16 Apr 2010: SEQ: Airtrain Fares - how to avoid the rip-off

[ozbob]

Media Release 16 April 2010

SEQ:  Airtrain Fares - how to avoid the rip-off

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 periodically highlights the bizarre situation and rip-off with fares for connecting rail services with the Airtrain services to Brisbane Airport (1).  Are commuters that silly?

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"When I travel to the Brisbane Airport on the Airtrain Service I always break my journey at the CBD.  The reason for this is if you do it as single trip you not only pay extra for travel on the public train network; a part of the network that Airtrain has nothing to do with but you also miss out on the off peak fares for the non Airtrain leg as well!"

"For example, should I travel from Nambour to Brisbane Airport via Eagle Junction station off peak and if I touched on at Nambour and then touched off at Brisbane Airport the fare debited on my go card would be $30.40.  If I touched off at Eagle Junction, then touched back on the fares are as follows.  The off peak fare debited when I touch off for the first leg Nambour to Eagle Junction would be $8.73. I then touch back on and travel to the Airport, touch off, fare correctly debited $14.50.  Total fare by breaking journey is then $23.23.  If done as a single trip the fare is $30.40. An excess fare of $7.17.  Is there any rational explanation for this?  Why does Airtrain receive a rip-off fare from unsuspecting commuters?"

"Why does TransLink allow this bizarre situation to continue? The fare rip-off is easily avoided by breaking one's journey, but is this really supporting public transport?  Is the customer or profit the priority?"

"The excess fares are easily avoided however many commuters may not be aware of this strange situation. They would rightly expect not to be charged excess fares, but the sad reality is that they are.  TransLink should highlight this on their web site, for example 'When travelling on connecting rail services with the Airtrain, break your journey to save money!'."

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3247.0

2. TransLink Journey Planner http://www.translink.com.au/

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1304.0

[ozbob]

22 April 2010

Greetings,

Please continue to educate the community as to this bizarre fare levy.  The poor unsuspecting travellers get done big time at Airports as it is, the means of avoiding an extra fare when travelling on a connecting rail service to the Airport is easily avoided. This fact only just highlights the absurdity and injustice of the rip-off.

For interest we raised this prior to the last state election, but none of the major parties was interested.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2017.0

They are happy to allow the rip-off to continue, so we need to educate our community how to avoid the excess charges.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media Release 16 April 2010 re-released 22nd April 2010

SEQ:  Airtrain Fares - how to avoid the rip-off

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 periodically highlights the bizarre situation and rip-off with fares for connecting rail services with the Airtrain services to Brisbane Airport (1).  Are commuters that silly?

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"When I travel to the Brisbane Airport on the Airtrain Service I always break my journey at the CBD.  The reason for this is if you do it as single trip you not only pay extra for travel on the public train network; a part of the network that Airtrain has nothing to do with but you also miss out on the off peak fares for the non Airtrain leg as well!"

"For example, should I travel from Nambour to Brisbane Airport via Eagle Junction station off peak and if I touched on at Nambour and then touched off at Brisbane Airport the fare debited on my go card would be $30.40.  If I touched off at Eagle Junction, then touched back on the fares are as follows.  The off peak fare debited when I touch off for the first leg Nambour to Eagle Junction would be $8.73. I then touch back on and travel to the Airport, touch off, fare correctly debited $14.50.  Total fare by breaking journey is then $23.23.  If done as a single trip the fare is $30.40. An excess fare of $7.17.  Is there any rational explanation for this?  Why does Airtrain receive a rip-off fare from unsuspecting commuters?"

"Why does TransLink allow this bizarre situation to continue? The fare rip-off is easily avoided by breaking one's journey, but is this really supporting public transport?  Is the customer or profit the priority?"

"The excess fares are easily avoided however many commuters may not be aware of this strange situation. They would rightly expect not to be charged excess fares, but the sad reality is that they are.  TransLink should highlight this on their web site, for example 'When travelling on connecting rail services with the Airtrain, break your journey to save money!'."

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3247.0

2. TransLink Journey Planner http://www.translink.com.au/

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From The Satellite 5th May 2010 pages 1 and 3

Front cover



Page 3 article



Thanks Satellite for highlighting this fare anomaly.