Thursday's Rail Boycott - Flyers available for those who need to catch the train

[glasshouseT]

 
A lot of people have said they need to catch the train on Thursday but would like to support the action toward rolling back the fare increases
I have attached a copy of a small flyer which people can download & carry - hopefully prominently
The flyer also has the phone number for the Minister's Office so it would be great if people called her office on the day  

I have placed copies of the Flyer in the Sugar & Spice coffee shop in Adelaide St & the Muffin place in Post Office Sq.  
I will be standing in Anzac Sq tomorrow morning with copies if anyone would like to come & get one.  THe copies are on bright yellow paper so that they will be visible if people stick them to their bags & carry them in their hands on Thursday.  

Flyer click --> here!

[#Metro]

Adelaide residents have done this before--> http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/hundreds-plead-fix-it-pat/story-e6freo8c-1111114783245

HUNDREDS of Adelaide commuters have vented their fury at Transport Minister Patrick Conlon over the city¿s beleaguered rail system ¿ and challenged him to travel on the trains to experience delays first-hand.

Furious at repeated problems on the rail network, travellers this morning pinned their frustration to their chests by wearing Sunday Mail Fix It Pat badges.

The Sunday Mail distributed hundreds of the badges during peak hour across the Gawler, Noarlunga, Belair and Outer Harbor lines – those hardest hit by Thursday's morning train chaos when 15,000 commuters were stranded or delayed after a computer malfunction.

[ozbob]

Media Release 15 March 2011

SEQ:  Disgruntled rail passengers go for a boycott on the 17th March 2011

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 highlighted the call for a boycott of rail services by disgruntled public transport commuters on the 17th March 2011 (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Many regular rail commuters used to use seasonal tickets, such as monthly, three monthly, six monthly and yearly tickets for not only their long haul rail commutes but for additional bonus journeys at weekends and after hours.  This was a great outcome for the broader community as it encouraged maximum public transport use and lead to broad economic benefits in terms of reduced environmental impacts, less congestion and reduced road trauma costs. Seasonal paper tickets were discontinued when the new fare structure was introduced on the 24th January this year."

"The go card fare structure has no periodical ticketing options, and no daily or weekly capping as is the case for most other smart card public transport tickets.  The cost impacts of the new fare structure for a Zone 16 commuter are as follows:

In 2009, an annual ticket to Zone 16 cost $3224.60.

In 2011, a go card to Zone 16 will cost $5803.20 for equivalent Monday to Friday commute, this is an 80% increase (over $2580 more).

In 2014 in line with the 15% per annum fare increases flagged, a go card to Zone 16 for the Monday to Friday commute will cost $8834.80. In other words, the 2014 fare is $5610.20 more than the 2009 fare - a 274% price increase of the original fare!

"It is little wonder that disgruntled commuters are calling for a boycott on the 17th March 2011 (2).

"This boycott call has sprung up spontaneously from  rail commuters as a sign of their frustration with the new fare structure and they are suggesting that commuters take a holiday, flex day, work from home, car-pool, or find some other transport to work on the 17th March."

"The commuters are  suggesting that TransLink's approach to managing public transport is driving people off the trains and back onto the roads!

"They say 'We are being trained to drive'."

"The rail commuters are making the following requests to TransLink and Government:

'We want to be eligible for Off Peak fares when we board our trains, from Zones 9-23 (e.g. Caboolture-Gympie North) before 7.00am.'

'We want the following situation to be redressed. We receive NO rebate on fares when the trains run late - we can lose a half-hour and more of paid work but we are still expected to pay full fare.'

'We want an improvement to the half price fares after 10 journeys in a week. The majority of weekday workers are ineligible for it.'

'We want periodic ticketing options, e.g. weekly, monthly, 3, 6 and 12 month tickets (like we used to have) included with the go card.
e.g. 12 month ticket, we want 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. This would encourage people to actually touch on and off to get a real discount and reduce fare evasion.'

"We live in a democracy and we support the rail commuters in their call for an improved fare structure for the go card! The train frequency generally on the south-east Queensland network is very poor.  Perth can manage 15 minutes on most lines most of the time.  'Rotten apples' at a high price are not popular!"

