9 Jan 2011: SEQ: Fare changes impact on tourists

[ozbob]

Media Release 9 January 2011

SEQ:  Fare changes impact on tourists

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 tourists and visitors need to carefully examine the options for ticketing for public transport 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' (1). Tourists have found the daily paper tickets particularly an affordable way of travelling around on our public transport, accessing local tourist destinations and contributing to the local economy."

A typical tourist travel profile with fares from 17th January 2011:

                                                   Paper Ticket                           Gocard 
Oxley to CBD                                   $5.40                          $3.68   peak
CBD to Southbank                            $3.90                          $2.26   off peak
Southbank to CBD                            $3.90                          $2.26   off peak
CBD to MtCootha                             $4.60                          $3.13   off peak
Mount Cootha to Fig Tree Pocket       $3.90                          $2.26   off peak
Fig tree pocket to CBD                     $5.40                          $3.13   off peak
CBD to Oxley                                  $5.40                          $3.68   peak
       
                     Totals                     $32.50                         $20.40 

The current paper daily ticket is  $9.40

"The removal of the daily tickets and the lack of a daily cap on the go card is going to impact significantly on the cost of travel for tourists, as for citizens in south-east Queensland.  If a tourist buys single paper tickets for a travel profile that formerly cost $9.40 they will pay $32.50, over 200% fare increase!  Even with the go card it will cost $20.40, over 100% fare increase!

"There is lack of incentive travel tickets for tourists in south-east Queensland as in other tourist destinations such as Hong Kong (2) and Sydney (3).  The lack of suitable ticketing products must be cause for alarm in the tourist industry. There is very little information on the TransLink website directed to tourists, contrast this to London (4).

"The fare changes and and the fare structure on the go card is yet another example of extremely poorly thought out public transport policy in Queensland."

References:

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

2. MTR tourist info  http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/whatsnew/tourist_index.html

3. Sydney pass  http://www.sydneybuses.info/tourist-services/sydneypass/

4. Transport for London visitor and tourists maps  http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/visitor-guide.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5206.0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

10th January 2011

Greetings,

In the absence of any meaningful advice for tourists and visitors on using public transport in Brisbane, we have put together a basic guide.

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5206.msg44754#msg44754

======================

If you are still determined to travel to Brisbane, pay attention!

With the sad state of affairs I suggest that the best bet would be if arriving at the Airport before 8pm buy a single ticket ($15) to Central for Airtrain. (the last service for day leaves the domestic terminal at 8pm Mon - Fri, 7.59pm Sat - Sun, we like to go to bed early, yes we know that many flights arrive after 8pm but hey this is BNE). At Central station ticket office purchase a pre-loaded $20 go card and then set forth.

If after 8pm Coachtrans bus to Brisbane Transit Centre (fare $15).  Purchase a pre-loaded $20 go card from the Roma St station ticket office and head off.

The cost of travel to and from BNE is at a premium in line with the 'gouge' principle of most major airports.  Travel on the rest of the public transport system is a little less expensive than the Airport gouge fares.

Print out a copy of our Smart GO CARD User Guide and check out the TransLink web site go card information here prior to travelling to Brisbane.

Note:  Trains don't run overnight, some buses do.  All details on the TransLink web site -->  http://www.translink.com.au/

Another alternative is to order a go card well in advance (three weeks) before travelling by mail or online (you can order by phone, but the cost of the phone call might be more than cost of your flight!). See --> http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/go-card/buy-a-go-card   By doing this you can use your go card on the Airtrain when you arrive in BNE.  Unfortunately incredible as it sounds, go cards are not available at the Airport stations.  The Coachtrans bus is a cash fare.

There are  no special ticket products for visitors or tourists like in London, or Sydney or Hong Kong, your best option is to use the go card with the majority of the rest of us.  Paper single tickets are available but they are much more expensive than using the go card.

When you have had enough of the go card, you can claim a refund for unexpended credit on your go card. 
There are certain conditions so study well here --> http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/go-card/refunds

This complicates travel back to BNE when you are leaving, there are no facilities to cash in your go card at the Airport, so need to do that at say Central or in Brisbane City and then buy a ticket, or follow up return of your go card by mail.  Apologies for the gross incompetence.

