9 Jan 2011: SEQ: Fare changes impact on school students

[ozbob]

Media Release 9 January 2011

SEQ:  Fare changes impact on school students

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 school students and their parents need to carefully examine the options for ticketing for school travel in 2011 as most types of paper tickets are removed from sale with effect 17th January 2011 (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"According to the TransLink web site 'go card will replace all multi-trip paper tickets - including all daily, weekly, monthly and Queensland Rail one-third student paper tickets'.  This is confusing with respect to the information on the Transport and Main Roads web site which states 'All school students (except mature age, overseas, interstate and exchange students) attending approved primary or secondary schools are eligible for student discount fares on the CityTrain network. These discount fares are available for travel to and from school and are charged at a maximum rate of one-third of the adult fare (2)'.  The concession go card fares for students are 50% of the adult fare not 33%."

"Six and twelve month rail passes are still to be available according to the TransLink website (3).  Some parents may like to seek out this alternative rather than paying for 50% fares using the go card."

"The information presently on the TransLink website touting the benefits of go card does not explicitly inform that the fares using a concession go card will be at 50% of the adult fare, not 33% as was the case with the Queensland Rail one-third student paper tickets (3)."

"More information on school tickets and fares including the School Transport Assistance Scheme can be found on the TransLink web site (4)."

"Forewarned is forearmed!"


References:

1. http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/changes-to-fares-and-ticketing-in-2011

2. http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/26270488-6150-4eec-b936-d23ae39950d1/pdf_stas_policy.pdf  accessed 1915 hours 8 Jan 2011 page 12

3. http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/queensland-rail-one-third-student

4. http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/other-tickets/school-tickets-and-fares

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

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