14 Nov 2009: SEQ: Public transport commuter compensation scheme ...

[ozbob]

Media Release 14 November 2009

SEQ:  Public transport commuter compensation scheme and consultation needed

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has previously called for some sort of compensation scheme be put in place to allow some redress of the financial impacts of a rail service constantly disrupted due to mainly network problems and buses overloaded and often not showing up (1).  Public transport users are facing very significant fare increases from the 4th January (2). Why should commuters pay more for a service not delivering? Also of great concern is the overall state of the go card ticketing system (3).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Many public transport commuters are at breaking point.  A public transport network that is beset with failure and looming massive fare increases.  Why should commuters pay massive fare increases for failure?"

"The constant disruption on bus and rail is costly for many commuters (4).  There is a need for a formal scheme for commuters to claim back some of the personal financial impacts such as loss of wages, emergency taxi fares,  missed appointments, additional child care costs and so forth when there is disruption."

"Public transport operators are performing at heroic levels as they desperately cope with constant infrastructure failures be it rail or the hopelessly inadequate road network.  At the front line of commuter disenchantment and frustration they continue to provide a service that does get the majority around the majority of the time.  The problem is though that constant disruption is having a significant impact on many and causing some great hardship for the community and must be affecting the morale of the operators."

"Rather than simply dismissing calls for compensation how about consideration of the real impacts?  Consult with the community, inform the community, listen to constructive suggestions.  Move out of the 'silos' of isolation into the 'fields' of improvement.  QR Passenger has a shown a lead with Community Reference Groups (5), time others got with it."

References:

1.   1 May 2009: SEQ:  Call for a public transport compensation scheme for poor service outcomes by TransLink and its Operators http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2211.0

2.   http://www.translink.com.au/fares2010.php

3.   13 Nov 2009: SEQ: Please fix the go card system http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3009.0

4.   10 Oct 2009: SEQ: Rail commuters concerned with rail network reliability http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2849.0

5.   Community Reference Group http://www.citytrain.com.au/promotion/crg/overview.asp

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

Greetings,

More delays on rail due to signal and track faults this week.  When will things improve?

It is time that public transport commuters were given some real consideration.  No one minds the occasional problem, but chronic failure takes it toll.

Best wishes
Robert

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

===============================

Media Release 14 November 2009 Re-released 28th January 2010

SEQ:  Public transport commuter compensation scheme and consultation needed

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has previously called for some sort of compensation scheme be put in place to allow some redress of the financial impacts of a rail service constantly disrupted due to mainly network problems and buses overloaded and often not showing up (1).  Public transport users are facing very significant fare increases from the 4th January (2). Why should commuters pay more for a service not delivering? Also of great concern is the overall state of the go card ticketing system (3).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Many public transport commuters are at breaking point.  A public transport network that is beset with failure and looming massive fare increases.  Why should commuters pay massive fare increases for failure?"

"The constant disruption on bus and rail is costly for many commuters (4).  There is a need for a formal scheme for commuters to claim back some of the personal financial impacts such as loss of wages, emergency taxi fares,  missed appointments, additional child care costs and so forth when there is disruption."

"Public transport operators are performing at heroic levels as they desperately cope with constant infrastructure failures be it rail or the hopelessly inadequate road network.  At the front line of commuter disenchantment and frustration they continue to provide a service that does get the majority around the majority of the time.  The problem is though that constant disruption is having a significant impact on many and causing some great hardship for the community and must be affecting the morale of the operators."

"Rather than simply dismissing calls for compensation how about consideration of the real impacts?  Consult with the community, inform the community, listen to constructive suggestions.  Move out of the 'silos' of isolation into the 'fields' of improvement.  QR Passenger has a shown a lead with Community Reference Groups (5), time others got with it."

References:

1.   1 May 2009: SEQ:  Call for a public transport compensation scheme for poor service outcomes by TransLink and its Operators http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2211.0

2.   http://www.translink.com.au/fares2010.php

3.   13 Nov 2009: SEQ: Please fix the go card system http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3009.0

4.   10 Oct 2009: SEQ: Rail commuters concerned with rail network reliability http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2849.0

5.   Community Reference Group http://www.citytrain.com.au/promotion/crg/overview.asp

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th February 2010

Greetings,

More peak hour chaos this evening on the Ipswich line.