Good luck, and welcome to Brisbane!

====================

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

Media Release 9 January 2011
 
SEQ:  Fare changes impact on tourists

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 tourists and visitors need to carefully examine the options for ticketing for public transport 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' (1). Tourists have found the daily paper tickets particularly an affordable way of travelling around on our public transport, accessing local tourist destinations and contributing to the local economy."

A typical tourist travel profile with fares from 17th January 2011:

                                                    Paper Ticket                           Gocard 
Oxley to CBD                                   $5.40                          $3.68   peak
CBD to Southbank                            $3.90                          $2.26   off peak
Southbank to CBD                            $3.90                          $2.26   off peak
CBD to MtCootha                             $4.60                          $3.13   off peak
Mount Cootha to Fig Tree Pocket       $3.90                          $2.26   off peak
Fig tree pocket to CBD                     $5.40                          $3.13   off peak
CBD to Oxley                                  $5.40                          $3.68   peak
         
                      Totals                          $32.50                         $20.40 

The current paper daily ticket is  $9.40

"The removal of the daily tickets and the lack of a daily cap on the go card is going to impact significantly on the cost of travel for tourists, as for citizens in south-east Queensland.  If a tourist buys single paper tickets for a travel profile that formerly cost $9.40 they will pay $32.50, over 200% fare increase!  Even with the go card it will cost $20.40, over 100% fare increase!

"There is lack of incentive travel tickets for tourists in south-east Queensland as in other tourist destinations such as Hong Kong (2) and Sydney (3).  The lack of suitable ticketing products must be cause for alarm in the tourist industry. There is very little information on the TransLink website directed to tourists, contrast this to London (4).

"The fare changes and and the fare structure on the go card is yet another example of extremely poorly thought out public transport policy in Queensland."

References:

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

2. MTR tourist info  http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/whatsnew/tourist_index.html

3. Sydney pass  http://www.sydneybuses.info/tourist-services/sydneypass/

4. Transport for London visitor and tourists maps  http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/visitor-guide.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail 10th January 2011 page 12

Tourist transport hit hard in rises



Thanks CM for highlighting our concerns ...

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5206.msg44773#msg44773

[ozbob]

Over the past months there has been a number of letters to the editor Courier Mail from tourists pointing the lack of a suitable ticket product for public transport for visitors and tourists.  The Brisbane Pass only goes part way, a special purpose pass which includes Airtrain and unrestricted public transport use on a variable daily basis might be one way to go!  The Sydney Pass does this.

Courier Mail --> Brisbane 'needs more tourist attractions' to keep visitors coming

[SurfRail]

I think that article needs to ditch the word "more" from the headline.  It implies there is something to do in Brisbane already... 

(At least the Gold Coast still maintains tourist ticketing products, including local travel, airport and theme park transfers.  We are the ones who need it much more given the rate of transients and visitors using PT down here.)

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Brisbane's public transport costs put squeeze on skinny travel budgets

Brisbane's public transport costs put squeeze on skinny travel budgets

    Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    July 19, 2011 12:00AM

HIGH prices and a lack of public transport packages are putting Brisbane's tourist attractions beyond the budget of visitors, particularly backpackers.

Prior to fare changes earlier this year, tourists could spend all day using public transport on a $9.40 daily fare ticket.

Tourists now have to shell out $3.90 for every zone one trip using a paper ticket or pay $5 for a go card to qualify for a lower fare ($2.65 for zone one).

Alternatively, tourists can fork over $53 for a "Brisbane Pass" which includes a return trip on the Airtrain and the two-hour CitySights tour but no other access to public transport.

In comparison, visitors to Sydney can pay $100 for a three-day public transport pass giving them unlimited trips on ferries, trains, buses, light rail and the Airtrain.

The Queensland Tourism Industry Council criticised the lack of discounted fares for tourists and said the fare changes were hurting the struggling industry.

"If you give people a go-any-place pass, they're much more likely to go and explore," chief executive Daniel Gschwind said.

"You could even build in discounted entry to various attractions and dining options if you really wanted to be innovative about it."

Manager of YHA's Brisbane Backpackers Hostel Tim Hardidge said the loss of the daily fare had "priced backpackers out of public transport".

