Proposed 1 Day Boycott of Rail Services (all Brisbane area lines) - 17 March

[glasshouseT]

 
Hi all
We are seeking support and participation in a 1 day boycott of the rail services on Thursday 17 March.  We are hoping that people will join in on that day and not use the trains - either take a day off, a Flex Day, Work from Home, Car-Pool, use a City Cat or find other transport to work.    :bi    The issue behind this action is to put more pressure on the new Minister and on Translink to review the new fares and cut back on the increases.  Hopefully, by hurting the pocket of the Department of Transport we can highlight that Translink's approach to managing public transport is driving people off the trains and back onto the roads.  We probably all know someone who has found other ways of getting to work as the trains have become so expensive.  Given the way our political system works, it could be very embarassing for the Minister for Transport to face questions in Parliamentary Estimates hearings about why their new pricing structure is actually reducing transport income. 
As we point out in the flyer we are distributing, those of us who used to be on Annual tickets have had a price rise since December 2010 of just under 75%.   
There are also those of us who travel on the out-of-town lines - such as the Nambour line - who have long drives to even get to the train station : 2 of my fellow travellers spend $60 pw apprx on fuel in addition to their train fares.   
We do not have the access to off-peak ticket prices that people closer to Central have - for us to get on a train at 9.01 we would not get to work until well after 10.30.  This is not equitable to the opportunities to save money on fares that those liveing closer in, and already paying cheaper fares, have available.   
We would like to be eligible for Off Peak fares when we board our trains, at Caboolture and beyond, before 7.00am.
We do not receive any rebate on our fares when the trains run late - we can lose a half hour & more of paid work time sitting in the middle of nowhere but are still expected to pay full fare.   
There are a number of ways in which the fare increases could be rolled back - either periodic tickets could be re-introduced or a pricing system could be introduced which starts to decrease the amount you are charged, with increasing discounts, according to the frequency of travel & costs paid continuing over a year.  Currently you get half price fares after 10 journeys in a week - but this lasts only for that week.  It is quite possible for Translink to introduce a system which discounts your fare by an additional percentage after every, say 40 or 50 journeys - down to a set limit - but in place for the whole year.  (I would love to be able to work my way down from full fare to paying half of the new fare for the last 6 months of the year.!!!    This would also encourage people to actually swipe on & off !
I have attached a copy of the Boycott Flyer to this post - please copy & distribute this to fellow travellers.  Please also, write to the Minister, write to your local papers. 
Many Thanks
Glasshouse T 

[ozbob]

Certainly support further fare enhancements on the go card to include periodical options and some form of improved universal capping.  

I see no real issue with extending the present journey cap for Seniors and some pensioners, to all.  This would be smart and take a lot of heat out of the whole issue.  Be easy to roll out.

I see a potential issue though with periodical options for the go card in that it may only be available to registered users via online.

[Fares_Fair]

You can write to :
Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, Member for Inala
Minister for Transport and Multicultural Affairs

Ministerial Postal address :
GPO Box 806, BRISBANE QLD 4001

Ministerial Email address :
Inala@parliament.qld.gov.au

Ministerial Office :
Level 6B, Neville Bonner Building
75 William Street
BRISBANE QLD
4000


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Derwan]

take a day off, a Flex Day,

And head to the pubs for St Patrick's day! 

[Jonno]

I reckon we all drive and just watch the mayhem and gridlock unfurl.  Might still need to be a flex day as you may never get to work.

[BrizCommuter]

Boycott of services.
Less passengers.
QR do passenger load survey on that day.
Load survey shows reduced patronage.
TransLink thus decides line doesn't need extra services.

Doh!

[Fares_Fair]

The 52% of our weekly services that are Rail bus services from Nambour to Caboolture says otherwise ! 

Regards,
Fares-Fair.

[Stillwater]

FF
Just check new Minister's address.  She could be moving office to take up her new duties.

I like the idea of cheaper fares for all who catch earlier trains, or later trains, (spread the load) so such an arrangement could benefit Sunny Coast and Gold Coast commuters especially.  I was surprised that a train from the Gold Coast pulled into Beenleigh about 708am this morning virtually choc-a-block.  Passengers to got on board for the express train from there to the city had to stand.  What's that?  45mins.  Not up to the OH&S standard.

The one-day boycott will have limited success, I believe.  Has anyone thought about organising SC commuters to turn up for the one train?  Have people lining up six to eight deep along the platform at Landsborough (with TV cameras rolling), or force trains to run express because they are so full of people -- target one or two services.

[Fares_Fair]

We (sunny coasters) already do that every day SW.  

