://www.sunbus.com.au/documents/2014Fares_Rockhampton.pdf

4. http://www.qld.gov.au/transport/public/transport/timetables/qconnect/

5. TransLink partners http://translink.com.au/about-translink/who-we-are/who-we-work-with

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

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