"Now that it's all zoned it costs $3.90 just to get from one side of the river to another," Mr Hardidge said.

Commuter advocacy group Back On Track also called for a better deal for tourists.

Spokesman Robert Dow said the go card tended to be tricky for foreign visitors, and could not be "cashed out" at the airport.

"It just seems a shame that Queensland, which is dependent on tourism, doesn't really support tourists using public transport," Mr Dow said.

"What we really need to do is set about welcoming tourists to our public transport by making it easy for them. Just give them a tourism pass. I don't think that should be overly complicated."

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said her public transport advisory group would look at a range of ticketing options but insisted the "go card was ideal for tourists".

"TransLink encourages all tourists to purchase a go card when they arrive in southeast Queensland from one of more than 570 outlets across the network," Ms Palaszczuk said.

[ozbob]

Opposition Statement  http://www.scottemerson.com.au/

Labor's public transport fare hikes push Brisbane tourists away

Brisbane's tourism market is doing it tough and the Bligh Government isn't helping by making public transport too expensive for tourists, the State Opposition said today.

Shadow Minister for Transport Scott Emerson said the Bligh Labor Government should be encouraging River City tourists with affordable public transport options, not turning them away.

"More than six million tourists visit South East Queensland every year and Labor's solution to help boost Brisbane tourism is to increase public transport fares," said Mr Emerson.

"Under the Bligh Labor Government, public transport fares have gone up and will continue to rise by 15 per cent each year for the next three years.

"Labor's ever-increasing public transport costs are hardly attractive to tourists.

"Backpackers especially cannot afford to pay almost $4 every time they jump on a bus, train or ferry.

"Expensive public transport fares could mean visitors to our River City instead travel elsewhere.

"The LNP believes a tourist product that will meet the specific travel needs of short-term visitors needs to be developed in an effort to attract more travellers to the South East corner.

"A CanDo LNP government will work hard to improve our public transport system and encourage tourists to Brisbane," Mr Emerson said.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Tourists shun Go Card travel

Tourists shun Go Card travel
Tony Moore
August 11, 2011 - 4:24PM

Queensland's peak tourism industry body has backed calls for a major overhaul of the Go Card system, saying it causes too much confusion and inconvenience for international visitors.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk this morning urged the state government to reintroduce daily tickets after a significant decline in the number of tourists using Brisbane's CityCats and ferries.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind backed the Lord Mayor and said the Go Card was too cumbersome for tourists and debate over price structures was missing the point.

"This is about the consumers at the end of the day and the customers," Mr Gschwind said.

"It is not about the administration, that is not what it is about."

Mr Gschwind said it was too complicated to explain how to buy in to the Go Card system.

"It is not very convenient if you are here for one day or two days," he said.

"You want to find in Brisbane what you find in many international cities; a convenient day pass or multi-day pass where you don't have to understand the complex zone system, you don't have to understand fare systems.

"You just want to buy one ticket that allows you to travel around."

Cr Quirk said Brisbane's previously consistent growth in ferry patronage had "abruptly halted" since 2010.

"We are known as a river city and our CityCats and ferries are arguably the most popular way to explore Brisbane for tourists and locals alike," he said.

"But with the state government cancelling the daily ticket while at the same time increasing fares by up to 40 per cent, river tourism is fast becoming something people avoid."

Cr Quirk said recent figures showed the number of tourists using the CityCats and ferries had dropped by 16 per cent in the past year, which was twice the decline in the number of regular passengers.

"That is a very concerning trend considering they make up almost half of all ferry trips," he said.

Queensland Transport recently agreed to sell Go Cards on CityCats and ferries.

Cr Quirk said tourists still preferred paper tickets, which were still available but more expensive than Go Card fares.

However, Queensland Tourism figures show a decline in the total number of tourists to the state, which may also have had an effect.

The figures show domestic tourists dropped four per cent and international tourism dropping one per cent by March 2011.

A spokesman for Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the issue of funding any new service for tourists became complicated after former lord mayor Campbell Newman made a 2008 election promise to deliver three new CityCats, without consultation with the state government or Translink.

Brisbane City Council recently asked for funds for "CityCats 17, 18 and 19".