I do agree with you however, it is a statement more than an injury to TRANSLink's finances.
Personally, I wouldn't want to disadvantage anyone by a protest action.
That just isn't me - but then this isn't my protest either.

They do have some good ideas about the goCard capping though, and the embarkation off-peak times.

I note that their protest is not just for the Sunshine Coast line though, it is for all SEQ lines affected by the 15% fare hikes and loss of discount season tickets.
They should probably include buses as well, but they tend to be for shorter trips anyway - so maybe not.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[BrizCommuter]

, or force trains to run express because they are so full of people

That won't happen. SE Queensland trains still stop at stations when full.

[somebody]

I was surprised that a train from the Gold Coast pulled into Beenleigh about 708am this morning virtually choc-a-block.  Passengers to got on board for the express train from there to the city had to stand.  What's that?  45mins.  Not up to the OH&S standard.

Not helped by the ridiculous longitudinal seating on IMUs.  But we're getting off the point.

[ozbob]

Media release 27 February 2011

SEQ: Go card fare structure is failing - urgent review 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 calls for an urgent review of the go card fare structure, and ticketing policy on the TransLink network.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The community of Queensland is reeling from the impact of weather events and run-away cost of living increases across food, utilities, rates, rents, health insurance, looming fuel price increases, and public transport fare increases."

"There is much unrest amongst the public transport commuter community with respect to the poor fare structure for the go card and the recent fare increases of 15% for go card fares, and the at least 30% fare increases for paper single tickets.  The loss of daily and periodical ticket options is causing a lot of public transport commuter angst."

"Long haul rail commuters have been particularly hard hit with the recent fare increases and the proposed 15% per annum increases for the next four years at least (1). This amounts to huge fare increases for these people with the loss of periodical ticketing.  Accordingly some of these commuters are organising a day of protest on the 17th March, in the form of a boycott of rail services due to the massive fare increases (2).  This is made worse by the lack of real improvements to services in terms of frequency and quality on most lines."

"There needs to be an urgent review of the present fare structure for public transport in south-east Queensland.  Pending that review the two journey daily fare cap presently enjoyed by Seniors and some pensioners needs to be immediately extended to all go card users. This could be implemented overnight.  Consideration then be given to the rapid introduction of daily cap and a periodical options for the go card, pending the outcome of the review. Off peak fares need to be extended from 7pm to 2am, to a 7pm - 7am window, as well as the present off peak daily window of 9am to 3.30pm (3). This would assist with peak congestion management."

References:

1.   http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/planned-fares

2.   Proposed 1 Day Boycott of Rail Services (all Brisbane area lines) - 17 March   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5472.0

3.   http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/peak-and-off-peak-fares

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ButFli]

, or force trains to run express because they are so full of people

That won't happen. SE Queensland trains still stop at stations when full.

Surely the trains have to stop at all stations because passengers on board might want to de-train there. It isn't like a bus where passengers can press a button to stop.

[nocost]

Right, Protest by losing a days pay. What about growing a pair and just refuse to pay. Don't touch on or off on #17march see if that gets their attention? Those grey-shirt Translink cops can't arrest all of us. Yes, they have "power of arrest". On that subject, Qld. police have no right to check your ticket/card.

[Gazza]

I dont think RBoT could condone people breaking the law though.

[ozbob]

Fare evasion is something we don't support.  The proposed boycott of rail services by some is their choice, we strongly support a review of the fare structure and ticketing on the TransLink network as stated in todays' release though.  Our position on this has been clear for a number of years now.

[somebody]

On that subject, Qld. police have no right to check your ticket/card.

I'm sure that they would if they had reasonable suspicion you're traveling without a ticket.  Are you sure that they don't have the power to do random searches?  If you are correct, then I've seen them exceed their power.

[ozbob]

http://www.police.qld.gov.au/rti/published/policies/traffic-manual/11/Ch_11_PT1.htm

Police are authorised officers and have every right to check tickets etc.

[Stillwater]

Fare evasion can't be condoned.  In the eyes of the general public, such people are a rabble and the cause to which they seek to draw attention is tarnished.

[Fares_Fair]

I agree, fare evasion is not the way to protest. It is not necessary (or appropriate) to break the law.
I would hope that the points of contention are raised and discussed with the appropriate authority with a view to bringing equity and a reasonable solution to the items raised.

I would hope that someone from the group has written to the new Transport Minister, Hon. Ms Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, outlining these concerns.
Lets see if she is listening.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Hello All,

There was a story in the Caloundra and Maroochy Journals regarding the proposed train boycott on 17 March, 2011.
See link below.

http://caloundra-journal.whereilive.com.au/news/story/commuters-plan-boycott/  

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

From the Caloundra Journal click here!

