Article: Fare fine's fair: TransLink

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Fare fine's fair: TransLink

Fare fine's fair: TransLink
COURTNEY TRENWITH
February 5, 2010 - 9:43AM

TransLink is willing to wear $16 million in unpaid fares - half of which are deliberate - to get more commuters onto the Go Card system.

More than 6000 commuters are believed to be intentionally abusing the electronic system by not swiping off their card at the end of long journeys because the penalty is less than the cost of the fare, TransLink says.

In particular, peak hour commuters between Brisbane and the Sunshine and Gold coasts are benefiting from the cheap fines, which are $5 on trains and $3 on buses and ferries. In comparison, one-way journeys across eight or more zones cost between $5.40 and $14.70.

However, TransLink says it has no intention of fixing the loophole while as it attempts to convert more travellers to the Go Card network.

"Our priority at the moment is for those new users to be comfortable on the system, so there's no intention to increase that fine,'' TransLink spokesman Andrew Berkman said.

"TransLink has deliberately kept the fixed fare rate low ... in recognition that people are still getting used to the system.''

However he would not rule out cracking down on fare evaders in the future.

"I don't want to speculate beyond now,'' Mr Berkman said.

"All those sort of things we are looking at as part of the overall picture going forward.''

Until then, TransLink would continue to give most fare evaders two warnings.

However, deliberate or repeat offenders faced a $200 fine, Mr Berkman said.

More than 22,000 dishonest travellers were slapped with a fine last year - helping to reduce the cost of fare evasion across the system by $4.4 million.

Mr Berkman said the Go Card had actually helped reduce the number of fare evasions from 5.5 per cent in the three months to September, 2008 to 3.7 per cent in the three months to December 2009.

More than 700,000 people now travel with the card, accounting for 60 per cent of weekday public transport trips across South-East Queensland.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson claimed hundreds of commuters had recently been inconvenienced because of a breakdown in Go Card swiping machines at Central and Darra train stations.

However, Mr Berkman said those incidents were justified.

Gates were automatically opened when a fire alarm went off at Central Station yesterday afternoon, allowing arriving passengers to exit without swiping their card, as part of emergency evacuation strategies.

Affected Go Card users could call TransLink to have the problem rectified, Mr Berkman said.

He also defended a decision on Monday to give free travel passes to commuters travelling with a Go Card from Darra Station on the Ipswich line because construction work meant the electricity had to be turned off.

More than 100,000 commuters have changed to the electronic system since controversial increases in paper ticket fares were introduced on January 4. TransLink increased paper ticket fares by up to 40 per cent, while the cost of Go Card fares rose by 20 per cent, in a deliberate move to push travellers onto the paperless system.

Mr Berkman said the effect had been "incredible'', but commuter lobby group Rail: Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow has said commuters had no choice as they felt the financial pinch of buying a paper ticket.

An increase in retailers selling the cards had also helped boost sales, Mr Berkman said.

Since school returned last week, more than 325,000 Go Card trips were made each day, compared to 166,000 at the same time last year.

The figures are expected to increase when university resumes later this month.

[somebody]

At no point in that article was there any hint that the option of putting in gates to address the problem was even on the radar.  These same people could have been simply buying a zone 1-1 weekly/monthly to get through the gates in the city, although if a transit officer came around they would have gotten a fine.  I suppose that could be the difference to previously.

[stephenk]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Fare fine's fair: TransLink

Fare fine's fair: TransLink
COURTNEY TRENWITH
February 5, 2010 - 9:43AM
Affected Go Card users could call TransLink to have the problem rectified, Mr Berkman said.

This is where Translink just don't get it. A phone call may cost more than the refund. Now Translink, repeat that 100 times, until you understand it.

At no point in that article was there any hint that the option of putting in gates to address the problem was even on the radar.  These same people could have been simply buying a zone 1-1 weekly/monthly to get through the gates in the city, although if a transit officer came around they would have gotten a fine.  I suppose that could be the difference to previously.

I completely agree. Translink need to add fare gates to all major stations. It would not only reduce fare evasion, but also decrease the number of accidental penalty fares to forgetful passengers.

[#Metro]

TL said that they would not do anything about it.
What a waste!

[Jon Bryant]

Gates and staff at all station...and no the cost is not to be at the expense of other PT spending.

[dwb]

Gates and staff at all station...and no the cost is not to be at the expense of other PT spending.

It doesn't make sense to spend more than you'd recoup. This is a dumb idea and not practical at all.

[Jon Bryant]

Sorry!  When did 16 million Dollars not make sense.  Plus making our stations safer.