In a letter sent yesterday to Cr Quirk, Ms Palaszczuk points out that CityCat and ferry patronage "has been in decline since June 2009".

Ms Palaszczuk disputes that Go Card fare increases are responsible for declining passengers.

"It should be noted that patronage on these services has been in decline since June 2009, six months prior to to the first fare increase under Translink's five-year fare strategy," she said in correspondence with the Lord Mayor.

Ms Palaszczuk also told Cr Quirk "any consideration of funding by the Queensland government would have to come at the cost of other public transport initiatives".

In April, Ms Palaszczuk said she wanted to make it easier for tourists to catch southeast Queensland's public transport.

"One issue that is very important I think is that when tourists come to southeast Queensland that they have the ability to purchase a travel card, which they're able to purchase in some other states and other countries," Ms Palaszczuk said.

However it is understood that the 'travel card' idea is not being explored because Queensland Transport believes Go Cards are more flexible and can be bought by by tourists before they arrive.

Any money on a Go Card not spent on holidays could be refunded.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/tourists-shun-go-card-travel-20110811-1iobr.html

[O_128]

Absolute rubbish, in london I brought an oyster card, in paris I brought a navigo its not hard and most people know how to do it.

[Golliwog]

Absolute rubbish, in london I brought an oyster card, in paris I brought a navigo its not hard and most people know how to do it.

+1, though in Paris I didn't mostly because from where we were staying it was very easy to walk to most touristy places and it was simpler just to buy a ticket on the days we did need one.

But if we just have to have paper tickets, then at least change over to magnetic strip ones like Paris and be done with the need to have a person man the gates to let a paper ticket holder through.

[O_128]

Absolute rubbish, in london I brought an oyster card, in paris I brought a navigo its not hard and most people know how to do it.

+1, though in Paris I didn't mostly because from where we were staying it was very easy to walk to most touristy places and it was simpler just to buy a ticket on the days we did need one.

But if we just have to have paper tickets, then at least change over to magnetic strip ones like Paris and be done with the need to have a person man the gates to let a paper ticket holder through.

I was the PT savvy one of the bunch and worked out it was way cheaper to pay 18 euro for a weekly as we were doing 5+ trips a day and the machines made me angry haha, considering most of our tourists are either asian of european I'm sure they can work out how to buy a card similar to what is used in there country, I feel the only people complaining are australian tourists 

[Golliwog]

Oh how I hated the rolly wheel things on those Parisian ticket machines!

I would agree it would be mostly Aussie tourists having a whinge. Its what we do best.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Make commuting a holiday for tourists

Make commuting a holiday for tourists
Tony Moore
August 16, 2011 - 3:00AM

Brisbane should follow Sydney's lead and adopt an electronic pass to make it easier for tourists to travel around Brisbane for a week, an influential public transport lobbyist said last night.

Mr Dow's comments followed the embarrassing meltdown yesterday when visitors to the Ekka had to wait in line to buy two single fare paper tickets because of the complex time and zoning system in Brisbane.

Last week Queensland Tourist Industry Council chief executive officer Daniel Gschwind said a simple tourist card was essential for Brisbane.

Mr Gschwind said Brisbane's public transport authorities were ignoring their customers.

The See Sydney Attractions Pass scheme includes a 40 per cent discount off entry fees to 40 tourist attractions and public transport.

It is available in two, three and seven-day options and can include or exclude public transport.

The scheme costs $190 for a two-day adult pass and Robert Dow of the Rail: Back on Track lobby group is convinced it should operate in Brisbane.

"The backpackers are looking for something they can get some value out of," Mr Dow said.

"It would be possible to introduce something similar to the Sydney pass in Brisbane," he said.

Mr Dow said he was frustrated at the lack of transport options for overseas tourists in Brisbane.

"You can actually get a pass on the Gold Coast for unlimited bus travel down there for three, or five, or seven days, but not in Brisbane," he said.

He said in Brisbane there was a pass, provided by Airtrain and Brisbane City Council which gave tourists a return train trip from the airport, a trip on the CityCat and a trip on the CitySights bus tour.

"But it doesn't really give access to the public transport network," Mr Dow said.

Mr Dow said he would present his idea to this month's meeting of Queensland Transport's Public Transport Advisory Group.

