Article: Rail Back on Track calls for 'expensive' go card overhaul

[ozbob]

From Brisbane mX (8 Feb 07) via Courier Mail click here!

Rail Back on Track calls for 'expensive' go card overhaul

Rail Back on Track calls for 'expensive' go card overhaul
Article from: mX

Anna Edwards of MX

February 08, 2008 04:13pm

SOUTH east Queensland's new go card ticketing system is hitting commuters hip pockets and should be overhauled, a commuter group claims.

The Rail Back on Track group proposed base fares on the go card be reduced by 25 per cent and daily and weekly fare limits capped.

This would give commuters more incentive to use go cards, the group's spokesman Robert Dow said.

Long-distance commuters are slugged with higher fares under the new system with fares past Zone 10 up to $23 more.

A Zone 11 weekly ticket costs $56.30, but if a commuter uses the new go card to travel the same journey from Monday to Friday, taking into account the go cards half-price discount after six consecutive trips, they would be stung for $60.

And the difference between the two ticket types gets higher as the zones increase.

A weekly Zone 20 ticket costs $100.80, but go card users would be stung with $124.

A spokesman for Transport Minister John Mickel said commuters had a choice.

Single, daily, off-peak daily, weekly and monthly tickets will continue to be available for purchase.

"There is currently no timetable for the removal of these integrated paper ticketproducts," he said.

"Ultimately we would like everyone to use the go card and will offer further products on the card."

He said that while they were financially worse off, longdistance commuters who used the go card would benefit in convenience and security.

Footnote:  Original article title was 'Go card hits wallets' in mX 

[ozbob]

This is a very significant article because it is the first time there has been an official acknowledgement of the cost impacts of the FU scheme, and a clear indication that something will be done. 

[ozbob]

Will we see some decent fares on the Go Card?

Hope so!!