15 Mar 2011: SEQ: Disgruntled rail passengers go for a boycott on the 17 March

[ozbob]

Media Release 15 March 2011

SEQ:  Disgruntled rail passengers go for a boycott on the 17th March 2011

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 highlighted the call for a boycott of rail services by disgruntled public transport commuters on the 17th March 2011 (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Many regular rail commuters used to use seasonal tickets, such as monthly, three monthly, six monthly and yearly tickets for not only their long haul rail commutes but for additional bonus journeys at weekends and after hours.  This was a great outcome for the broader community as it encouraged maximum public transport use and lead to broad economic benefits in terms of reduced environmental impacts, less congestion and reduced road trauma costs. Seasonal paper tickets were discontinued when the new fare structure was introduced on the 24th January this year."

"The go card fare structure has no periodical ticketing options, and no daily or weekly capping as is the case for most other smart card public transport tickets.  The cost impacts of the new fare structure for a Zone 16 commuter are as follows:

In 2009, an annual ticket to Zone 16 cost $3224.60.

In 2011, a go card to Zone 16 will cost $5803.20 for equivalent Monday to Friday commute, this is an 80% increase (over $2580 more).

In 2014 in line with the 15% per annum fare increases flagged, a go card to Zone 16 for the Monday to Friday commute will cost $8834.80. In other words, the 2014 fare is $5610.20 more than the 2009 fare - a 274% price increase of the original fare!

"It is little wonder that disgruntled commuters are calling for a boycott on the 17th March 2011 (2).

"This boycott call has sprung up spontaneously from  rail commuters as a sign of their frustration with the new fare structure and they are suggesting that commuters take a holiday, flex day, work from home, car-pool, or find some other transport to work on the 17th March."

"The commuters are  suggesting that TransLink's approach to managing public transport is driving people off the trains and back onto the roads!

"They say 'We are being trained to drive'."

"The rail commuters are making the following requests to TransLink and Government:

'We want to be eligible for Off Peak fares when we board our trains, from Zones 9-23 (e.g. Caboolture-Gympie North) before 7.00am.'

'We want the following situation to be redressed. We receive NO rebate on fares when the trains run late - we can lose a half-hour and more of paid work but we are still expected to pay full fare.'

'We want an improvement to the half price fares after 10 journeys in a week. The majority of weekday workers are ineligible for it.'

'We want periodic ticketing options, e.g. weekly, monthly, 3, 6 and 12 month tickets (like we used to have) included with the go card.
e.g. 12 month ticket, we want TRANSLink to introduce a system which discounts your fare by an additional percentage after every, say 40 or 50 journeys - down to a set limit - but in place for the whole year. This would encourage people to actually touch on and off to get a real discount and reduce fare evasion.'

"We live in a democracy and we support the rail commuters in their call for an improved fare structure for the go card! The train frequency generally on the south-east Queensland network is very poor.  Perth can manage 15 minutes on most lines most of the time.  'Rotten apples' at a high price are not popular!"

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5472.0

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5604.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5472.0

[#Metro]

TransLink has 'helping hands', maybe they should have 'listening ear' sent to the Sunshine Coast line
(just make sure such staff don't accidentally catch the toiletless express or one of the dancing trains)

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 15th March 2011 page 2

Rail user protest on track

[Nina M Blackwell]

I was handed a flyer this morning.  I am undecided if I will actually boycott tomorrow or simply "wear" the flyer as suggested.  I'm not sure what impact a boycott will have but for anyone in the Redlands, if you decide to boycott note this:  If you leave your house at your normal time and drive to Capalaba to catch the bus from the main depot, you will get to work a half-hour earlier!  Duplicate the rail and bring on bona fide "express" trains from Cleveland!

[ozbob]

Media Release 16 March 2011

SEQ:  Disgruntled rail passengers go for a boycott on the 17th March 2011

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 highlighted the call for a boycott of rail services by disgruntled public transport commuters on the 17th March 2011 (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Many regular rail commuters used to use seasonal tickets, such as monthly, three monthly, six monthly and yearly tickets for not only their long haul rail commutes but for additional bonus journeys at weekends and after hours.  This was a great outcome for the broader community as it encouraged maximum public transport use and lead to broad economic benefits in terms of reduced environmental impacts, less congestion and reduced road trauma costs. Seasonal paper tickets were discontinued when the new fare structure was introduced on the 24th January this year."

"The go card fare structure has no periodical ticketing options, and no daily or weekly capping as is the case for most other smart card public transport tickets.  The cost impacts of the new fare structure for a Zone 16 commuter are as follows:

In 2009, an annual ticket to Zone 16 cost $3224.60.

In 2011, a go card to Zone 16 will cost $5803.20 for equivalent Monday to Friday commute, this is an 80% increase (over $2580 more).

In 2014 in line with the 15% per annum fare increases flagged, a go card to Zone 16 for the Monday to Friday commute will cost $8834.80. In other words, the 2014 fare is $5610.20 more than the 2009 fare - a 274% price increase of the original fare!