Commuters have had enough.  I picked up a car load from Graceville and took some folks all stations to Darra.  Many pax left stranded. (Trains terminating at Graceville).

Apologies doesn't cut it.  A reliable public transport system will.

We renew our call for compensation.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org


=================================


Media Release 14 November 2009  re-released

SEQ:  Public transport commuter compensation scheme and consultation needed

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has previously called for some sort of compensation scheme be put in place to allow some redress of the financial impacts of a rail service constantly disrupted due to mainly network problems and buses overloaded and often not showing up (1).  Public transport users are facing very significant fare increases from the 4th January (2). Why should commuters pay more for a service not delivering? Also of great concern is the overall state of the go card ticketing system (3).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Many public transport commuters are at breaking point.  A public transport network that is beset with failure and looming massive fare increases.  Why should commuters pay massive fare increases for failure?"

"The constant disruption on bus and rail is costly for many commuters (4).  There is a need for a formal scheme for commuters to claim back some of the personal financial impacts such as loss of wages, emergency taxi fares,  missed appointments, additional child care costs and so forth when there is disruption."

"Public transport operators are performing at heroic levels as they desperately cope with constant infrastructure failures be it rail or the hopelessly inadequate road network.  At the front line of commuter disenchantment and frustration they continue to provide a service that does get the majority around the majority of the time.  The problem is though that constant disruption is having a significant impact on many and causing some great hardship for the community and must be affecting the morale of the operators."

"Rather than simply dismissing calls for compensation how about consideration of the real impacts?  Consult with the community, inform the community, listen to constructive suggestions.  Move out of the 'silos' of isolation into the 'fields' of improvement.  QR Passenger has a shown a lead with Community Reference Groups (5), time others got with it."

References:

1.   1 May 2009: SEQ:  Call for a public transport compensation scheme for poor service outcomes by TransLink and its Operators http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2211.0

2.   http://www.translink.com.au/fares2010.php

3.   13 Nov 2009: SEQ: Please fix the go card system http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3009.0

4.   10 Oct 2009: SEQ: Rail commuters concerned with rail network reliability http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2849.0

5.   Community Reference Group http://www.citytrain.com.au/promotion/crg/overview.asp

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th February 2010

Greetings,

One of the major issues when there are disruptions is the lack of communication to patrons.  I think there is a need for a panel of local 'volunteers' to be recruited who could be called in when there are problems and pass on messages to the stranded patrons.  They could be given special vests that have a bright colour and indicate they are a volunteer. It does seem that the tools that are available (station announcements, PIDs) are not used so some other system needs to be put in place.  Most stations are  not staffed outside peak morning hours.  Volunteers could be contacted by mobile and briefed and then they could pop down to the station and let people know.  Silly?  Not half as silly as masses of stranded punters without a clue as to what is going on ...

Typical situation:

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3376.msg21681#msg21681

Another fail tonight Wednesday 17th - a couple of german women stuck on platform 3 (Oxley) for 90 minutes trying to get a train to the city. After 90 minutes they just gave up and came back to my place. No staff were there to help or provide advice, apparently a member of the public told them that buses were trying to be organised but didn't arrive. International visitors aren't doing well with our trains recently.
A volunteer correctly informed could have advised these passengers.

Cheers
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

Footnote:

I have received a response to this suggestion from QR Passenger already ... they are going to look at. Thanks.

[#Metro]

If they won't give a refund, their GoCard fare or trip fare for the day should be free.

[ozbob]

Quest Northern times has an article on compensation.

Click --> here!  PDF

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Radio Breakfast did a story on compensation this morning, following on from the Norther Times article in post above.

Hopefully blog up later today.

--> http://www.abc.net.au/brisbane/programs/612_breakfast/

[#Metro]

Just read the Northern Times article.

What is peak hour for QR? 5pm-6pm?