"What we think needs to happen is that there needs to be a pass modeled on the Sydney pass," he said.

He said its cost could have to be evaluated, but he was confident it could be introduced under the contract that Cubic has with Queensland Transport to provide the Go Card.

"The principle is a good one, because once they have these passes they can just flash it and travel," he said.

"They don't have to worry about any complex transfer rules, they don't have to worry about a two-hour expiry on a paper ticket if they are travelling 10 zones or less."

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said she would listen to the Public Transport Advisory Committee's ideas.

"I will continue to be guided by submissions from members of the Public Transport Advisory group, regarding future ticketing products and commuter needs, when it meets later this month," Ms Palaszczuk said.

She said varying the Go Card was her preferred option.

"While the Go Card is the leading public transport smart card in Australia, I do recognise it is still a maturing product and as part of our long-term fare strategy we will continue to look at future enhancements," she said.

Go Cards will soon be sold on CityCats and ferries.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/make-commuting-a-holiday-for-tourists-20110815-1iuri.html

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Day passes needed for tourists: mayor

Day passes needed for tourists: mayor
Tony Moore
August 16, 2011 - 1:38PM

Brisbane's Lord Mayor has re-stated his case for a Brisbane visitors "day-pass" as the city wrestles with helping tourists use public transport.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk have today agreed to meet to discuss this issue.

"I just think it is a nonsense not to have it," Cr Quirk said.

Last night Robert Dow, of transport lobby group Rail - Back on Track, suggested Brisbane adopt a scheme similar to the See Sydney Attractions Pass idea for tourists which include discounted entry fees to local attractions and public transport.

Cr Quirk said the concept was "worthy of further examination", but he said the crux of the problem was that the current mix of paper tickets and Go Cards inappropriate for visitors.

"I mean we need to do whatever we can to make it easy and interesting for tourists," he said.

"It's a significant market, the Aussie dollar is up at the moment which makes it harder to attract more tourists to feel more welcome."

Cr Quirk suggested more could be made of the $53 "Brisbane pass" - which now includes a return train trip from the airport, a CityCat trip and a loop around the city's attractions on the CitySights bus service.

"There are many ways which you can expand on that as well," Cr Quirk said.

"Adding some tourist attractions within a package of things that can be looked at it."

Cr Quirk said the issue was one he wanted examined under the five-year Brisbane Economic Plan which he launched last week.

The report's recommendations for 2011-2016 will be finalised in November.

"The first thing is the day pass and that is absolutely critical," Cr Quirk said.

Last night Mr Dow said he would recommend to Ms Palaszczuk's Public Transport Advisory Committee that Brisbane look at adapting the "Sydney pass" idea.

He said its cost could have to be evaluated, but he was confident it could be introduced under the contract that Cubic has with Queensland Transport to provide the Go Card.

"The principle is a good one, because once they have these passes they can just flash it and travel," he said.

"They don't have to worry about any complex transfer rules, they don't have to worry about a two-hour expiry on a paper ticket if they are travelling 10 zones or less."

Ms Palaszczuk said she would listen to the Public Transport Advisory Committee's ideas.

"I will continue to be guided by submissions from members of the Public Transport Advisory group regarding future ticketing products and commuter needs, when it meets later this month," she said.

She said varying the Go Card was her preferred option.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/day-passes-needed-for-tourists-mayor-20110816-1ivob.html

[ozbob]

From the NZ Herald click here!

Travel pass aims to make sightseeing easy

Travel pass aims to make sightseeing easy
By Mathew Dearnaley
5:30 AM Monday Aug 15, 2011

Auckland Transport is today unveiling a special travel pass for Rugby World Cup visitors and their hosts.

The A-Pass has been rushed into production to provide overseas visitors with the type of electronic transport ticket many will be used to in their home cities.

But it will be available for anyone to buy and use between September 1 and October 24 for $15 a day, and will serve as a combined visual and electronic ticket based on the Hop card, which has operated since May on Auckland's largest bus fleet.

Although it will cost the same as the existing visual Discovery pass, and will entitle holders to the same unlimited travel for a day at a time on trains, buses and inner-harbour ferries, it will also include discount offers to city attractions such as the zoo and several museums.

