Article: Savings on the cards

[ozbob]

Brisbane mX 4 Mar 2008 page 2 not online.

Savings on the cards

Anna Edwards

Transport chiefs haven't ruled out giving long distance commuters on the go card a better deal under a yet-to-be-released new system of fare discounts.

Under the present go card system, commuter travelling past Zone 10 on the Citytrain network are slugged with higher fares compared with the integrated weekly and monthly paper tickets.

But it was revealed today that new discount schemes, such as the present go card frequent-user scheme, were on the horizon.

TransLink was developing discounted products in a bid to a attract more commuters to the system, a spokesman said.

"With smart card technology, you can offer several products as part of the go card," he said.

"In consultation with public transport users we are in the process of developing further products down the track."

He did not rule out a discount scheme for travel to and from the Sunshine and Gold coasts.

"It would too early to say for sure, which products are going through the process of development and consultation with passengers, but hopefully we'll have more information soon."

A spokesman for Transport  Minister John Mickel said the go card system, which started in Brisbane last Monday and on the Sunshine Coast at the end of January, had more than 18,000 users and would be updated to suit more commuters.

"After they receive feedback, TransLink will then go back and re-design the system and make it suitable for more people," the spokesman said.

[ozbob]

This is some good news at last.  Pressure from the public transport commuter community is starting to tell.

Well done mX!

Thanks for the commitments Translink and Minister.

Let us hope we don't have to wait as long as we waited for the Go Card 

[ozbob]

An equitable fare is needed for all users, not only the > 10 zoners although their case is a strong one and has been our primary concern for some time as these are the long haul rail commuters 

Other people doing multiple daily journeys, off peak travellers, occasional travellers, high user commuters generally all need an equitable fare too.

I would like to see free zone 1 travel on the Go Card.  A similar thing operates in Perth.  This might encourage a few less automobiles in the congested CBD precincts and also add to card attractiveness.

Options I would also like to see:

Occasional use card - all trips single fare less 20%.

Frequent user card - present system.

High use card, pay as you go single fares but caps to daily, weekly and monthly fare limits.

Off peak discounts built into all fare structures.

Free travel for Senior go card holders on Sundays. 

[Derwan]

I think this is exactly as we (or at least I) suspected.  The current FU scheme would remain for the launch to slow the initial uptake.

I'm not convinced we'll see further options until 1 July - when they will increase fares across the board and introduce new FU schemes to make the Go Card look better.  But with the public pressure, the introduction of new schemes may be brought forward.

[ozbob]

Yes, changes planned for new financial year for sure I reckon.

You never know, might be brought forward as there is a fair bit of flack flying around at the moment re the fares and the FU scheme - a lot of people upset and rightly so, from parents of school students through to the former ten trippers and everyone in between.

[ozbob]

Translink have a reputation in the public transport user community of being non responsive to feedback, suggestions and questions.  From the various comments I have heard and read well deserved, although at times I have had responses.  When commuters do get responses it is often just standard spin letters with changed signature lines.  Some commuters have forwarded on their responses to me and it is funny reading the same letter, with a Dear John, or Dear Harry, or Dear Lee as the only difference.

Many of the pilot participants on the Go Card study were very critical as regards their feedback being ignored essentially. And I think this shows in the botched roll out process.  The uptake figures are in reality very poor, despite the spin.  The sooner they sort out the FU fare and make it equitable for all the better off we will all be.

As far as getting sensible replies from the Minister of Transport's office, it is touch and go. Occasionally we receive responses, most times just ignored.  The 'cone of silence' 

Still we persist for the community benefit, even if we are ignored by our elected representatives. 

Keep up the good work Fares_Fair!   

Cheers
Ozbob

[Derwan]

I am curious as to what the arrangement between MX and the Transport Department is.
Can someone please tell me the extent of the agreement and what it's conditions are ?
I believe that it has compromised it's ability to 'report' fairly.
Equal space for both parties - not just letters to the editor.
Notice how the media release gets page 2.

I have noticed that mX regularly runs stories about the Go Card and other transport issues, which is no surprise considering the reader-base of mX would be largely users of public transport.  I have found their coverage to be very fair.  We have seen plenty of Bob's media releases reported in mX plus issues that people have with the Go Card.  Some of the negative press has made it to the front page.

I doubt there would be any arrangement between mX and QT.  mX will run stories either way and run paid advertisements for the Go Card.  They will also run paid advertisements for your campaign as you have mentioned.

[ozbob]

The mX does a great job in supporting commuters IMHO.  They do give oxygen to both sides of the story and this fair enough too I reckon.

