30 Jun 2012: SEQ: Off peak fare discounts

[ozbob]

Media release 30th June 2012

SEQ: Off peak fare discounts

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 welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Transport and Main Roads that targeting of off peak discounts is to be tried to increase the use of shoulder peak services (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"In order to improve shoulder peak usage, the duration of the peak should be reduced.  Touch ons after 8:30am, before 4pm and after 6pm should be considered as off peak.  It is not like a peak intensive service is provided at these times anyway, so charging at an off peak rate is completely fair."

"RAIL Back On Track members believe that the appropriate level of discount is 30%.  This is the discount which CityRail in Sydney provides to off peak full fare users (2).  Adelaide metro provide approximately 45% discount to users during inter-peak times between 9am to 3pm (3)."

"Consideration should also be given to changing the present 2am off peak time limit to a more realistic time, say 7am to further drive shoulder peak usage (4). This would be best as a touch-off time point but we are unsure as to the capability of the go card system to handle touch-off time points for off peak fare implementation."

"The current fares are reducing off peak usage, as even the previous Transport Minister admitted (5)."

"Off peak services are cheaper to provide so it is reasonable that they have lower fares."

References:

1. http://www.scottemerson.com.au/media-releases/panel-delivers-rail-capacity-options.html

2. http://www.cityrail.info/tickets/which/mytrain

3. http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/ticketing/fares

4. http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/off-peak-times

5. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/commuters-desert-city-buses-according-to-brisbane-city-council-figures/story-fnbwrpfi-1226295364186

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

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