Public transport to and from Rugby World Cup games will be free to match ticketholders, but those who want to see the sights between times will be able to load up to six days of travel entitlements on to each pass.

Its importance to the roll-out of the region's $98 million integrated public transport ticket scheme is that it will be used to tag on electronically to trains and ferries for the first time, and not just on buses operated by subsidiary companies of NZ Bus.

The pass will also be accepted as a visual ticket by most other public bus companies apart from the Airbus Express, which is a significant omission as it runs between the airport and downtown Auckland.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown said the A-Pass was great news for the rugby tournament and for the integrated ticketing project.

"International visitors expect this kind of approach to public transport," he said. "I'm looking forward to the day that it will be part of everyday travel for Aucklanders."

A-PASS

* Available: From September 1 until October 24.
* Cost: $15 a day.
* Entitlements: Unlimited travel on trains, inner-harbour ferries and most buses, plus discounts to city attractions such as Auckland Zoo, Auckland Museum, the Stardome, the Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum, the Auckland Art Gallery, the Edge and the Museum of Transport and Technology (Motat).

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th August 2011

Hello, is NZ really smart?

Greetings,

Our friends in  New Zealand have got their act together.   Meanwhile, the smart state cannot get a grip on the need to support the tourism industry with decent public transport ticketing.   Ho hum ...

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org


======================

From the NZ Herald click here!

Travel pass aims to make sightseeing easy

Travel pass aims to make sightseeing easy
By Mathew Dearnaley
5:30 AM Monday Aug 15, 2011

Auckland Transport is today unveiling a special travel pass for Rugby World Cup visitors and their hosts.

The A-Pass has been rushed into production to provide overseas visitors with the type of electronic transport ticket many will be used to in their home cities.

But it will be available for anyone to buy and use between September 1 and October 24 for $15 a day, and will serve as a combined visual and electronic ticket based on the Hop card, which has operated since May on Auckland's largest bus fleet.

Although it will cost the same as the existing visual Discovery pass, and will entitle holders to the same unlimited travel for a day at a time on trains, buses and inner-harbour ferries, it will also include discount offers to city attractions such as the zoo and several museums.

Public transport to and from Rugby World Cup games will be free to match ticketholders, but those who want to see the sights between times will be able to load up to six days of travel entitlements on to each pass.

Its importance to the roll-out of the region's $98 million integrated public transport ticket scheme is that it will be used to tag on electronically to trains and ferries for the first time, and not just on buses operated by subsidiary companies of NZ Bus.

The pass will also be accepted as a visual ticket by most other public bus companies apart from the Airbus Express, which is a significant omission as it runs between the airport and downtown Auckland.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown said the A-Pass was great news for the rugby tournament and for the integrated ticketing project.

"International visitors expect this kind of approach to public transport," he said. "I'm looking forward to the day that it will be part of everyday travel for Aucklanders."

A-PASS

* Available: From September 1 until October 24.
* Cost: $15 a day.
* Entitlements: Unlimited travel on trains, inner-harbour ferries and most buses, plus discounts to city attractions such as Auckland Zoo, Auckland Museum, the Stardome, the Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum, the Auckland Art Gallery, the Edge and the Museum of Transport and Technology (Motat).

[ozbob]

http://www.publictransport.sg/publish/ptp/en/fares_ticketing/types_of_tickets/singapore_tourist.html

SINGAPORE TOURIST PASS

The Singapore Tourist Pass is the only All-Day travel pass that offers tourists unlimited travel* on the MRT, LRT (Light Rapid Transit), and basic bus services.

Explore the island with great ease with a 1, 2 or 3 All-Day travel pass encoded onto a contactless smart card which is similar to an ez-link card.

Types of Singapore Tourist Passes

1-day Pass     S$8.00
2-day Pass     S$16.00
3-day Pass     S$24.00

Excludes S$10.00 deposit which is fully refundable when Pass is returned within 5 days.

For more details about The Singapore Tourist Pass and purchasing one, visit www.thesingaporetouristpass.com or call 6223-2282 (office hours).

*This excludes Express, Fast Forward, NightRider, Nite Owl, Chinatown Direct and other premium and niche bus services.

