2 Jan 2012: SEQ: Public transport fares increase today!

[ozbob]

Media release 2 January 2012

SEQ: Public transport fares increase today!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said despite the 15% fare increases from today, there are ways of reducing public transport travel costs using a go card.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Apart from the fare increases today (1), there are some significant changes to the how the go card fare structure works.  After the 10th journey in a Monday to Sunday period travel is now free. This allows people to use public transport more often and actually save money, even over 2011 fare costs.  How this is done is detailed on our web site (2). Additionally off peak fare discount is now 20%."

"The cost of paper single tickets is now very expensive relative to go card fares. TransLink should now make every effort to educate public transport passengers that it is in their best interests to move to the go card for their travel. Additionally we call for bus drivers to be given go card information sheets to pass to passengers buying single paper tickets. The Sunshine Coast has very poor go card penetration, a special education effort needs to be implemented there. Lets get everyone using the go card!"

"The Government and Opposition have both declared their hands with respect to the fare increases. No real difference. It is up to us passengers to use the go card in the most optimal manner, big savings are possible!"

"All future fare increases should now be limited to CPI only, and some consideration needs to be given to adjusting the 'flag-fall' component of the fares.  Short zone fares are now disproportionately too expensive.  A simple adjustment of removing say a $1.50 from all adult go card zones fares, proportional for concession and off peak,  would establish a better relative balance between the different zone fares."

References:

1. http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/changes-to-fares-and-ticketing-in-2012

2. Using the new go card fare structure optimally http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7374.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2877.msg81265#msg81265

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

3 January 2012

Re: SEQ: Public transport fares increase today!

Greetings,

Now that the 'knee-jerk' immediate responses to the fare increases have been delivered by many, time to concentrate on how the travelling public can best utilise the new fare structure for the go card.

Forget paper tickets, the costs are excessive.

If you stop and think about it, free travel after 10 paid journeys in a week on a go card is a very generous incentive and will in time drive patronage increases.

The LNP has suggested they will lower the free travel threshold to 9 paid journeys in a week.  So not much choice for the punters is there? The public needs to learn how to use the fare structure optimally for their travel.

We do think that there is a need to reduce the 'flag-fall' component of the fares.  Short zone trips are relatively too expensive.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Media release 2 January 2012

SEQ: Public transport fares increase today!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said despite the 15% fare increases from today, there are ways of reducing public transport travel costs using a go card.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Apart from the fare increases today (1), there are some significant changes to the how the go card fare structure works.  After the 10th journey in a Monday to Sunday period travel is now free. This allows people to use public transport more often and actually save money, even over 2011 fare costs.  How this is done is detailed on our web site (2). Additionally off peak fare discount is now 20%."

"The cost of paper single tickets is now very expensive relative to go card fares. TransLink should now make every effort to educate public transport passengers that it is in their best interests to move to the go card for their travel. Additionally we call for bus drivers to be given go card information sheets to pass to passengers buying single paper tickets. The Sunshine Coast has very poor go card penetration, a special education effort needs to be implemented there. Lets get everyone using the go card!"

"The Government and Opposition have both declared their hands with respect to the fare increases. No real difference. It is up to us passengers to use the go card in the most optimal manner, big savings are possible!"

"All future fare increases should now be limited to CPI only, and some consideration needs to be given to adjusting the 'flag-fall' component of the fares.  Short zone fares are now disproportionately too expensive.  A simple adjustment of removing say a $1.50 from all adult go card zones fares, proportional for concession and off peak,  would establish a better relative balance between the different zone fares."

References:

1. http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/changes-to-fares-and-ticketing-in-2012

2. Using the new go card fare structure optimally http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7374.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

6th January 2012

SEQ: Public transport fares increase today!

Greetings,

It is important that public transport passengers understand that there are many advantages for them personally, and community wide, to move to the go card for their public transport travel.

There are very considerable cost savings to be made by using a go card relative to paper single tickets, and particularly bus loading times are markedly improved.  Both excellent outcomes.

We have shown that there are ways to use the new fare structure optimally, and in fact TransLink are suggesting that passengers should ' go frequently, go free '.  We agree.

Go cards are not transferable however,  but individual is quite entitled to use the new fare structure optimally using their own go card.  We do not support other activities that contravene the non-transferability of a go card.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Media release 2 January 2012

SEQ: Public transport fares increase today!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said despite the 15% fare increases from today, there are ways of reducing public transport travel costs using a go card.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Apart from the fare increases today (1), there are some significant changes to the how the go card fare structure works.  After the 10th journey in a Monday to Sunday period travel is now free. This allows people to use public transport more often and actually save money, even over 2011 fare costs.  How this is done is detailed on our web site (2). Additionally off peak fare discount is now 20%."

"The cost of paper single tickets is now very expensive relative to go card fares. TransLink should now make every effort to educate public transport passengers that it is in their best interests to move to the go card for their travel. Additionally we call for bus drivers to be given go card information sheets to pass to passengers buying single paper tickets. The Sunshine Coast has very poor go card penetration, a special education effort needs to be implemented there. Lets get everyone using the go card!"

"The Government and Opposition have both declared their hands with respect to the fare increases. No real difference. It is up to us passengers to use the go card in the most optimal manner, big savings are possible!"

"All future fare increases should now be limited to CPI only, and some consideration needs to be given to adjusting the 'flag-fall' component of the fares.  Short zone fares are now disproportionately too expensive.  A simple adjustment of removing say a $1.50 from all adult go card zones fares, proportional for concession and off peak,  would establish a better relative balance between the different zone fares."

References:

1. http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/changes-to-fares-and-ticketing-in-2012

2. Using the new go card fare structure optimally http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7374.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org