27 Jun 2013: SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

[ozbob]

Media release 27th June 2013



SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

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 change of off peak touch-on time from 9am to 8.30am weekdays from January 2014 but says more needs to be done (1, 2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The present fare system is simply driving people away from public transport.  This is clear with the patronage stagnation and fare affordability around record low levels."

"It is a minor improvement changing off peak touch on from 9am to 8.30am, welcome, but a much better proper fare review is needed.  The fares that operate on the Transperth System in WA are a good example of what can be achieved. Patronage is booming and the fare box recovery is much better than SEQ."

"We were hopeful that with the Premier's committment last January there would be a much more radical overhaul to drive patronage around the clock so that the fare box slide would be turned around."

"The bus review failures have made fare reform even harder now than it should be."

"SEQ fares are now amongst the most expensive the world.   We would hope that the Government and TransLink would re-think the fact that the 5 year fare path, commenced in 2010 has failed to reduce the subsidy which was its primary aim.  All that has happened is that patronage has stalled and we now have the most expensive fares in Australia and the world."

"7.5% is still much greater than CPI increases, when added to the previous massive fare increases of 20% 2010, 15% 2011, 15% 2012, 7.5% 2013 and as projected 7.5% for 2014 it is little wonder that fare affordability is at rock bottom. Compounded, fares have effectively doubled over this period."

"Many Seniors are struggling to use public transport.  Unemployed in Queensland do not have concessions as they do in every other state and territory of Australia."

"The free after 9 is being abused and is contributing to why high fare increases that have been applied."

"Small improvements to the failing fare system in SEQ are a start, but much more is needed to decrease the public subsidy, make public transport first choice not last choice, and in so doing generate massive macro-economic benefits through lessened congestion impacts and costs, reduced road trauma costs and improved health outcomes, and improved environmental outcomes."

"It is not rocket science!"

References:

1. Off-peak fares kick in 30 minutes earlier after commuters not satisfied with affordability  http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/offpeak-fares-kick-in-30-minutes-earlier-after-commuters-not-satisfied-with-affordability/story-fnihsrf2-1226670336463

2. http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/6/27/offpeak-trial-to-test-capacity

3. Transperth tickets and fares http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares.aspx

4. Current Senior fares in state capitals http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9122.0

5. Health care cards and concession fares around the nation http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9124.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.msg128362#msg128362

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

7th June 2013

Re: SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

Greetings,

It is diabolical that the state Government plods on with the worlds worst fare system for south-east Queensland.

The evidence is clear, time to overhaul the system and get the public transport network back on track.

Money is being wasted as air buses run all over Brisbane.  The Newman Government is stamping itself as incompetent - bus review and fare review failures a standout.

Plenty of pics of the air buses here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9045.msg128315#msg128315

Very sad days for public transport in Queensland.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 27th June 2013



SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

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 change of off peak touch-on time from 9am to 8.30am weekdays from January 2014 but says more needs to be done (1, 2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The present fare system is simply driving people away from public transport.  This is clear with the patronage stagnation and fare affordability around record low levels."

"It is a minor improvement changing off peak touch on from 9am to 8.30am, welcome, but a much better proper fare review is needed.  The fares that operate on the Transperth System in WA are a good example of what can be achieved. Patronage is booming and the fare box recovery is much better than SEQ."

"We were hopeful that with the Premier's committment last January there would be a much more radical overhaul to drive patronage around the clock so that the fare box slide would be turned around."

"The bus review failures have made fare reform even harder now than it should be."

"SEQ fares are now amongst the most expensive the world.   We would hope that the Government and TransLink would re-think the fact that the 5 year fare path, commenced in 2010 has failed to reduce the subsidy which was its primary aim.  All that has happened is that patronage has stalled and we now have the most expensive fares in Australia and the world."

"7.5% is still much greater than CPI increases, when added to the previous massive fare increases of 20% 2010, 15% 2011, 15% 2012, 7.5% 2013 and as projected 7.5% for 2014 it is little wonder that fare affordability is at rock bottom. Compounded, fares have effectively doubled over this period."

"Many Seniors are struggling to use public transport.  Unemployed in Queensland do not have concessions as they do in every other state and territory of Australia."

"The free after 9 is being abused and is contributing to why high fare increases that have been applied."

"Small improvements to the failing fare system in SEQ are a start, but much more is needed to decrease the public subsidy, make public transport first choice not last choice, and in so doing generate massive macro-economic benefits through lessened congestion impacts and costs, reduced road trauma costs and improved health outcomes, and improved environmental outcomes."

"It is not rocket science!"

References:

1. Off-peak fares kick in 30 minutes earlier after commuters not satisfied with affordability  http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/offpeak-fares-kick-in-30-minutes-earlier-after-commuters-not-satisfied-with-affordability/story-fnihsrf2-1226670336463

2. http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/6/27/offpeak-trial-to-test-capacity

3. Transperth tickets and fares http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares.aspx

4. Current Senior fares in state capitals http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9122.0

5. Health care cards and concession fares around the nation http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9124.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th July 2013

Re: SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

Greetings,

The Transport Minister was quoted on the ABC News today as stating that Queensland could not afford $10 million to extend concession fares on public transport in south-east Queensland to the unemployed.  Such concessions are afforded to unemployed in every other state and territory of Australia, but not in Queensland.

Mr Emerson doesn't seem to grasp that the Five year fare path commenced in 2010 has made fares in south-east Queensland amongst the most expensive in the world and have caused patronage to stall.  Instead of increasing the fare box recovery (which was the aim of the Five year fare path) not surprisingly the opposite has happened.