[ozbob]

I think this is an excellent model (ie. the Singapore Tourist Pass) for a tourist go card product .

1, 3, 7 passes could be in the form of stylised go cards.  A $5 deposit to cover the cost of the card which is refundable.  I suggest not include the airtrain. (An Airtrain inclusive version could be possible, but there is the Brisbane Pass already).

A daily charge could be $30.  For this unlimited travel on the TransLink network.  Discount entry into certain tourist attractions could also be offered.

So a one day pass $30 +$5 deposit.  Three day $95.   Seven day $215.

Being a go card it would activate on first touch and expire as appropriate, eg one day would expire 23h 59 minutes after first touch.  It would allow tourists to go through fare gates etc. and demonstrate valid ticket by touching on bus/ferry.  It would not matter in actual fact if the users failed to touch off,  card programmed to operate as a flat ticket.  Shouldn't be too hard?

It would in time generate useful information as to the travel patterns of tourists etc.

The card itself could be very distinctive to distinguish it from non-tourist go cards.  For example incorporate an orange fluorescent diagonal stripe with a nice Brisbane photograph.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

21 August 2011

Brisbane Tourist Go Card?

Greetings,

The lack of a suitable ticketing product for tourists and visitors to Brisbane has been in the news of late.

Singapore has an excellent Tourist Pass. It is in effect a version of their smart card ticket.

http://www.publictransport.sg/publish/ptp/en/fares_ticketing/types_of_tickets/singapore_tourist.html

SINGAPORE TOURIST PASS

The Singapore Tourist Pass is the only All-Day travel pass that offers tourists unlimited travel* on the MRT, LRT (Light Rapid Transit), and basic bus services.

Explore the island with great ease with a 1, 2 or 3 All-Day travel pass encoded onto a contactless smart card which is similar to an ez-link card.

Types of Singapore Tourist Passes

 1-day Pass     S$8.00
 2-day Pass     S$16.00
 3-day Pass     S$24.00

Excludes S$10.00 deposit which is fully refundable when Pass is returned within 5 days.

For more details about The Singapore Tourist Pass and purchasing one, visit www.thesingaporetouristpass.com or call 6223-2282 (office hours).

*This excludes Express, Fast Forward, NightRider, Nite Owl, Chinatown Direct and other premium and niche bus services.

I think this is an excellent model (i.e. the Singapore Tourist Pass) for a tourist go card product .

1, 3, 7 day passes could be in the form of stylised go cards.  A $5 deposit to cover the cost of the card which is refundable.  I suggest to not include the Airtrain. (An Airtrain inclusive version could be possible, but there is the Brisbane Pass already).

A daily charge could be $30.  For this unlimited travel on the TransLink network.  Discount entry into certain tourist attractions could also be offered.

So a one day pass $30 +$5 deposit.  Three day $95.   Seven day $215.

Being a go card it would activate on first touch and expire as appropriate, e.g. one day would expire 23h 59 minutes after first touch.  It would allow tourists to go through fare gates etc. and demonstrate valid ticket by touching on bus/ferry.  It would not matter in actual fact if the users failed to touch off,  card programmed to operate as a flat ticket.  Shouldn't be too hard?

It would in time generate useful information as to the travel patterns of tourists etc.

The card itself could be very distinctive to distinguish it from non-tourist go cards.  For example incorporate an orange fluorescent diagonal stripe with a nice Brisbane photograph.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[SurfRail]

I'm of the view that there should be a set of metropolitan Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast only products in addition to a regionwide one (or even forget about the region-wide one).  Most people visiting the Gold Coast have nothing to do with Brisbane while they are here, and slugging them that much on the off-chance they might venture north of Dreamworld makes the product sufficiently inattractive that a family of 4 would just get a rental car.  The only other option is to make an SEQ-wide one sufficiently cheap, which would result in a lot of rorting.

Frankly, nobody is going to pay $30 for all-day PT when a car costs less for more than 2 people.

[ozbob]

Regional areas can continue to do their thing.  $30 is a ball park figure, coupled with discounts it would be a good option.  Sydney pass is relatively more expensive and is well used.