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5472.0

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5604.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[Fares_Fair]

  well worded Bob, thank you.

Regards,
Fares_Fair

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 15th March 2011 page 2

Rail user protest on track

[Stillwater]

This issue got about half an hour of airplay on ABC local radio this morning.  Callers complained about the inconvenient times of train services, the high price of fares and impacts on pensioners and daytrippers or those from overseas who may want to travel by train and bus from Brisbane for the day.  The Sunshine Coast Daily ran a story also: http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/03/16/rail-boycott-planned-sunshine-coast-to-brisbane/

[Stillwater]

We all complain about the inadequacies of the Sunshine Coast Line, including the 'dance of the trains', where trains have to be shunted onto sidings to allow others to pass, or they overrun and then reverse into platforms along the line.  If you search You Tube for 'dance of the trains' this appears:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkBepgH00GM&feature=related
Perhaps a more effective protest would be for the Sunny Coasters to practice on a football field somewhere, then perform something similar on the Brisbane Central Station concourse.  Incidentally, the performance at Antwerp's main railway station was what's called 'a random act of culture' -- taking culture to people in their everyday life.

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Rail boycott planned

Rail boycott planned

Mark Bode | 16th March 2011

IN what is being billed as an unprecedented action, hundreds of rail commuters are expected to boycott Sunshine Coast to Brisbane services over fare increases.

Commuter Jeff Addison will boycott Translink's Sunshine Coast to Brisbane service.He said his yearly ticketing costs had increased by 80%.
Jason Dougherty

IN what is being billed as an unprecedented action, hundreds of rail commuters are expected to boycott Sunshine Coast to Brisbane services tomorrow over massive fare increases.

Boycott organisers estimate about 2000 people use peak-hour services between the Coast and Brisbane each day, and they hope more than 50% will participate in the action.

While fare increases under the full introduction of Translink's controversial Go Card at the start of the year is driving tomorrow's planned boycott, passenger discontent over expected timetable changes has further fuelled commuter outrage.

Palmwoods resident Jeff Addison, who travels to Brisbane on the train five days a week and is one of the organisers of the boycott, yesterday accused Translink of a flagrant rip-off.

He also said the State Government agency was driving people away from public transport and back on to roads.

"And they'll say with a straight face that they're trying to encourage public transport," he said. "It's just oxymoronic. It really is."

Mr Addison, who plans to work from home on Thursday instead of travelling to Brisbane, said monthly and yearly deals were no longer available under the Go Card, resulting in a huge price spike.

He said a 12-month ticket cost him $3224 in 2009, while he now paid $5803 a year under the Go Card system – an 80% increase.

And it is only going to get worse, according to the senior structural draftsman, with fares set to increase 15% annually until 2014.

In 2014, Mr Addison said his yearly travel bill would be a whopping $8040.

Only one-way paper tickets were now available, he said, and were 30% more expensive than the Go Card.

"The only people who don't (use the Go Card) is the poor old tourist, who are going to be ripped off," he said.

Member for Glass House Andrew Powell said he wanted a return to greater fare flexibility and discounts.

"Word is a lot of commuters will either take the day off work or carpool down to Brisbane," he said.

A Translink spokesman said additional revenue from fare changes would be used to meet growing demand, with 305,000 additional weekly seats to be added across South-East Queensland.

He said that included the additional weekly bus seats added to the Coast in December and the extra train services that would be added to the Sunshine Coast line as part of the new train timetable.

[Fares_Fair]

Correction:

In 2014, Mr Addison said his yearly travel bill would be a whopping $8840.

[glasshouseT]

A lot of people have said that they have no option but to catch the train tomorrow but are happy to carry the yellow Flyers  & some are going to ring the Minister for Transport's office . 
Before I get into my car to drive down tomorrow I will again be handing out flyers at Glasshouse station for those with no option but to take the train. I will wait there till the Gympie North train has gone through so if anyone is willing to hand out flyers in the carriages during their trip down I'll be standing on Glasshouse station near the stairs - just call out to me & I'll hand you a bundle. 
We are getting some encouraging signs that this new Minister is listening so if enough people show support, or email her or ring her office (3237 1111) tomorrow we may get somewhere.  Or email her at transport@ministerial.qld.gov.au

Also, Andrew Powell & "a disgruntled passenger" will be doing an ABC Radio interview at around 7.15am in the morning.