Commuters plan boycott

Commuters plan boycott
25 Feb 11 @ 05:00am

SUNSHINE Coast commuters are planning a boycott on March 17 to show their disgust at TransLink's proposed draft timetables, eradication of rail services and price hikes.

The decision to boycott the daily rail commute hasn't been taken lightly and comes as passengers reach the end of their tether following a series of changes to the peak-hour services by rail operator TransLink.

A passenger protest group has also contacted the Federal Member for Fairfax, Alex Somlyay, seeking his assistance with fighting the changes which will affect thousands of commuters on the Sunshine Coast.

Toni Carroll, who has commuted daily from the station at Glasshouse for the past nine-and-a-half years, said the main reason for the boycott was the 15per cent increase in fares, which came into effect last month.

Coupled with TransLink's decision to abolish six and 12 month paper tickets, she said this 15per cent rise would almost double the cost of the daily commute for many people.

In addition to the proposed changes to timetables meaning commuters starting at 8am or finishing at 5pm would have to start work late or wait up to 40 minutes for the next service home the final straw, Ms Carroll said, was the abolition of some of the rail services north of Caboolture.

"I've been chatting to a number of commuters about canvassing the idea of a boycott,'' she said.

"They are decreasing comfort and increasing costs, which is driving people away from public transport and back on the roads.

"They are planning to replace some of the lines with rail buses. The draft timetable removed the train lines between 5.04am and 5.46pm from Central, though there was to be a rail bus from Caboolture which would meet a Caboolture train during that period.

``That would have meant that commuters who couldn't be at Central by 5.04am would have to catch a Caboolture train, then get on a rail bus to head north   which is significantly less comfortable.''

The six and 12-month paper tickets have been replaced by the pay-per-journey Go-Card system, and a TransLink spokesman said this change would result in cheaper fares during off-peak periods from 9am to 3.30pm and after 7pm, with the Go Card off-peak discount increasing from 10 to 15per cent.

"On January 22, changes were made to ticketing across the TransLink network including a new fare structure which introduced daily capping for seniors, an increase in the off-peak discount and the removal of multi-trip paper tickets,'' a spokesperson said.

However, Ms Carroll said the peak-time travel costs had increased significantly.

"I used to pay $2300 annually, but now will have to pay up to $4000 and this will go up every station north of Glasshouse,'' she said.

"By boycotting the services, we're hoping to show them if it keeps getting so expensive we're going to have to find alternative options, which will really affect them and their bottom line.''

The TransLink spokesman said the company had received 2000 written responses to the timetable changes across the network.

[ClintonL94]

Right, Protest by losing a days pay. What about growing a pair and just refuse to pay. Don't touch on or off on #17march see if that gets their attention? Those grey-shirt Translink cops can't arrest all of us. Yes, they have "power of arrest". On that subject, Qld. police have no right to check your ticket/card.

I'd rather pay my fare than evade and pay a $150 fine. It's a offence. The government has every right to check your fare, refusing to show your go card or ticket would most probably mean you don't have one and will be fined!

[Fares_Fair]

This is not about evading a fare ClintonL94.
It's a day away from the trains, a boycott of the rail services on Thursday 17th March, 2011.
Have a day off, car pool or work from home it extolls.

It is about sending a message to TRANSLink that their charges are oxymoronic.

They claim to be encouraging people to use public transport.
They do this by upping the fares (for bus and rail and ferry) a guaranteed 15% per annum for the next 3 years (until 2014).

They are not improving service delivery by 15% per annum.
Our trains are still regularly late, twice last week 2 days in a row by 15 and 20 minutes respectively on the Sunshine Coast Line.
We still get carriages without air conditioning on 45 minute express leg runs with no fresh air or ventilation.

Commuters are upset by massive increase in costs compared to the previous monthly, 6 monthly and 12 monthly tickets.
e.g. mine cost $3224.60 last year with a 12 month ticket - paid up front at the start of the year.
Under the goCard it will cost $5803.20 this year.
That is an 80% increase.
In January 2014 it will cost me $8834.80 !  

There is no reciprocal improvement in service delivery that comes close to matching the cost increases.
People will be heading back to the roads in droves.

What should TRANSLink do you ask ?
They need to introduce equitable fares that match the actual frequency or levels of service.
They need to introduce fare capping on the goCard for weekly, monthly, 6 month or 12 month options.
If they claim the card is smart, let's see how smart it can really be.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ClintonL94]

Yeah I changed my post a bit Fares_Fair..

