28 Feb 2009: SEQ: Go Card - manage congestion add off peak and incentive fares!

[ozbob]

Media Release 28 February 2009

SEQ:  Go Card - manage congestion,  add off peak and incentive fares!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has called for all political parties to develop policy to add off peak fares and early and late peak incentive fare discounts to the fare structure for the go card. Off peak and incentive fares will encourage use of public transport when there is plenty of capacity and in turn help ease congestion on struggling peak public transport services.  A high uptake of the go card will generate meaningful real time load data and improve public transport efficiency.

Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The present paper ticketing on the TransLink network has an off peak option (1).  This encourages travel at less congested times and is helpful to retired pensioners, parents and others who can take trips during the off peak periods.  It encourages citizens to use public transport and reduce environmental impacts. It encourages people to travel outside peak times."

"Presently, off peak ticketing is available for unlimited travel between 9am and 3.30pm and after 7pm on weekdays, and all day on weekends and gazetted public holidays ."

"The go card provides a simple means of implementing an off peak fare and incentive fare structure. All go card journeys that commence (touch on) before 6.30am , touch on after 9am Monday to Friday  and touch on before 3.30pm and touch on after 7pm could be given a flat off peak discount of 30%."

"It would be a simple matter to give all go card journeys on weekends and gazetted public holidays an off peak discount too.  This is only replicating present ticketing practices."

"The addition of off peak and incentive fares to the go card will go a long way in overcoming public transport commuter resistance to the go card."

"It makes a lot of sense to add off peak and incentive fares to the go card. It would be a big winner!"

Reference:

1.  http://www.transinfo.qld.gov.au/qt/TransLin.nsf/index/ti_main

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From Brisbane mX 2nd March 2009 page 1

Go take a hike

[ozbob]

From the South West News 11th March 2009 page 5

Fare deals call

Fare deals call

COMMUNITY web-based rail advocate group RAIL Back on Track wants innovative fares for the Go Card ticketing system. Group spokesman Robert Dow said the system should be used a congestion tool rather than just a ticketing system. "We would prefer an incentive fare structure for early and late peak and offpeak with capping for all Go Card commuters." he said.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Cheaper fares proposal by mid-year: Translink

Cheaper fares proposal by mid-year: Translink
Tony Moore
April 21, 2009 - 6:04AM

Proposals for cheaper off-peak fares for trains, buses and ferries using the Go Card will go to Queensland Government by mid-year, a Translink spokesman confirmed last night.

Translink is investigating cheaper off-peak fares for buses, trains and ferries to tackle congestion among a range of incentives for commuters. It must report to government by mid-2009.

Traffic congestion on road, rail, bus and ferry is estimated by Brisbane City Council to cost Brisbane $9 billion each year by 2026.

The government is under pressure to respond to demands to make the Go Card more flexible after a stronger than expected response by Melbourne rail commuters to shift them out of the morning peak hour.

"Off peak fares for Go Cards are one of a range of products being considered by TransLink," the spokesman said.

"TransLink is required to present its preferred options to the State Government for consideration by the middle of the year," he said.

"This will form part of a long-term strategy for fares across South East Queensland."

Public transport lobby group "Rail: Back on Track" has consistently called for cheaper off peak fares on the Go Card to drive changes in commuter behaviour.

There are now 322,300 Go Cards in South East Queensland.

Spokesman Robert Dow last night welcomed Translink's commitment.

"That's good news, that's the first real public announcement we have had," Mr Dow said.

"Rail: Back on Track" has consistently argued that cheaper off-peak fares need to include buses, ferries and trains, rather than simple cut-price rail fares.

"It's a sign they seem to be getting on top of things and we can now look forward to more moves forward, I think."

Last week, Victoria's Transport Department reported on the first 12 months of free early morning train travel to encourage Melbourne's rail commuters to start work before 7am.

It showed the free train travel before 7am was used by 8600 commuters, of which more than 2000 - or 23 per cent - switched from the normal morning peak hour to get to work by 7am.

The Queensland Opposition backs trialling the early morning "free rail" scheme in Brisbane.

However Queensland Transport estimates it would cost $12 million each year.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan yesterday said she would have "a very good look" at the Melbourne experience, though she said providing more trains into the Citytrain rail network would remain Queensland Rail's main thrust.

Queensland Rail have added 81 new carriages to the Citytrain fleet since February 2008 and recently added a further 3750 "sitting and standing" places on five services on the Ipswich and Caboolture lines.