After the Gympie North Train has gone through at around 7.40 (hopefully !!! ) I intend to drive to Carseldine & catch the Rocket Bus to the City.  I may have a spare seat if anyone is needing a lift.  Don't know what time I'll get in, but just for tomorrow , I don't care....

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Commuters gear up for rail boycott

Commuters gear up for rail boycott
Daniel Hurst
March 16, 2011 - 4:44PM

Disgruntled commuters are encouraging travellers to bypass rail services in protest at steep fare increases and the loss of seasonal saver tickets.

Backers of tomorrow's planned rail boycott in southeast Queensland have urged commuters not to simply switch to cars and make road congestion worse.

A group of disgruntled commuters has been handing out leaflets encouraging travellers to bypass rail services on March 17 in protest at a number of grievances, including steep fare increases and the loss of seasonal saver tickets.

Motoring group RACQ has warned drivers to allow a bit more time to get to work tomorrow in case the boycott leads to more traffic on the roads.

However, boycott supporter Jeff Addison, who travels from Palmwoods to Central station each day, said he hoped participants would not add to problems on already-congested roads.

"I wouldn't want to inconvenience other motorists myself in an already congested state because we want to protest over rail fare increases," he said.

"We're encouraging people to take a flexi-day and work from home or car pool if they can."

RACQ executive manager of traffic and safety John Wikman said it was unclear how many people would switch from trains to cars.

"Depending on that, we'd be saying to people who are the motoring public, allow yourselves some extra time because you may be sharing the road with other people," he said.

He said motorists already experienced congestion along the Bruce Highway and Gympie Road.

"If people want to protest and get off the train into their cars, it's going to be worse, it's going to be chaos out there basically," he said.

Mr Addison, who has been handing out flyers promoting the one-day boycott, said there was strong interest in the action from commuters who travelled longer distances to get to work.

He said the loss of saver tickets like monthly and yearly passes had hurt long-haul commuters the most, in addition to the 15 per cent journey fare hike in January.

"I previously used a 12-month ticket and that cost $3224.60," he said.

"With a Go Card it's going to cost $5803 – that's just 10 trips a week for 52 weeks. That's an increase of almost 80 per cent.

"Driving is certainly looking a lot cheaper even in spite of the increases in petrol prices."

Mr Addison said the existing Go Card incentives for discount travel after 10 journeys in a week were inadequate for most commuters.

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said commuters were angry that the Go Card fare structure had no periodical ticketing options, and no daily or weekly capping in contrast to most other smart card public transport tickets.

"This boycott call has sprung up spontaneously from rail commuters as a sign of their frustration with the new fare structure and they are suggesting that commuters take a holiday, flex day, work from home, car-pool, or find some other transport to work [tomorrow]," he said.

Go Card users must rack up 10 journeys in a week before they gain access to half-price travel for subsequent journeys in that Monday-to-Sunday period.

In January, TransLink introduced a daily fare cap for seniors and pensioners but did not extend it to the general travelling public or other concession holders.

Rail Back on Track this month renewed its calls for daily fare capping to be extended to all users, with a price ceiling ideally encouraging people to make numerous journeys throughout the day.

The organisation also wants authorities to follow the lead of interstate rivals and bring in periodical savers options for Go Card users to replace the old weekly and monthly tickets.

More than 1500 people voted in a brisbanetimes.com.au poll earlier this month on southeast Queensland transport fares, with nine in 10 respondents attacking the current prices and incentives.

The site was also flooded with comments from disgruntled commuters, after an opinion piece by TransLink CEO Peter Strachan defending the existing system.

In the piece, Mr Strachan said frequency and reliability of services were the most important issues for commuters, but he also flagged plans to introduce "an expanded ticket range" in the future.