Have a look at the original post here in this thread.  A typical tourist travel by paper costs $32.50 just around Brisbane, this is not made up but actual travel of overseas visitors who stay with one of our members. By incorporating discounts into various attractions it then becomes of value.  Remember it is for the tourist, they don't have to bother with remembering all the go card rules and worry about fixed fares.  

Brisbane needs to make public transport attractive to visitors/tourists.  This would be a good approach.  We will never know unless we try, other jurisdictions do it, why the can't do attitude in Brisbane?

[dwb]

Regional areas can continue to do their thing.  $30 is a ball park figure, coupled with discounts it would be a good option.  Sydney pass is relatively more expensive and is well used.

Have a look at the original post here in this thread.  A typical tourist travel by paper costs $32.50 just around Brisbane, this is not made up but actual travel of overseas visitors who stay with one of our members. By incorporating discounts into various attractions it then becomes of value.  Remember it is for the tourist, they don't have to bother with remembering all the go card rules and worry about fixed fares.  

Brisbane needs to make public transport attractive to visitors/tourists.  This would be a good approach.  We will never know unless we try, other jurisdictions do it, why the can't do attitude in Brisbane?

I tend to think it is too expensive too. The Brisbane all day roamer was like $8 or something.

[Stillwater]

I pay something like $30 a year for a Youth Hostel card, even though I have not used a youth hostel in 18 months, maybe longer.  The card is good for discounts.  That card gets me these sorts of discounts:
$10 for a haircut if I become a model for a student at the Brisbane School of Hairdressing
15 percent off for entry to Lone Pine Sanctuary
$50 off for three day Sunrover Tour to Fraser Island
10 percent off at City Camping and Disposals
15 percent off entry to Currumbin Sanctuary
25 percent off at some restaurants if more than 2 people are eating

etc.  I make more than the $30 back, easily.  It's great to use if you are showing visitors around.  An attractive 'tourist' go-card package could be put together easily.  Does anyone believe that Tourism Queensland and Translink are not capable of putting together a travel+extras go-card?  The travel cost component could be at the high end, offset by the discounts to tourist attractions, theme parks, accommodation houses and restaurants.  These businesses can do their sums and come up with discounts that can be offset against their marketing budgets.

How many people use the RACQ card-linked discounts?  They are pretty good too.

[Bulimba30A]

Just for comparison, the Sydney version is $20/day (excluding Airport Link) which includes the inter-urban areas (eg Blue Mountains, Newcastle and Illawarra) which is probably close to the geographic area of SEQ?

$30 seems expensive.

http://www.sydneybuses.info/tickets/mymulti-tickets.htm

[Stillwater]

A $30 card becomes feasible when bundled with other things.  A $30 card results in $30 going to Translink.  (This price should be considered against the 15 percent fare increase next year).  BUT the card also presents a suite of discounts for the cardholder.  These offerings would not be discounts paid for by Translink, but by private sector companies that would see some advantage in offering an enticement to tourists in return for something bigger for them (the companies).  For example, what if Macdonalds offered cardholders a free coffee for every meal purchase over $6?  (It offers seniors something similar now.)  South Bank restaurants could offer 10 percent off the second meal when 2 people order a main course.  Free upgrade for Holiday Inn patrons -- to a river view room above Roma Street Station.  And the list could go on and on.  Don't just think $30 for travel only, think $30 for a combined package where Translink got all of the $30 and the incentive value on the card is provided by the private sector, not the government.  In other words stop thinking $30 equals $30 of travel, but that $30 equals a potential value package of $80, including all-day travel.

[SurfRail]

I think the difficult proposition is to get one for Brisbane right.  The main question is where Brisbane ends - particularly for tourist purposes.  If you bought in a ticket limited to Caboolture and Beenleigh by rail, I expect you would have plenty of people overriding to get to Australia Zoo or Dreamworld. 

Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and all of SEQ are easy enough - you can just exclude train travel from the coasts (ie limited to Surfside and Sunbus only) and include NSW buses for Surfside's version. 

Surfside walked away from one-day system wide passes a while ago, but I expect the reasoning was some combination of the proliferation of ticketing products (greater than anybody else when you consider cross-border stuff), programming issues when they changed over to the Cubic machines and drivers ending up carrying too much in their float.  All of these can now be resolved with a pre-sold ticket sold wherever go cards are available or can be topped up.