13 Sep 2008: SEQ: Why are public transport go card users ripped off?

[ozbob]

Media Release 13 September 2008

SEQ:  Why are public transport go card users ripped off?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has said there appears to be a systemic policy within the former Translink, and now the TransLink Transit Authority to keep public transport commuters not properly informed when there are adverse cost impacts on their use of the go card.

The public is already fed up with the technical issues and the poor fare structure, and the long history of poor communication and failure to inform when there are issues is now taking a severe toll on uptake and continued use of the go card.  RAIL Back On Track has recently highlighted the go card fare rip-off for connecting services to the airport (1).  A few months ago, when there was the time problem on the bus go card equipment, it took almost two weeks for Translink to alert commuters that there was a problem and to check carefully for incorrect charges on their go card (2).  This was despite our immediate notification to Translink of the problem.  RAIL Back On Track had limited success in publicising the problem prior to the belated official notification but many go card users lost significant amounts of money over that period.

When users look at the fare structure for the go card relative to the present integrated ticketing and consider the failure to inform of earlier problems, it is little wonder then that many commuters are reluctant to use the new technology.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?Public transport commuters in south-east Queensland are  generally patient and are willing to be part of the new go card ticketing system for our transport network.?

?Unfortunately a building history of a failure to properly inform go card users as to issues such as the time problem on buses, and now the failure to properly inform about the fare impacts if they use their go card on connecting services to the Brisbane airport is causing much concern.?

?The clumsy refund process for incorrect charges on users? go cards is another example of a flawed system.?

?Urgent action is needed to fix the go card and re-establish public confidence!?

References:

1.   SEQ: Fares on the Airtrain still don?t add up!  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1322.0

2.   Go Card - time issue and lack of official response http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=743.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org