Ministerial Statement: go cards for sale on the river

[ozbob]

Transport and Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
04/08/2011

go cards for sale on the river

Go cards will soon be offered for sale on board all CityCat and CityFerry services, Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk announced today.

Ms Palaszczuk told State Parliament the option to purchase go cards on board CityCat and CityFerry services would add an additional 27 outlets to the 570-strong go card retail network.

"Customers are able to top-up go cards on board all TransLink river services and this will allow those visiting the region to purchase a pre-loaded go card when they're on board," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"This simple-to-use system will allow users to integrate with other public transport modes and access the iconic sights and attractions of South East Queensland.

"We are continuing to expand our go card network, which has now been used for one-quarter of a billion trips since 2008.

"These are some of the best value river services in the world with most trips cheaper in 2011 than they were in 2003.

"Patronage on river services has been fluctuating since mid-2009 and services came to halt during the floods.

"This is just one way we can encourage people back to public transport to make our river services more attractive for recreation users and visitors."

Ms Palaszczuk said go cards will be available for sale on CityCats and CityFerries in coming months.

Last month Premier Anna Bligh announced an unprecedented partnership between the Commonwealth and State Governments to commit $145 million to replace the Brisbane Ferry and CityCat Terminals and the Riverwalk.

An expert panel had selected the three finalists to design the new terminals:

·Second Nature Collaborative (Candalepas, Owen&Vokes, Richards&Spence Architects) with ARUP

·Shane Thompson Architects & Lat27 with Bill Short Engineers

·Cox Rayner Architects / Alexander Lotersztain (Derlot)

The winner will be announced today.

[SurfRail]

I remember an "antediluvian" announcement in late 2010 about AVVMs being installed on all ferries, so I presume that is now going ahead?

[p858snake]

"Go cards will soon be offered for sale on board all CityCat and CityFerry services, Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk announced today."
On board or at the ferry terminals? Aren't the reads on the jetty/dock so it would be pointless to sell them on the ferry?

[ozbob]

No the readers are onboard.

[ozbob]

There was  talk back caller on 612ABC Radio this morning asking the Lord Mayor why it was so expensive to travel on the CityCat.

I think that since the fare increases this might be a factor in the falling patronage.

--> 612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast with Spencer Howson  Lord Mayor Graham Quirk answers your questions

[dwb]

There was  talk back caller on 612ABC Radio this morning asking the Lord Mayor why it was so expensive to travel on the CityCat.

I think that since the fare increases this might be a factor in the falling patronage.

--> 612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast with Spencer Howson  Lord Mayor Graham Quirk answers your questions

I reckon they should sell a basic $10 card on buses too.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk wants Translink to reintroduce daily tickets as passenger numbers on ferries fall

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk wants Translink to reintroduce daily tickets as passenger numbers on ferries fall

   Robyn Ironside
   From: The Courier-Mail
   August 11, 2011 12:35PM

BRISBANE's Lord Mayor is demanding the reintroduction of daily public transport tickets following a big nosedive in ferry patronage.

Graham Quirk said the State Government's decision to significantly increase fares and cancel daily tickets had halted the ``rampant growth'' in people using CityCats and ferries.

"We are known as a river city and our CityCats and Ferries are arguably the most popular way to explore Brisbane for tourists and locals alike," Cr Quirk said.

"But with the State Government cancelling the daily ticket while at the same time increasing fares by up to 40 per cent, river tourism is fast becoming something people avoid and that deeply concerns me."

Cr Quirk said statistics showed the number of people using ferries and CityCats for recreational purposes had plunged 16 per cent in the last 12 months.

"That is a very concerning trend considering they make up almost half of all ferry trips,'' he said.

Regular users had also abandoned the river transport, with numbers down eight per cent on the previous year.

The Lord Mayor acknowledged the Transport Minister's announcement this week that prepaid go cards would soon be sold on ferries, but he questioned how successful the scheme would be for one-off users.

"Translink's website states the minimum cost for a preloaded go card is $20,'' he said.

"When the daily tickets were scrapped they were $6.80 to travel all day across bus, train and ferry services within one zone and $7.80 within two zones.''

Commuter advocacy group Back on Track has also been campaigning for the return of daily and other periodical tickets.

[jouzocha]

BRISBANE's Lord Mayor is demanding the reintroduction of daily public transport tickets following a big nosedive in ferry patronage.

Graham Quirk said the State Government's decision to significantly increase fares and cancel daily tickets had halted the "rampant growth'' in people using CityCats and ferries.

"We are known as a river city and our CityCats and Ferries are arguably the most popular way to explore Brisbane for tourists and locals alike," Cr Quirk said.

"But with the State Government cancelling the daily ticket while at the same time increasing fares by up to 40 per cent, river tourism is fast becoming something people avoid and that deeply concerns me."