He said customers would continue to have influence over future ticketing products, but the fare structure "must continue to deliver a program of more frequent and reliable services".

Queensland's new transport minister, Annastacia Palaszczuk, signalled she would look at ways to improve the fare structure.

"If there are ways to enhance Go Card without cutting back on vital transport infrastructure projects like bringing forward the Springfield rail line extension and station by two years, then we'll explore those options," she told brisbanetimes.com.au earlier this month.

Ms Palaszczuk sang the praises of the Go Card system but said authorities should not be "self-satisfied" about the current arrangements.

Opposition public transport spokeswoman Tracy Davis said at the time the Liberal National Party was developing its policies but recognised that people wanted periodical incentives.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Commuters threaten boycott over rising go card prices

Commuters threaten boycott over rising go card prices

    * Robyn Ironside and Peter Hall
    * From: The Courier-Mail
    * March 17, 2011 12:00AM

FEWER than one in 10 go card users are qualifying for a weekly frequent-user discount introduced by TransLink in the place of seasonal train and bus tickets.

The loss of the monthly and annual tickets has angered commuters to the point where hundreds are today expected to join a boycott of public transport to protest fare hikes.

People travelling into Brisbane from the Sunshine Coast have seen their annual transport bill jump from $3224.60 based on a 12-month ticket to $5803.20 this year. By 2014, they will be paying $8834.80 a year to commute from zone 16 representing a 274 per cent increase on five years earlier.

Draftsman Jeff Addison, who commutes from Palmwoods to Brisbane City, is among those planning to car-pool or work from home today in an effort to send a message to TransLink.

"We want a fair fare structure for the go card, equal to weekly, monthly, six-month or 12-month season ticket caps," he said. "We want rolling discounts and off-peak fares for pre-7am boarders."

The only discount currently available to full-fare commuters is for "frequent-users" who make more than 10 journeys a week using their go card.

After 10 trips, they pay half-price fares but currently only 35,000 of the 410,000 weekly go card users are qualifying.

Robert Dow, of commuter advocacy group Back on Track, supported the calls for the return of seasonal tickets.

"Many regular rail commuters used to use monthly, three-monthly, six-monthly and yearly tickets not only for their long haul rail commutes but for additional bonus journeys at weekends and after hours," he said. "This boycott call has sprung up spontaneously from rail commuters as a sign of their frustration with the new fare structure.

"The commuters are suggesting that TransLink's approach to managing public transport is driving people off the trains and back on to the roads."

Sunshine Coast retiree Peter Sim said the frequent user discount was being falsely promoted to commuters who made two journeys each day involving mutliple transfers.

"In the morning I usually catch a bus then a train from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane, then on the way home I get a bus, then a train then another bus," Mr Sim said.

"Although I'm touching on and touching off for each trip, I've been informed TransLink considers a single trip from point A to point B regardless of how many services you use to get there."

TransLink spokesman Andrew Berkman confirmed the discount policy required customers to take "10 journeys" in a week before the 50 per cent discount fares took effect.

"Customers should note that a journey may consist up to three transfers," he said.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th March 2011

Now is hour ...

Greetings,

Today 17th March 2011 many frustrated public transport users in south-east Queensland are demonstrating their frustration with the poor fare structure for the go card by boycotting the actual services or alternatively showing a protest flyer in their workplace etc. (Flyer available here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5604.0

As a commuter advocacy group, we have for over three years now, challenged constantly the failure to implement a fare structure that truly drives public transport uptake and maximises the fare box.  A list of our media releases on the go card over the years is here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=429.0

We have always supported the go card, but we have constantly challenged the fare structure.  The projected fare increases (15% per annum till 2014 on top of the increases already) are simply not sustainable  with the present fare structure and are already generating an enormous public backlash.  How much more it will be unless there are further fare enhancements?

There needs to be an urgent review and implementation of a fare structure that is in line with other public transport jurisdictions, capping and periodical options are what the commuters want.  Increases of  270% over five years in the cost of their commute is simply unacceptable by any standard.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org