Petition: Go Cards - lack of off-peak fare structure

[Sunbus610]

Queensland Residents draws to the attention of the House : that the new Go Card penalises many part-time/casual workers in that there is no off-peak fare structure. While the current Go Card offers discounts for frequent users, the lack of any off-peak fares penalises casual/part-time workers who travel off-peak and thereby costs casual/part-time workers more to travel to work, should they use the Go Card, which is yet an added financial burden for low-income families.

Also, the lack of off-peak fares on the Go Card removes incentive to travel off-peak, which will inevitably contribute to further overcrowding of already stretched peak-time services. Casual/part-time workers are mostly excluded, due to the casual/part-time nature of their work, from being eligible for the frequent user scheme, even though they are freeing up peak seats and aisle space for frequent peak-time users.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to: undertake to introduce off-peak fares for the Go Card, as a matter of urgency, in order to stop penalising many part-time/casual workers who utilise off-peak services; and to undertake to keep the current paper-based ticketing system, with off-peak fare structure, until such time as the Go card system stops charging casual off-peak users at peak rates.

This Queensland Parliament Petition is HERE

[ozbob]

The response to this petition is available here!  (External Link PDF)

4 June 2009

Mr Neil Laurie
The Clerk of the Parliament
Parliament House
George Street
Brisbane Qld 4000

Dear Mr Laurie

I refer to a petition 1048-08 lodged with the Legislative Assembly by Ms Vicky Darling
MP, Member for Sandgate on 7 October 2008 regarding the lack of an off peak fare
structure under the go card system.

TransLink endeavours to offer commuters a choice of a number of ticket options, based
on their requirements. Consequently, a phased approach has been taken to the
introduction of fare products to the go card system.

As of 4 August 2008, TransLink introduced changes to the go card fares by introducing
an up-front discount of between 20-35%, depending on the zones travelled. There is also
a frequent user scheme to reward frequent travellers with an additional 50% discount on
top of go card fares once they take more than 10 trips in a week (Monday to Sunday).

The off-peak daily ticket allows commuters unlimited travel in the nominated zones
between 9am and 3.30pm, and after 7pm, as well as on weekends and gazetted public
holidays. Comparing this to the current go card fare structure shows that, for one zone
journeys for example, the first three journeys on a weekend with the additional 50%
discount applied, would actually be cheaper per journey than the off-peak daily ticket.

Public transport is already heavily subsidised, with every $1 spent by commuters on
public transport attracting approximately $3 in government-provided subsidy. In other
words, if the fare costs $3.50, the real cost of the trip is more like $14, with the
government-provided subsidy covering $10.50 of that amount.

Further to this, travelling by public transport is still the most cost effective method of
getting around compared with the costs of running a car.

The following is a price comparison on a 12km or three zone trip on the TransLink
network, between two types/sizes of private vehicles, taxis and public transport.

Example: Fig Tree Pocket to the CBD - (3 zones/approximately 12 km), sourced from
RACQ Facts on Private Vehicle Expenses.

Mode of transport One way fare Return fare

Private car (Ford Focus Hatch 2.OL) $6.87 $13.74

Private car (Holden Commodore Sedan 3.6L) $10.24 $20.48

Taxi (from online estimator) $27.00 $54.00

Public transport (TransLink fares) $2.72 $5.44

Note: private vehicle costs do not include parking charges or toll fees.
Even with decreasing price of fuel, public transport is still significantly cheaper than
driving.

TransLink considers providing additional services and more frequent and reliable services
to be a better way of enhancing customers' travel. TransLink will continue to evaluate
and phase in new product offerings on the go card.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Yours sincerely
RACHEL NOLAN MP
Minister for Transport

[Derwan]

I have 2 comments on this response:

1.  The price comparison to the 50% weekend discount is based on the assumption that people are making 10 trips during the week.  The petition was specifically about part-time/casual workers who would NOT be doing 10 trips during the week.

2.  If "TransLink considers providing additional services and more frequent and reliable services to be a better way of enhancing customers' travel," then the off-peak discount should be removed from all ticketing options.  Isn't this fair?

The response was just a bunch of excuses because the system cannot be programmed (or they are not willing to program the system) to cater for off-peak ticketing options.

[ozbob]

Media Release 25 July 2009

SEQ:  Time to GO!

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 that it is time to move forwards with the go card.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"In a response to a petition lodged with the Legislative Assembly by Ms Vicky Darling MP, Member for Sandgate on 7th October 2008 regarding the lack of an off peak fare structure under the go card system, the Minister for Transport wrote on the 4th June 2009 in part 'TransLink considers providing additional services and more frequent and reliable services to be a better way of enhancing customers' travel. TransLink will continue to evaluate and phase in new product offerings on the go card.'(1)"

"It was reported in the media on the 21st April 2009 that there was active consideration of a new fare structure for the go card. It was reported that a TransLink spokesman had stated 'Off peak fares for Go Cards are one of a range of products being considered by TransLink' and 'TransLink is required to present its preferred options to the State Government for consideration by the middle of the year' and 'This will form part of a long-term strategy for fares across South East Queensland.'(2)."

"It is clear from public feedback and our observations that the major stumbling block with the go card is the fare structure. It is time that our investment in the go card system is turned into improved public transport efficiencies. To drive go card uptake a fare structure for the go card that matches and betters the present paper tickets in innovative ways is needed.  Early, late, and off peak discounts with capping to match daily, weekly and monthly tickets is what is needed to drive uptake and continued use of the go card. Such a fare structure will also assist in congestion management."

"The go card contract was signed in 2003 for a 12 year contract (3).  We are now halfway through this contract and there are still only 30% of TransLink journeys overall on the go card. How many more years do we need to wait?"

References:

1.   http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_qld/responses/1048-08.pdf

2.   http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/cheaper-fares-proposal-by-midyear-translink-20090420-ackt.html

3.   http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=20730

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ButFli]

I would gladly continue to pay full price for off-peak fares if there was a decent timetable. The current weekend and evening timetable is a joke!

[ozbob]

New changes in store for taxi drivers
Jul 22, 2009

Taxi drivers - not the most popular profession, it's fair to say.

Stories of confused drivers, suspicious tariffs and miscommunications arise time and time again.

New regulations aim to improve standards across the cab network and regulate who can become a taxi driver.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan and Taxi Council of Queensland head Blair Davies spoke with Spencer about the changes:

External Link 612 Breakfast here!

There is an interesting go card question to the Minister for Transport towards the end of the interview ...