But what's the problem? Queensland is still the cheapest public transport. We're going to benefit out of the increase of fares with more extra services in time.

I'm just a teenager and rely on public transport to get around! Fares won't decrease because what's to pay for the projects and wages of staff for extra services?

I support the fare capping..

Would it cost you more or less in fuel to get to and from work each year? Insurance etc too..

[Stillwater]

Clinton, at the going rate, it would be about $70 from Nembour to Brisbane, plus $28 for parking the car in the city for the day (early bird rates), then $70 back home again.

I am after a better service, not necessarily cheaper fares.  Among the alternatives being discussed, including capping, I can see some benefits in addressing peak hour overcrowding by having a lower fare for people who commute before 7am or after 6pm at night.  This would spread the load.

Indirectly, it would help Sunny Coast commuters, as many of them board trains before 7am.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Public transport in southeast Queensland ranks among world's most expensive

Public transport in southeast Queensland ranks among world's most expensive

    * by Robyn Ironside
    * From: The Courier-Mail
    * March 01, 2011 12:00AM

SOUTHEAST Queensland commuters are paying some of the highest prices in the world for public transport, despite being consistently told train and bus fares are very competitive.

Since the 15 per cent price hike in January, the cost of a zone two go card fare has climbed to $3.11, cheaper than the London underground ($3.95) but dearer than comparable distances in Berlin ($2.85), Paris ($2.30) and Madrid ($1.70).

Tokyo residents pay $1.95 for a subway single, New Yorkers pay $2.50 and Los Angeles residents $1.47.

Most cities also offer heavily discounted weekly or monthly tickets, which are no longer available in southeast Queensland's go card fare structure.

In New York, $29 gets you a seven-day unlimited-trip subway ticket and in Madrid a monthly zone A ticket costs $62 less than what many Brisbane commuters are spending on train or bus fares a fortnight.

The price differences have sparked calls from a commuter advocacy group for a major overhaul of ticket pricing in southeast Queensland.

Robert Dow, of Back on Track, said the steep fares were not only putting people off using public transport, they were damaging tourism.

"We think it's got to a pretty serious situation and, anecdotally, we've been told there seems to be some evidence patronage has fallen since the January increase," Mr Dow said.

"The other thing is the high cost of paper tickets, which are usually the ones bought by tourists. You're looking at $3.90 for a zone one ticket and $4.60 for two zones. That can't be good for tourism."

He said although former Transport Minister Rachel Nolan stated in October 2009 that "passengers would continue to pay cheaper fares than in Sydney and Melbourne" despite the fare increases, that was not the case.

"Weekly tickets are available in Sydney for as little as $25, and in Melbourne from $29.40," Mr Dow said.

"People who commute from the Sunshine Coast, for example, are looking at paying an extra $5000 or $6000 a year in fares because of the loss of the periodical ticket. Politically it's going to be disastrous."

But a Translink spokesman defended the cost of public transport in southeast Queensland, describing it as "one of the best value for money" networks in Australia.

"For every $1 the customer spends on public transport it is subsidised by about $3 from taxpayers, making fares good value when compared with similar-sized networks across the world," he said.

"Public transport continues to offer value for money when compared to car travel and we would encourage everyone to use public transport and compare it with the efficiency of using their car."

Members of Back on Track have planned a boycott of rail services on March 17 to protest massive fare hikes.

[#Metro]

"For every $1 the customer spends on public transport it is subsidised by about $3 from taxpayers, making fares good value when compared with similar-sized networks across the world," he said.

"Public transport continues to offer value for money when compared to car travel and we would encourage everyone to use public transport and compare it with the efficiency of using their car."

Rubbish!

We have the WORST FREQUENCY.
Only in Brisbane will you find ridiculous frequency half-hourly so close to the city, like at Coorparoo.
Only in Brisbane will you find outbuildings such as Dutton Park which are in a visible state of actual decay.

The high subsidy isn't evidence of happy government support- it is evidence of a high cost, low quality system that fails to attract enough paying customers!
30% farebox recovery is one of the world's lowest. Good public transport systems have less subsidy, not more.
More evidence that rotten apples do not attract many customers and therefore leads to low takings at the farebox.
Car is far better. In half an hour the bus or train pulls up at the stop. In a car, you'd be there already.