QR needs to change its on time performance metric to include all trains.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast blog click here!

Refunds for late trains

31 March 2010 , 9:26 AM by Spencer Howson

Should Translink and/or Queensland Rail offer refunds if trains are delayed?

One Caboolture Commuter, featured on the front page of The Northern Times, says he's documented a total of 16 hours delay in the past 13 months.

25 incidents in the past six months alone - where his trains' been delayed, cancelled or rescheduled.

On top of the recent fair increase, Dean Bird says he's "sick and tired of the poor service".
Annie writes: "Hi Spencer, after a disastrous train trip (or non-trip) which cost me a $30 late cancellation fee at the doctor, I wrote to Translink, and as compensation they sent me a complimentary 1-4 zone ticket. A couple of weeks later, I had to return to the doctor, and again the first train was cancelled and the second one was projected to be 13 minutes late, so I jumped in to a cab - $20 fare. Again, I wrote to Translink, again a complimentary 1-4 zone ticket. Pays to complain!"

Robert Dow is spokesperson for pubic transport advocacy group RAIL Back on Track and Peter Strachan is the CEO of Translink:

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail Quest click here!

Caboolture commuters demand refund after peak-hour rail delays at Petrie

Caboolture commuters demand refund after peak-hour rail delays at Petrie

    by: James Drew, Northern Times
    From: Quest Newspapers
    March 08, 2013 12:00AM

Get us home on time or refund our fares. That was the call of angry commuters stuck in trains on the Caboolture line this week after a peak-hour signal fault at Petrie.

The fault triggered the network's ``fail safe'' system, causing delays to 28 Caboolture and Sunshine Coast trains, said a Queensland Rail spokeswoman.

The spokeswoman said the fault was caused by ongoing wet weather and electrical crews worked tirelessly to restore the service as quickly as they could.

"We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience,'' she said.

Many affected travellers took to Facebook to voice their anger, calling for fare refunds for delayed services.

Commuter Amanda Savage said she was stranded on a train near Strathpine. "Signalling faults are such a joke. Seems to happen way too often,'' she wrote.

Kellie Cave said she was stuck at Bray Park and had to get her husband to travel from the Sunshine Coast to pick her up. "Why should we continue to pay for an inadequate service,'' she wrote.

RAIL Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow agreed commuters should be refunded if they were late, whether it be through a go-card refund or by receiving one day's free travel.

"We've put some serious calls out for that before, citing significant childcare expenses and loss of work time and education disruptions but they have always resisted it quite heavily,'' he said.

And the resistance looks set to continue, with a TransLink spokeswoman ruling out compensation, claiming it was not ``current TransLink policy'' and much of the money was invested in improving services.

Upcoming track closures:
March 23-24: From 11.30pm on March 23 to 6am the next day, Northgate to Petrie will be closed for track works and again from 9.30pm to last train.

March 10: From midnight to 6am and 9.30pm to last train, the Northgate to Petrie line is closed for track works. Services to be replaced by buses.

Visit translink.com.au or phone 1312130.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

25th October 2015

Missed the bus, join the crowd ...

Greetings,

There does appear to be a lot of bus cancellations of late.  It is difficult to be absolutely objective because of ' state secrecy ' of bus data - both reliability (turnout of services) and on time performance, but feedback and social media observations suggest there is an issue.

When a bus service is cancelled people are stranded at bus stops.  If it is a frequent bus service, such as a BUZ or high frequency glider service,  this is not as severe in terms of the individual passenger impact when say an hourly frequency bus service is cancelled.  In this case, worst case could mean a wait of up to 2 hours if the previous service was just missed.  Missed connections can further compound the delays.

There is no compensation for passengers stranded.  This then acts as a real disincentive for people to use public transport.

It might be time to consider what can be done for people left stranded on low frequency bus routes (and rail services).  Is it reasonable for them to claim some reimbursement for taxi fares minus the normal bus/train fare?

Can some action be taken to stop bus cancellations please? Particularly on low frequency routes.  Can consideration be given to some form of compensation for passengers?

The public is getting tired of mediocrity.

Best wishes

Robert

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