I agree with the Lord Mayor in this instance; daily tickets should be re-introduced as a matter of priority, including daily capping for go card users.  It evidently can be done - it already exists for pensioners & seniors.  The only reason I can imagine that it is not implemented for everyone else is simply that the State Government is in a perilous financial situation and needs to rake in ever cent it can from wherever it can.  However, I don't think this is a good reason to seriously hamper South-east Queensland's transportation system by charging excessive fares.

[O_128]

HELL NO, Im so sick of people buying paper tickets on buses, A 15min hop to south bank this morning took 25min, no traffic just people fumbling through there wallets looking for money, then arguing over the price, It drives me INSANE. 

[david]

Update from the Courier Mail

BRISBANE's Lord Mayor is demanding the reintroduction of daily public transport tickets following a big nosedive in ferry patronage.

Graham Quirk said the State Government's decision to significantly increase fares and cancel daily tickets had halted the ``rampant growth'' in people using CityCats and ferries.

"We are known as a river city and our CityCats and Ferries are arguably the most popular way to explore Brisbane for tourists and locals alike," Cr Quirk said.

"But with the State Government cancelling the daily ticket while at the same time increasing fares by up to 40 per cent, river tourism is fast becoming something people avoid and that deeply concerns me."

Cr Quirk said statistics showed the number of people using ferries and CityCats for recreational purposes had plunged 16 per cent in the last 12 months.

"That is a very concerning trend considering they make up almost half of all ferry trips,'' he said.

Regular users had also abandoned the river transport, with numbers down eight per cent on the previous year.

But in a letter to the Lord Mayor, Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk pointed out to Cr Quirk ferry patronage had been in decline since June 2009 ``six months before the first fare increase under Translink's five-year strategy''.

``Furthermore, as you are no doubt aware, the maximum fare for an adult under Translink's current fare structure is $3.11 which is significantly cheaper than the $3.80 fare incurred for the same trip under Brisbane City Council's fare structure back in 2002,'' the minister wrote.

Ms Palaszczuk also invited Cr Quirk to a meeting with her, at "the earliest opportunity''.

The Lord Mayor acknowledged the Transport Minister's announcement this week that prepaid go cards would soon be sold on ferries, but he questioned how successful the scheme would be for one-off users.

"Translink's website states the minimum cost for a preloaded go card is $20,'' he said.

"When the daily tickets were scrapped they were $6.80 to travel all day across bus, train and ferry services within one zone and $7.80 within two zones.''

Commuter advocacy group Back on Track has also been campaigning for the return of daily and other periodical tickets.

[david]

But in a letter to the Lord Mayor, Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk pointed out to Cr Quirk ferry patronage had been in decline since June 2009 ``six months before the first fare increase under Translink's five-year strategy''.

"Furthermore, as you are no doubt aware, the maximum fare for an adult under Translink's current fare structure is $3.11 which is significantly cheaper than the $3.80 fare incurred for the same trip under Brisbane City Council's fare structure back in 2002,'' the minister wrote.

This is a fair point by the Minister. It really shows how much catching up the fares need to do when it comes to inflation, higher costs of maintenance, etc.

Besides, there were quite a few times when the CityCats were cancelled because of debris floating down the river after heavy downpours last year.

A bit of an over-reaction by the Lord Mayor. Re-introduction of daily tickets is not necessarily the answer here. More innovative measures when it comes to the go card is necessary.

[jouzocha]

But in a letter to the Lord Mayor, Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk pointed out to Cr Quirk ferry patronage had been in decline since June 2009 ``six months before the first fare increase under Translink's five-year strategy''.

"Furthermore, as you are no doubt aware, the maximum fare for an adult under Translink's current fare structure is $3.11 which is significantly cheaper than the $3.80 fare incurred for the same trip under Brisbane City Council's fare structure back in 2002,'' the minister wrote.

I notice the Minister conveniently omits the fact that daily tickets were available under the Council's fare tructure in 2002 and they are absent today.  Not having a daily ticket (or capped go card fare, if you prefer) is a very poor tourism promotion technique.

[BrizCommuter]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2011/08/ferry-unpopular-fares.html
Sorry, another bad ferry pun.

[dwb]

From the Couriermail click here!

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk wants Translink to reintroduce daily tickets as passenger numbers on ferries fall

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk wants Translink to reintroduce daily tickets as passenger numbers on ferries fall

   Robyn Ironside
   From: The Courier-Mail
   August 11, 2011 12:35PM

BRISBANE's Lord Mayor is demanding the reintroduction of daily public transport tickets following a big nosedive in ferry patronage.

Graham Quirk said the State Government's decision to significantly increase fares and cancel daily tickets had halted the ``rampant growth'' in people using CityCats and ferries.
.....

Typical bullsh%t talk, political aides and marketing department spin with the facts off... but sh*t sticks.

ed. quote tags corrected