The way to an improved the fare box is to actually get more people travelling.  This is achieved by improvements in frequency, accessibility and affordability.  This in turn, as in other states, allows for concessions for the unemployed.

In the Premier's action plan update there is a tick against 'a new fare structure for south-east Queensland'.  This has not eventuated actually.  It is a gross misrepresentation to claim it has.

To  increase  fares many times cost of living and wage increases does not make fares more affordable.  It is a sad indictment on a Government and a Minister who thinks it does.

To continue to allow cashed up commuters to rort the 9 and free journey cap whilst unemployed cannot even afford to get on board public transport is rather perverse don't you think?

Well that is south-east Queensland.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

7th June 2013

Re: SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

Greetings,

It is diabolical that the state Government plods on with the worlds worst fare system for south-east Queensland.

The evidence is clear, time to overhaul the system and get the public transport network back on track.

Money is being wasted as air buses run all over Brisbane.  The Newman Government is stamping itself as incompetent - bus review and fare review failures a standout.

Plenty of pics of the air buses here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9045.msg128315#msg128315

Very sad days for public transport in Queensland.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 27th June 2013



SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

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 change of off peak touch-on time from 9am to 8.30am weekdays from January 2014 but says more needs to be done (1, 2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The present fare system is simply driving people away from public transport.  This is clear with the patronage stagnation and fare affordability around record low levels."

"It is a minor improvement changing off peak touch on from 9am to 8.30am, welcome, but a much better proper fare review is needed.  The fares that operate on the Transperth System in WA are a good example of what can be achieved. Patronage is booming and the fare box recovery is much better than SEQ."

"We were hopeful that with the Premier's committment last January there would be a much more radical overhaul to drive patronage around the clock so that the fare box slide would be turned around."

"The bus review failures have made fare reform even harder now than it should be."

"SEQ fares are now amongst the most expensive the world.   We would hope that the Government and TransLink would re-think the fact that the 5 year fare path, commenced in 2010 has failed to reduce the subsidy which was its primary aim.  All that has happened is that patronage has stalled and we now have the most expensive fares in Australia and the world."

"7.5% is still much greater than CPI increases, when added to the previous massive fare increases of 20% 2010, 15% 2011, 15% 2012, 7.5% 2013 and as projected 7.5% for 2014 it is little wonder that fare affordability is at rock bottom. Compounded, fares have effectively doubled over this period."

"Many Seniors are struggling to use public transport.  Unemployed in Queensland do not have concessions as they do in every other state and territory of Australia."

"The free after 9 is being abused and is contributing to why high fare increases that have been applied."

"Small improvements to the failing fare system in SEQ are a start, but much more is needed to decrease the public subsidy, make public transport first choice not last choice, and in so doing generate massive macro-economic benefits through lessened congestion impacts and costs, reduced road trauma costs and improved health outcomes, and improved environmental outcomes."

"It is not rocket science!"

References:

1. Off-peak fares kick in 30 minutes earlier after commuters not satisfied with affordability  http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/offpeak-fares-kick-in-30-minutes-earlier-after-commuters-not-satisfied-with-affordability/story-fnihsrf2-1226670336463

2. http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/6/27/offpeak-trial-to-test-capacity

3. Transperth tickets and fares http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares.aspx

4. Current Senior fares in state capitals http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9122.0

5. Health care cards and concession fares around the nation http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9124.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Media release 27th June 2013 re-released 4th August 2013



SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

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 change of off peak touch-on time from 9am to 8.30am weekdays from January 2014 but says more needs to be done (1, 2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The present fare system is simply driving people away from public transport.  This is clear with the patronage stagnation and fare affordability around record low levels."

"It is a minor improvement changing off peak touch on from 9am to 8.30am, welcome, but a much better proper fare review is needed.  The fares that operate on the Transperth System in WA are a good example of what can be achieved. Patronage is booming and the fare box recovery is much better than SEQ."

"We were hopeful that with the Premier's committment last January there would be a much more radical overhaul to drive patronage around the clock so that the fare box slide would be turned around."

"The bus review failures have made fare reform even harder now than it should be."

"SEQ fares are now amongst the most expensive the world.   We would hope that the Government and TransLink would re-think the fact that the 5 year fare path, commenced in 2010 has failed to reduce the subsidy which was its primary aim.  All that has happened is that patronage has stalled and we now have the most expensive fares in Australia and the world."

"7.5% is still much greater than CPI increases, when added to the previous massive fare increases of 20% 2010, 15% 2011, 15% 2012, 7.5% 2013 and as projected 7.5% for 2014 it is little wonder that fare affordability is at rock bottom. Compounded, fares have effectively doubled over this period."

"Many Seniors are struggling to use public transport.  Unemployed in Queensland do not have concessions as they do in every other state and territory of Australia."

"The free after 9 is being abused and is contributing to why high fare increases that have been applied."

"Small improvements to the failing fare system in SEQ are a start, but much more is needed to decrease the public subsidy, make public transport first choice not last choice, and in so doing generate massive macro-economic benefits through lessened congestion impacts and costs, reduced road trauma costs and improved health outcomes, and improved environmental outcomes."

"It is not rocket science!"

References:

1. Off-peak fares kick in 30 minutes earlier after commuters not satisfied with affordability  http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/offpeak-fares-kick-in-30-minutes-earlier-after-commuters-not-satisfied-with-affordability/story-fnihsrf2-1226670336463

2. http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/6/27/offpeak-trial-to-test-capacity

3. Transperth tickets and fares http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares.aspx

4. Current Senior fares in state capitals http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9122.0

5. Health care cards and concession fares around the nation http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9124.0

Contact:

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