[dwb]

To have effective fare gates you need enforcement. With a suburban railway system like that in SEQ where stations have multiple entry/exits it is not practical to have enforcement. Even if you just installed gates where the current poles are (totally ridiculous idea) you would easily spend $100,000 per station and at 100x stations, that is already $10mil for install. But the only was to have effective enforcement is to have a closed system. For a closed system you need staff manning gates, not some gates, all gates, all of the time. To be able to man gates you need controlled entry and exit - ie via a concourse, not to mention lots of staff just to watch very few people touching or not touching on or off. Very few stations in our system would allow easy construction of a single concourse area for all entries. And we haven't even considered the staff budget. How you think ineffective policy could possibly be a could way to spend a lot of money is beyond me!

[#Metro]

Just increase the fine for fare evasion penalty.
Step it up:

1st offence 1x current penalty
2nd offence 2x current penalty
3rd offence 4x current penalty

One can be selective as well. Most trips are to destinations close to major centres. So Southbank should get gates as should Indooroopily, Beenleigh, Nerang, Helensvale and Robina (IIRC Robina might already have them). The gates could also be staggered so that everyone can see everyone else touch on/off.

[somebody]

Just increase the fine for fare evasion penalty.
Step it up:

1st offence 1x current penalty
2nd offence 2x current penalty
3rd offence 4x current penalty

I think he's on to something here!  Over what time period?  I think 1 week, and $20 is too harsh for anyone.

[longboi]

One can be selective as well. Most trips are to destinations close to major centres. So Southbank should get gates as should Indooroopily, Beenleigh, Nerang, Helensvale and Robina (IIRC Robina might already have them). The gates could also be staggered so that everyone can see everyone else touch on/off.

I would expand that to all transfer stations and stations that are open first train to last, 7 days a week. So you could include Ferny Grove, Bowen Hills, Eagle Junction, Northgate, Sandgate, Petrie, Caboolture, Manly, Cleveland, Park Road, Corinda, Yeerongpilly and perhaps even also stations with significant bus interchanges to serve as a cue for go card users that they need to touch off/on when changing between bus/train.

Of course this would have to be a progressive thing starting with stations that can effectively be closed with sets of gates and then installed at other stations as they are refurbished and reconfigured to physically restrict entry into the station to gated entrances only.

[O_128]

One can be selective as well. Most trips are to destinations close to major centres. So Southbank should get gates as should Indooroopily, Beenleigh, Nerang, Helensvale and Robina (IIRC Robina might already have them). The gates could also be staggered so that everyone can see everyone else touch on/off.

I would expand that to all transfer stations and stations that are open first train to last, 7 days a week. So you could include Ferny Grove, Bowen Hills, Eagle Junction, Northgate, Sandgate, Petrie, Caboolture, Manly, Cleveland, Park Road, Corinda, Yeerongpilly and perhaps even also stations with significant bus interchanges to serve as a cue for go card users that they need to touch off/on when changing between bus/train.

Of course this would have to be a progressive thing starting with stations that can effectively be closed with sets of gates and then installed at other stations as they are refurbished and reconfigured to physically restrict entry into the station to gated entrances only.

This is a good idea and at stations with bridges easy to implement.

[Derwan]

I don't think gates at suburban stations are the answer.  I echo dwb's sentiments in that a closed system needs to be manned - not just to police tickets, but to be able to respond to problems (we all know how reliable the equipment is).  Imagine an old lady trying to get out of the station when all the gate does is say "Seek Assistance". 

There is no point spending hundreds of thousands of dollars implementing gates at suburban stations.

The DO need to put in more readers though.

[somebody]

I don't think gates at suburban stations are the answer. 

I agree, in many cases.  Stations like Milton and Indooroopilly which while quite busy have several entrances and would just be too hard to have gates at unless there's a significant change to pedestrian overbridges/subways etc.

[Jon Bryant]

Yes of course it would be a progressive thing and done in association with the redevelopment of our stations.  I also think the staffing of our stations after redevelopment is a good idea (despite the cost) as this will help with overall safety of the services after dark...again helping to increase patronage. 

We need to start creating a high quality service with an attractive and sexy image as this help get those people married to their cars out of them and onto public transport.       

[longboi]

I don't think gates at suburban stations are the answer.  I echo dwb's sentiments in that a closed system needs to be manned - not just to police tickets, but to be able to respond to problems (we all know how reliable the equipment is).  Imagine an old lady trying to get out of the station when all the gate does is say "Seek Assistance". 

There is no point spending hundreds of thousands of dollars implementing gates at suburban stations.

The DO need to put in more readers though.

That is exactly why I said only at stations which are manned from first train until last, 7 days a week.