[Stillwater]

Increasingly, people are being forced into a position of accepting a poor PT service, as the price of petrol goes up -- above $1.50 a litre on the Sunny Coast.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/03/01/petrol-to-hit-150-a-litre-sunshine-coast/

They will resign themselves to catching the bus or train.  The consumer is becoming like a cut snake.  Faced with price hikes for rates, electricity, water, the disaster levy and now fuel price increases (forget gimmics like $2 for a loaf of bread), they will lash out at the first opportunity -- the next (state) election.

It is unlikely that will be in March 2012, which is when it is due.  That also happens to be when the local government elections are held, so the campaigns won't run simultaneously.

People's brains go on holidays from the first week of December until Australia Day, which is when local councillors will be on their soap boxes.  That points to a state election in the period after the footy grand finals in September and mid to late November.

I am sure Anna will come up with an explanation along the lines of.  'I don't want the state election to coincide with local government elections -- let's keep the issues separate.  There has been so much speculation about an election that I thought we could end it, have one now so everyone can have a relaxing Christmas then get stuck into government in 2012.  Wait till you see my manifesto!

'We are going to order new train sets and we will build CRR, plus upgrade lines all over the South-east. [small print: by 2035 -- revised Connecting SEQ document]

[Stillwater]

Will the Opposition be caught offguard?  Will it have its policies in place by September or so?

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast click here!

Public transport passenger boycott on St Patrick's Day

02 March 2011 , 9:47 AM by Spencer Howson

There could be a public transport on march 17th - but not by the bus and train drivers - nor the ticket sellers.

The public transport advocacy group Rail back On Track wants passengers to stage a boycott on that day.

Robert Dow is the voice of Rail Back on Track:

[ozbob]

Channel 10 News click here!

[Fares_Fair]

 
well done !

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

Alex Douglas shared a link on RAIL - Back On Track's Wall.

Broadcast link to my speech on Gold Coast Transport yesterday in
Parliament -
"We do not need a flawed strategy being imposed upon us...Commuters
are so desperate for change that they are boycotting the trains on
Thursday, 17 March. They are calling for three main changes...
Minister, expect a few phone calls on 17 March 2011 because commuters
are not happy, and I am with them!"

Queensland Parliament - Chamber Audio

Click here!

Alex Douglas Member for Gaven

[ozbob]

If anyone who is a regular Gold Coast line commuter would like to have a chat to local media about the impact of the fare increases please contact me either by message or email admin@backontrack.org

Thanks.

[Fares_Fair]

Hello All,

Thursday (tomorrow's) Courier-Mail may have a story about the Passenger Strike / Train Boycott
scheduled for St Patrick's Day - Thursday 17th March, 2011.

Remember you heard it here first ... 

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Story in the Nambour Weekly today regarding the Train Boycott.
I have attached a PDF scanned copy for viewing.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Press CTRL+Shift+A++ (The plus button near backspace) to avoid reading with a sore neck

Why doesn't anyone mention about Queensland Rail and their own unlimited half/season passes from station to station? Can't use them on anything but trains but they were cheaper. Personally I'd rather see that being mentioned more than complaining about translink fares. Now that would be sticking it to translink

ps. Please don't tell me that these have been phased out too haha.

[Stillwater]

Perhaps people should be boycotting the Sunny Coast rail buses -- the bus you have when you don't have a train.  I suspect many are.  An 'all stops' railbus leaves Caboolture at 3.15pm and arrives at Nambour at 4.42pm -- almost one and a half hours for a rail journey that takes about an hour.  The next service north after 3.15pm is a 3.30pm limited stops bus, which actually arrives in Nambour 10 minutes BEFORE the earlier bus.  It leaves 15 minutes later and arrives 10 minutes earlier.

The 3.53pm train at Caboolture chugs north to Nambour, arriving at 4.49pm.  So the train leaves 38 minutes after the 3.15pm bus, which can be delayed along its journey, and they arrive virtually a whisker apart at Nambour.

MORNING TOWN JIBE(Sung to the tune of Morning Town Ride)

Train hooter honking
Shrills a sad refrain
Oh dear Minister
Where is our coastal train?

(Chorus)
Rockin', rollin', ridin', onwards to the north
Never know when we'll get there
Our future is fraught.

The timetable is changing
The stops they change as well
All bound for Nambour town;
Decending into hell.

We cram aboard the five-o-two
And cast our lot to fate
We head out into no-man's land
On signals we will wait.

Cheek by jowl we stand or faint
The fettered air we breathe
Ancient mountains they pass by
Cross legs to stop a pee.

Oh for our fast express
Whizzing on to home
Where-oh-where we ask ourselves
Anna where's it gone?

[#Metro]

That's OK fares_fare... LOL 
Were you going to wear ribbons or something for people? Not everyone has the luxury of going by car on the day...