Article: What's the Go for tourists?

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

What's the Go for tourists?

What's the Go for tourists?
DANIEL HURST
January 12, 2010 - 5:13AM

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Queensland transport authorities have still not worked out how tourists will be able to use public transport when paper tickets are scrapped.

TransLink is developing a Go Card especially for visitors and occasional transport users, but it has not yet decided how much the card will cost or whether tourists will have to hand over a $5 deposit like other smart card users.

The Queensland Tourism Industry Council last night called on the authority to ensure tourists had access simple one-day travel passes.

The organisation's chief executive officer, Daniel Gschwind, said visitors should not be subject to complex fare structures as they explored the city.

"And I think it would be very impractical to charge a deposit," he said.

"Travelling is about convenience and certainly putting a deposit on a transport card I don't think would be very helpful."

Mr Gschwind said Translink should follow the lead of several European cities, which provided tourist-friendly smart card ticketing options.

Commuter lobby group Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said he would like to see vending machines dispense "less durable" cards for tourists and occasional users.

These could come with a $1 deposit, which could be refunded along with any unused credit at a machine at their final destination, he said.

"The pre-loaded Go Card is not really suitable for tourists because there's a $5 deposit and $15 in credit," Mr Dow said.

However, Mr Dow said the tourist card must not be cheaper overall than the normal smartcard otherwise regular travellers might take up the alternative.

He said all users should have their fare capped after three trips in any one day.

A TransLink spokesman said the tourist card details were still being worked out.

"They are being developed to cater for markets who only use the public transport system for a limited time or for a particular purpose, and therefore have different needs form the standard Go Card user," he said.

"We will be working closely with tourism and business organisations to develop the most appropriate product."

Mr Dow said he was "amazed" the authority was still working on the details - a view backed by the State Opposition.

"The whole thing has been like they've stuck their transport policies together with rubber bands and sticky tape," Opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said.

"They should have had all these in place before they started the process of phasing out paper tickets."

Ed:  Late addition to this article:

A TransLink spokesman said this morning the tourist-friendly card would be rolled out "well in advance" of paper tickets being scrapped.

[Nightwriter]

Oh my god, they are completely incompetent.

[#Metro]

All I can say is:

Aaaaaaaagggggh! Aaaaaaaagggggh! Aaaaaaaagggggh! 

[O_128]

   

[dwb]

Capped at three trips?

As it is, its kind of hard to do more than about three unless you go consistently go somewhere then not travel again for an hour. The day is only so long and only has so many hours of service - but yes a cap is still wanted bc then you know in advance that is the most you will pay!

[ozbob]

It was meant to read three journeys ...

eg.  Central to Cleveland.  Breakfast, stroll along the canals or something.  Journey one

Cleveland to Ipswich.  Check out the Museum.  Journey two.

Ipswich back to the hotel  Journey three.

Central to Toombul, bit of  shopping trip  Journey four.  Free

Toombul back to the hotel, Journey five.  Free


Cheers

[dwb]

Yeah I got that, and yes it is easy to spend an hour at many destinations, but most likely many of those journeys will in fact be trips (ie legs of combined journeys) as tourists are often moving around. Also, tourists tend to do stuff locally (within walking distance) and only use PT for the longer trips - I know it was just an example but they're not so likely to travel to Toombul to shop if their hotel is in the city!

[ozbob]

Another approach is the flat fare - unlimited travel for a day or week or whatever.

Question is how much per day?  Per week?

[ozbob]

Note there has been a further addition to the original article at Brisbanetimes

A TransLink spokesman said this morning the tourist-friendly card would be rolled out "well in advance" of paper tickets being scrapped.

[O_128]

Note there has been a further addition to the original article at Brisbanetimes

A TransLink spokesman said this morning the tourist-friendly card would be rolled out "well in advance" of paper tickets being scrapped.

should we add this to the 400000 go cards and mag lev to doomben

[Arnz]

throw in the delayed Sunshine Coast hospital and the Maglev Bus to Caboolture to the pile too..

[verbatim9]

It was meant to read three journeys ...

eg.  Central to Cleveland.  Breakfast, stroll along the canals or something.  Journey one

Cleveland to Ipswich.  Check out the Museum.  Journey two.

Ipswich back to the hotel  Journey three.

Central to Toombul, bit of  shopping trip  Journey four.  Free

Toombul back to the hotel, Journey five.  Free


Cheers

Better to go to Toowong Village or Indoorpilly then Toombul I reckon. Centro have left that shopping centre in a bit of a decay since they lost the Village Hoyts contract at that site.

[ozbob]

I don't do much shopping ... LOL

Meanwhile, I heard Andrew from TL on the radio (612) shortly before six on this topic.  Nothing new other than a "premium product" for tourists and casual users is to be developed. 

Premium product is code for very high price product.   Which is what we definitely don't want in a broad sense as it may dampen tourism?

[rob2144]

Why cant they introduce a short term go card like myki has??

http://wongm.railgeelong.com/myki/D908_0806.jpg.html

[ozbob]

I guess it isn't a 'premium product' ...

[rob2144]

probably be made of gold lol

[verbatim9]

probably be made of gold lol

Yeah Queenslands Black Gold (Coal)

[Mozz]

...texas tea.....

[awotam]

"A TransLink spokesman said this morning the tourist-friendly card would be rolled out "well in advance" of paper tickets being scrapped."
And we all believe that, don't we?  Maybe the tourists can travel by flying pig instead....

[O_128]

What happend to go card lite