Ministerial Statement: go card hits 'quarter of a million' milestone

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
10/02/2009

go card hits 'quarter of a million' milestone

TransLink's go card has reached a significant milestone, with the 250,000th card being issued just a week after the go card's first anniversary.

Transport Minister John Mickel said more than 18 million trips had been taken on the TransLink network using go cards since they were introduced on January 29 last year, and almost $50 million had been loaded on to cards.

He said the strong numbers had been boosted by a recent go card education and awareness campaign, which has familiarised the public with the card and its benefits.

"This milestone of the 250,000th go card being issued highlighting how we have exceeded our targets," Mr Mickel.

"Remarkably, in December 2008 the go card had already surpassed its June 2009 sales target.

"Last week, almost 8,000 go cards were sold - an average of about 1,370 go cards a day between Monday and Friday - with 1,928 cards being sold on Monday alone."

Mr Mickel said these were the numbers of a strong system that would continue to improve.

"People are telling us what they think of this new system the only way that counts - by using it.

"go card users have been saving between 20 and 35 per cent, compared to single paper tickets, whenever they travel on TransLink bus, train and ferry services and a further 50 per cent if they use their card more than 10 times per week," Mr Mickel said.

"The success of TransLink's go card has helped the Queensland Government continue to improve on delivering fast, reliable and frequent public transport across South East Queensland.

"The go card has not only marked its first anniversary with impressive sales and usage, but there has also been substantial falls in enquiries and complaints across the TransLink network."

Mr Mickel said TransLink closely monitored feedback from its customers and this feedback was used to continually enhance the go card system.

Mr Mickel said the go card made using public transport quicker and easier, with passengers no longer needing to carry change or waste time queuing for tickets.

"TransLink is just the second Australian public transport system to successfully roll out convenient, smart card technology and the South East Queensland network is by far the largest in the world.

"The go card was initially rolled out to Caboolture, Redcliffe and Sunshine Coast commuters on January 29, 2008, the greater Brisbane area and the Gold Coast (rail) in February 2008, and on Airtrain and Surfside bus services in June 2008.

"It has been a fantastic achievement for TransLink to reach this milestone for the go card so far ahead of predicted targets, and it will continue to go from strength to strength," Mr Mickel said.

For more information about the go card or public transport in South East Queensland, visit www.translink.com.au or call TransLink on 13 12 30, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

February 9, 2009

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[ozbob]

"go card users have been saving between 20 and 35 per cent, compared to single paper tickets, whenever they travel on TransLink bus, train and ferry services and a further 50 per cent if they use their card more than 10 times per week," Mr Mickel said.

Not so Mr Mickel if you happen to use your go card on a connecting  TransLink rail service as a single journey from a station outside the CBD to the airport on the Airtrain services ....  the user gets ripped off!  See --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1304.0

[dwb]

Bob, that statement is factually correct. Mickel states "on Translink bus rail and ferry services". Airtrain is NOT a Translink service and any fare integration on Go card is excluded from standard Translink arrangements, due to this exclusion.

[ozbob]

Point taken Dwb, but if you are using a normal Citytrain rail service (a TransLink service) to connect with an airtrain many would suggest the statement is not correct!  If you touch off at the CBD and then touch on again you do get the correct fare.  If you do it as a single journey you do not!  It might be semantics but it many people are not aware of these hidden charges.

You indeed pay a higher fare on the TransLink service under those circumstance, then the Minister's statement is not correct.  Airtrain has no moral right to be reaping excess fares from travel on parts of the network they have nothing to do with.  The Minister and Queensland Transport are aware of this situation.

Cheers
Bob