Ekka and the Go Card - Question?

[ozbob]

Howdy,

Does anyone know if go card readers have been installed on the Exhibition station?

Ekka 7-16 August 2008

If not this is going to be a travel complication for go card users.

If they are there, will we see the usual fare costs for rail whilst bus is free?

See http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=179.msg420#msg420
Media Release 2 August 2007
Brisbane:  Stop cost discrimination against rail commuters who travel to the Ekka  for background.

[ozbob]

Media Release 20 July 2008

SEQ:  Make travel free for all from Brisbane CBD to 2008 Ekka!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users highlighted in 2007 the fare cost discrimination against rail travel to the Ekka (1).  Travel by bus was free but rail passengers were required to pay an additional fare.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?Why was it that for the 2007 Ekka QR Citytrain Translink passengers who held regular tickets had to pay for an additional ticket cost, an add on fare, to travel to the Ekka; and bus passengers who held regular tickets did not? This was clearly indicated on the Translink web site at the time.?

?The apparent justification for this discrimination against rail passengers was that the Exhibition station is a special stand alone zone. We said then that was ?spin? and nonsense and it still is.  It complicated the travel of regular ticket holders who had to fuss around and buy an additional ticket.?

?A further complication for travel to the Ekka this year will be the procedure for go card users. Will they be able to travel seamlessly to the Ekka using their go card?  Will they be debited with an extra fare on bus and rail whilst other ticket holders on bus travel free??

"Can the TransLink Transit Authority please make a timely statement as to what the public transport ticketing arrangements will be for the 2008 Ekka??

?RAIL Back on calls for travel to the Ekka on bus and rail to be free for all from the CBD to the Ekka bus stops and Exhibition station!  This would encourage maximum use of public transport and help avoid road congestion and gridlock.?

"Further more, the Exhibition loop line should be operated 52 weeks of the year, with an additional rail station at Normanby!" (2).

Reference:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=179.0

2.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=990.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[stephenk]

As it is only 5 mins fast walk from Bowen Hills to the Ekka, I can't quite see the point of taking a train to Exhibition at extra cost and increased journey time.

I'm also interested to see how well the Ekka trains fit in with the current weekend timetable where all trains use the Main tracks (Roma St - Bowen Hills) as the Suburban tracks are closed.

[ozbob]

A lot of people use  rail to the Ekka. There are also direct services from some lines eg. Ipswich and Caboolture lines.

The normal timetable is run (plus the additional exhibition services on some lines) and the exhibition loop services just fit in between.  This happened last year as the opposite lines were closed. Some years, steam has been run on the loop service with the sx cars.

[Derwan]

If there is nothing forthcoming from the TTA, I would be touching on at the origin.  If readers aren't available at the destination, I would be requesting a refund of the penalty.

Of course - that's if I was going to the Ekka in the first place.   

[ozbob]

http://www.citytrain.com.au/events/my_ekka08.asp

My EkkA - 7-16 August 2008
QR will operate a City Circle Loop Service to the EkkA, departing approximately every 10 minutes from Roma Street Station Platform 9, Central Station Platform 6 and Brunswick Street Station Platform 4 from 9.20am to approximately 8.00pm daily.

QR services will arrive Platform 1 at the EkkA and will depart from the EkkA approximately every 10 minutes.

There will be additional City Circle Loop Services during weekends and the Exhibition Show Holiday on Wednesday 13 August 2008.

No mention yet of fares and ticketing arrangements from TTA  ...   

[ozbob]

Go card will be able to be used for travel to and from the Exhibition, but it will be an additional fare on rail.
As for paper.

[ozbob]

Rail passengers will again have to buy an additional ticket to travel from CBD to Exhibition.

Again a failure to really address the needs of commuters in a positive way.

Opposition Statement:

-------------

Tim Nicholls MP
Shadow Minister for Transport, Traffic Management,
Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations       
Member for Clayfield                           

31 July 2008

Ekka commuters to be charged more for train

Commuters travelling to the Ekka by train will be slugged more than
commuters who catch a bus to this year's show.

A leaked document has revealed that while commuters will be allowed to
use their normal TransLink tickets to transfer onto a bus to the Ekka,
commuters travelling by train will have to pay extra for a special
Exhibition rail ticket on top of their normal TransLink ticket.

Shadow Minister for Transport Tim Nicholls said the decision to charge
commuters twice to catch the train defeated the purpose of integrated
ticketing.

"To tell commuters they have to pay more to travel the same distance to
the same location is ludicrous," he said.

"Integrated ticketing was meant to eliminate the need to buy additional
tickets. But the State Government has been caught out slugging commuters
more to travel just one station outside the normal Translink network."

Mr Nicholls said the State Government should be encouraging commuters to
catch public transport to the Ekka.

"TransLink should be offering free travel with any ticket purchase - the
same as a ticket to a major sporting event provides a ticket to ride on
public transport," he said.

[ozbob]

RAIL Back On Track is appalled that the TransLink Transit Authority has again failed to grasp the moment and move forward in a positive manner.

The Opposition Statement is quite correct.

Other states don't have the need to discriminate against rail in the same way.  Only in Queensland.

We call on Minister Mickel to reverse this decision and grant normal zone one travel to all Queenslanders going to the Ekka!

Admin

[Derwan]

So - if I understand correctly, I could jump on a train to Central or Roma St, then jump on a bus to the Ekka where it would register a continuation and therefore no additional cost.  But if I were to jump on a train that went straight to the Ekka (or changed to an Ekka train at Brunswick St), I'd have to pay an additional fare?



Many major events are supported by free public transport.  You just need to show your ticket to the event.  Why does it operate in reverse for the Ekka?  Families will drive the car instead - adding to congestion on the roads.

[ozbob]

Correct Derwan!

[GOody]

What brainbox made up that idea? Yes, the train station costs money to run while the ekka is on. But so do the special busses which ply up and down the road to the ekka. Why should one be free, and the other not?

Madness. If there was a reason that could be attributed to the RNA itself, then perhaps I'd understand, but just can't work it out.

[ButFli]

If there was a reason that could be attributed to the RNA itself, then perhaps I'd understand,

The RNA owns Exhibition Station and expects money from QR for every passenger that uses it. The same does not apply to buses because they stop on a public street.

I don't think we can expect QR to absorb the extra cost. It is the RNA that are the money grubbers.