go card to replace Queensland Rail one-third school tickets in 2011

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/queensland-rail-one-third-student
go card to replace Queensland Rail one-third school tickets in 2011  --- really?

How about letting the dysfunctional Transport and Main Roads know about this move ..

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/26270488-6150-4eec-b936-d23ae39950d1/pdf_stas_policy.pdf  accessed 1915 hours 8 Jan 2011

page 12

1.3.3.1 Student discount fares
All school students (except mature age, overseas, interstate
and exchange students) attending approved primary or
secondary schools are eligible for student discount fares on
the CityTrain network.
These discount fares are available for travel to and from
school and are charged at a maximum rate of one-third of
the adult fare. They are only available for travel on school
days between the station nearest to the student's home and
the station nearest to the school attended. To be able to
receive the student fare, students must be in school uniform
or show an official school identification card.
More information on student discount fares can be obtained
from railway stations.

What a cluster the bureaucracy is ..  fail!

[ClintonL94]

I travel to and from school by bus provided by Translink..I use a school pass provided by Logan City Bus Service to get the discount..Do you know anything about these passes, will they still been used in 2011?

[aldonius]

The 6 and 12 month passes still exist for QR, looks like this is more of a continuation of the "remove all paper tickets yada yada" thinking.

[p858snake]

I travel to and from school by bus provided by Translink..I use a school pass provided by Logan City Bus Service to get the discount..Do you know anything about these passes, will they still been used in 2011?

QR:Student were only valid for QR services so I don't know if Translink acknowledged that these ever existed for their other sponsored services (eg: BT bus services), I know BT used to make special passes (pre gocard days) that students had to use for their discounts.

[ozbob]

The point here is that the information states that school students will be able to access 1/3 fares, not 50% as Translink is promoting with go card. This is not being made clear to students (and their parents).

Clinton, bus passes --> http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/other-tickets/school-tickets-and-fares

[ozbob]

Media Release 9 January 2011

SEQ:  Fare changes impact on school students

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 said school students and their parents need to carefully examine the options for ticketing for school travel in 2011 as most types of paper tickets are removed from sale with effect 17th January 2011 (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"According to the TransLink web site 'go card will replace all multi-trip paper tickets - including all daily, weekly, monthly and Queensland Rail one-third student paper tickets'.  This is confusing with respect to the information on the Transport and Main Roads web site which states 'All school students (except mature age, overseas, interstate and exchange students) attending approved primary or secondary schools are eligible for student discount fares on the CityTrain network. These discount fares are available for travel to and from school and are charged at a maximum rate of one-third of the adult fare (2)'.  The concession go card fares for students are 50% of the adult fare not 33%."

"Six and twelve month rail passes are still to be available according to the TransLink website (3).  Some parents may like to seek out this alternative rather than paying for 50% fares using the go card."

"The information presently on the TransLink website touting the benefits of go card does not explicitly inform that the fares using a concession go card will be at 50% of the adult fare, not 33% as was the case with the Queensland Rail one-third student paper tickets (3)."

"More information on school tickets and fares including the School Transport Assistance Scheme can be found on the TransLink web site (4)."

"Forewarned is forearmed!"


References:

1. http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/changes-to-fares-and-ticketing-in-2011

2. http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/26270488-6150-4eec-b936-d23ae39950d1/pdf_stas_policy.pdf  accessed 1915 hours 8 Jan 2011 page 12

3. http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/queensland-rail-one-third-student

4. http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/other-tickets/school-tickets-and-fares

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Another example of 'Exploit opportunities to promote go card.' ....

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2877.msg44194#msg44194

[KS]

While the 1/3 fare may be going I don't think it is that much of a problem compared to go card.

the 1/3 is based on the paper ticket price an example is for a 4 zone trip.

An adult 4 zone paper ticket in 2011 is $6.10 1/3 of that is $2.03 and it is restricted to trains only between the students school and home station

The same trip on a student go card is $2.07 and can be used on any mode of transport at any time.

While it is going to be more expensive it is only 4 cents more expensive than if the 1/3 fare was continued, as well as allowing for much greater flexibility (also any travel off peak - such as weekends will only be $1.76)

[ozbob]

No, the fare is one third of the Adult fare.  The adult fare is not necessarily the paper fare. As written it could be argued that the go card adult fare is the bench mark.

The purpose of highlighting it was to make sure parents were aware that 6 and 12 month passes are still available.  A lot of parents have concerns with go cards and constant fixed fares, and damaged go cards and their replacement.  It has been a constant issue through feedback.

[STB]

In terms of fixed fares, I really don't think the equipment is failing as bad as it used to, and I travel heaps!  This year I only encountered about 5 instances of equipment failure fixed fares, all GPS based.  In the 12 months between now and this time last year I encounted no failed eqiupment (where you couldn't touch at all) mid way through my journey where I wouldn't be able to touch off. 

My experience watching students with go cards getting fixed fares is either, they don't touch off, or they are cancelling their touch ons at the back of the bus which now incurs a fixed fare.  In terms of damaged Go Cards, I have seen students playing around with the cards like toys, bending them etc.  In other words, I don't think the entire blame can be put on the system, there has to be a level of user blame as well.

[KS]

No, the fare is one third of the Adult fare.  The adult fare is not necessarily the paper fare. As written it could be argued that the go card adult fare is the bench mark.

The purpose of highlighting it was to make sure parents were aware that 6 and 12 month passes are still available.  A lot of parents have concerns with go cards and constant fixed fares, and damaged go cards and their replacement.  It has been a constant issue through feedback.

Oh ok, I have used the 1/3 school passes and they were purchased as paper tickets and were 1/3 the adult paper ticket price, I was just making the point that if someone is already using them at those prices and then moves to a go card the price increase wouldn't be that much greater than if the 1/3 price continued.

If they are telling parents 1/3 adult fare then I agree it is misleading and confusing to parents.

I agree with you on the 6 and 12 month pass but as a replacement for single/daily trip school passes the go card is a good replacement

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/news-and-updates/back-to-school

Back to school

Ensure the kids get off to school on the right foot with go card.

Now that daily, weekly, monthly and Queensland Rail one-third fares are no longer sold - go card is the best option. Travel using go card and save at least 30% on the cost of a single paper ticket.

Once you've got one register the card so that the balance is safe if lost or stolen and set up auto top-up to ensure that the kids always have enough credit to travel.

School goes back on Monday 24 January.

More --> http://www.translink.com.au/news-and-updates/back-to-school