18 Feb 2008: SEQ: Go Card fair fare campaign launched by RAIL Back On Track

[ozbob]

Media Release 18 February 2008

SEQ: Go Card fair fare campaign launched by RAIL Back On Track

RAIL ? Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)  a web based community organisation for the promotion and support of rail and public transport throughout Australia has launched a campaign calling for fair fares for all commuters if they use the Go Card, independent of their patterns of travel (1).

Robert Dow said that:

?The present fare scheme on the Go Card is not an incentive for uptake of the smart card ticket.?

?The cost of travel with the Go Card is more expensive compared to the present paper integrated ticketing for the majority of commuters.?

?The only fare structure announced, the frequent user scheme, is causing much concern to public transport users who face significant fare increases relative to the present integrated paper ticketing should they use the card.  We note that paper ticketing will be maintained for a period following card roll-out but surely the whole point of investing $134 million dollars or so will be to eventually replace the present system, otherwise we will just have two expensive duplicate ticketing systems??

?A failure to secure a high uptake of the Go Card will render useless the massive expenditure of tax payer funds and lead to a sad loss of the improved outcomes for public transport that would otherwise be possible.?

?The Queensland Government and Translink obstinately refuse to acknowledge the true facts.?

?We call on all public transport users to look at the facts and visit our web site at www.backontrack.org (2).?

?Make up your mind if the Go Card fare is fair and support the call!? said Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.


Reference:

1. http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=516.0

2. http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?board=27.0

Contact:

Robert Dow

admin@backontrack.org
Administration RAIL Back On Track