"It is little wonder that disgruntled commuters are calling for a boycott on the 17th March 2011 (2).

"This boycott call has sprung up spontaneously from  rail commuters as a sign of their frustration with the new fare structure and they are suggesting that commuters take a holiday, flex day, work from home, car-pool, or find some other transport to work on the 17th March."

"The commuters are  suggesting that TransLink's approach to managing public transport is driving people off the trains and back onto the roads!

"They say 'We are being trained to drive'."

"The rail commuters are making the following requests to TransLink and Government:

'We want to be eligible for Off Peak fares when we board our trains, from Zones 9-23 (e.g. Caboolture-Gympie North) before 7.00am.'

'We want the following situation to be redressed. We receive NO rebate on fares when the trains run late - we can lose a half-hour and more of paid work but we are still expected to pay full fare.'

'We want an improvement to the half price fares after 10 journeys in a week. The majority of weekday workers are ineligible for it.'

'We want periodic ticketing options, e.g. weekly, monthly, 3, 6 and 12 month tickets (like we used to have) included with the go card.
e.g. 12 month ticket, we want TRANSLink to introduce a system which discounts your fare by an additional percentage after every, say 40 or 50 journeys - down to a set limit - but in place for the whole year. This would encourage people to actually touch on and off to get a real discount and reduce fare evasion.'

"We live in a democracy and we support the rail commuters in their call for an improved fare structure for the go card! The train frequency generally on the south-east Queensland network is very poor.  Perth can manage 15 minutes on most lines most of the time.  'Rotten apples' at a high price are not popular!"

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5472.0

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5604.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Commuters threaten boycott over rising go card prices

Commuters threaten boycott over rising go card prices

    * Robyn Ironside and Peter Hall
    * From: The Courier-Mail
    * March 17, 2011 12:00AM

FEWER than one in 10 go card users are qualifying for a weekly frequent-user discount introduced by TransLink in the place of seasonal train and bus tickets.

The loss of the monthly and annual tickets has angered commuters to the point where hundreds are today expected to join a boycott of public transport to protest fare hikes.

People travelling into Brisbane from the Sunshine Coast have seen their annual transport bill jump from $3224.60 based on a 12-month ticket to $5803.20 this year. By 2014, they will be paying $8834.80 a year to commute from zone 16 representing a 274 per cent increase on five years earlier.

Draftsman Jeff Addison, who commutes from Palmwoods to Brisbane City, is among those planning to car-pool or work from home today in an effort to send a message to TransLink.

"We want a fair fare structure for the go card, equal to weekly, monthly, six-month or 12-month season ticket caps," he said. "We want rolling discounts and off-peak fares for pre-7am boarders."

The only discount currently available to full-fare commuters is for "frequent-users" who make more than 10 journeys a week using their go card.

After 10 trips, they pay half-price fares but currently only 35,000 of the 410,000 weekly go card users are qualifying.

Robert Dow, of commuter advocacy group Back on Track, supported the calls for the return of seasonal tickets.

"Many regular rail commuters used to use monthly, three-monthly, six-monthly and yearly tickets not only for their long haul rail commutes but for additional bonus journeys at weekends and after hours," he said. "This boycott call has sprung up spontaneously from rail commuters as a sign of their frustration with the new fare structure.

"The commuters are suggesting that TransLink's approach to managing public transport is driving people off the trains and back on to the roads."

Sunshine Coast retiree Peter Sim said the frequent user discount was being falsely promoted to commuters who made two journeys each day involving mutliple transfers.

"In the morning I usually catch a bus then a train from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane, then on the way home I get a bus, then a train then another bus," Mr Sim said.

"Although I'm touching on and touching off for each trip, I've been informed TransLink considers a single trip from point A to point B regardless of how many services you use to get there."

TransLink spokesman Andrew Berkman confirmed the discount policy required customers to take "10 journeys" in a week before the 50 per cent discount fares took effect.

"Customers should note that a journey may consist up to three transfers," he said.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th March 2011

Now is hour ...

Greetings,

Today 17th March 2011 many frustrated public transport users in south-east Queensland are demonstrating their frustration with the poor fare structure for the go card by boycotting the actual services or alternatively showing a protest flyer in their workplace etc. (Flyer available here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5604.0

As a commuter advocacy group, we have for over three years now, challenged constantly the failure to implement a fare structure that truly drives public transport uptake and maximises the fare box.  A list of our media releases on the go card over the years is here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=429.0

We have always supported the go card, but we have constantly challenged the fare structure.  The projected fare increases (15% per annum till 2014 on top of the increases already) are simply not sustainable  with the present fare structure and are already generating an enormous public backlash.  How much more it will be unless there are further fare enhancements?

There needs to be an urgent review and implementation of a fare structure that is in line with other public transport jurisdictions, capping and periodical options are what the commuters want.  Increases of  270% over five years in the cost of their commute is simply unacceptable by any standard.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org