12 June 2009: SEQ: Fare Evasion rampant on TransLink network

[ozbob]

Media Release 12 June 2009

SEQ:  Fare Evasion rampant on TransLink network

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 in tight economic times fare evasion  is increasing and is a loss of revenue for our public transport.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track supports a fair fare for all.  Observations and feedback confirms that fare evasion is rampant on all modes. Deliberate fare evasion is fraud."

"We have received reports of go card users touching off early at the back of buses.  This reduces the fares debited on the go card.  The same behaviour has been observed at some railway stations.  Passengers touching off and then re boarding for a continuation of their journey."

"In 17 months of sustained go card use by myself I have had my go card checked once by a TransLink Transit Officer with a mobile card reader!  A number of times I have been only required to show my go card as proof of ticket.  Farcical.  The taxpayer has funded a ticketing system for several hundred millions of dollars and TTOs are not equipped with an adequate number of mobile go card readers to ensure people are actively using their go card?"

"At  stations with go card gates passengers can be seen frequently trailing go card users as they touch off.  Some of these patrons may well have paper tickets and are just frustrated at the restricted egress for paper ticket holders. Others are clearly fare evading."

"It is essential that the go card fares be put in order and a high uptake of the go card gained.  The operation of go gates need to be speeded up and all TTOs be issued with mobile go card readers.  Education and  pro-active plain clothes enforcement to stop the early touches will go a long way to capturing the lost fare revenue."


Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 25th June 2009 page 1

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