Cheers
Ozbob

[Fares_Fair]

I have removed and edited my initial letter of late last night and re-issued it here today.

It's good to see that public response is making the Minister and this government reconsider it's options.
It appears that talk of fare increases under GoCard are not 'concocted' stories.
They are real and they will hurt commuters, especially in light of increases in interest rates, electricity petrol, health funds etc.

It is sad, that like his organisation TransLink, which obfuscates via 'spin', the Minister hasn't responded to my letter of 5th February asking for these price hikes under GoCard to be no more than the inflation rate, and appealing for an explanation and meeting to explain it to him, as clearly his advisors haven't been.
Not an unreasonable ask.

I still fear that increases on July 1 will be made to push us onto the GoCard.
There has been no information provided on that front, or paper ticket life expectancy.
The responses detailed in yesterday's mX ( 4.3.08 ) are extremely vague.
Where is the consultation, and with whom ?

I am frustrated with a multi-portfolioed Minister who rules via media releases, faithfully cut and pasted by mX as a story.
Yet MX refused to print our story claiming they cannot publish the same story twice.
They haven't done it the first time yet !
We of the 'Say No to Gocard' committee have unprecedented support amongst our fellow train commuters.
We have had commuters - unknown to us - offering to hand out leaflets on the train and put posters up.

I am deeply concerned about many aspects of this whole affair.
From the accountability issues of TransLink and their seeming inability to answer direct questions from the public, via their website.
Especially their attitude in sending Gocard 'spin' and ignoring the questions put to them - until challenged to do so. 

These are simple issues and it was this reprehensible action of a Government body that sparked my campaign against the fare increases under the GoCard. It was only by the 9th email ( to and fro incl. ) that they answered my question regarding the 23% increases under GoCard.

It is especially fearful in light of TransLink being transitioned into some kind of new authority.
Whoever authorised these standard types of responses to the public needs to be made accountable for his/her actions.

Having said all that, I look forward to a response and action on my letter.
I have today ( 4th March ) written to Hon. Anna Bligh, Premier of Queensland and Member for South Brisbane pleading for action on my correspondence of 5th February.

All I want is for our justified concerns to be listened to and addressed.
These are Our Objectives ( to be advertised in MX today, 5th March, at my cost )

SAY NO TO GoCard
Until Fares are Fair

Our Objectives

1.   Fare increases under GoCard to be in line with inflation.

   Currently Glasshouse Mountains ( Zone 11 ) gets a 6.57% increase.
   Beerwah and Helensvale ( Zone 12 ) cop a 14.29% increase.
   Landsborough - Gympie North and Nerang - Robina ( Zones 13 ? 23 )
             are hit with a massive 23% increase.

   This is just for a 5 day (10 trip) week.
             If you travel in Zones 1 - 10 and do more than 10 trips in 7 days,
             you too will be paying more.

2.   The availability of discounted Weekly, Monthly, 3 Month, 6 Month & 12 Month tickets as
             are currently available, to remain, or be incorporated into the GoCard system before their
             removal.


Contact Hon. John Mickel MP, Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
to register your disapproval. Ask for a fair fare.

Send your complaint via the feedback form online at www.translink.com.au or telephone 13 12 30

Information provided by Jeffrey Addison of the ?Say No to GoCard? committee.
Contact us via email at saynotogocard@yahoo.com.au

Kindest Regards,
Fares_Fare.

[ozbob]

Well done on the ad in the mX! 

It  clearly shows the costs impacts devoid of the covering spin 

I am certain it will continue to help to achieve fair fare outcomes!
Particularly as many commuters will read it going home tonight!

[Fares_Fair]

Thanks Bob,

I'm hoping people will cut it out and use it as a poster. Please put it up everywhere.

I have had shop owners travelling on the train offer to put posters up in their windows after listening to our discussions on the train. People are saying "good on you" for taking a stand on this and giving everyday commuters a real voice.

It's great to get such support from total strangers.
I don't think the government fully realises the strength and the extent of the dissatisfaction with the current fare structure.
They soon will !

The 'SAY NO TO GoCard' committee.
We have been highlighting the impacts on commuters > Zone 10 becuse that is where the largest imposts occur. However we stand behind all commuters who are unfairly disadvantaged by the price structure as evidenced by the many examples here at Rail Back On Track.

Fair Go on Fares for ALL.   
Well done Rail Back on Track.

[Zoiks]

fares fair: maybe you could give us a link to the ad as a pdf or whatever.  I did not manage to get a copy of todays mx

[ozbob]

Hi Zoiks,

The ad is available here -->  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=591.0

Cheers
Ozbob