Rail related questions to ask your local sitting member and candidates

[mufreight]

Out of general interest ask your current MP and any candidates for the seat for their responses, not the party spin on the  following questions.

Cross River Rail,
Do you support this project,
As my local member/aspiring candidate do you realise the consequences both financial and social of not commencing construction on this project immediately.
Are you aware of the further impacts that the failure to construct the CRR will have on the operation of the Gold Coast line, the Kippra-Ring line and CAMCOS

Do you as my local member/aspiring candidate support the amplification and realignment of the main northern railway between Beerburrum and Nambour.
Are you aware of the consequences to the state rail system for both freight and passenger services of not carrying out this project immediately and the ongoing impacts of the failure to carry out this project on CAMCOS

Are you in favor of the reinstatement of passenger services west of Rosewood into the Lockyer Valley and to Helidon given the development in the Lockyer with the expansion of the University, the jail and residential development and the governments proposed residental developments for Upper Flagstone and Yarrabilba where there is presently no supporting infrastructure.

Your views on the cost effectiveness and environmental impacts of routing the the Inland standard gauge rail link via Toowoomba given the additional carbon emissions of the longer route and the extended transit times which will make rail less competitive with road freight.

These questions are all relevant to the future of the rail system in this state and are more relevant to the South East of the State, they are questions that have been asked of the current Transport Minister with a noteable lack of response to this time, the responses from your local member and from aspiring candidates are therefor of interest.

[Fares_Fair]

I received this brochure from my local MP, in light of my efforts to get the rail duplication happening much sooner for the Sunshine Coast.

It is an invitation for a $35.00 dinner and questions for the opposition shadow transport minister, Scott Emerson (Indooroopilly).
I am going to attend and would be happy to submit these questions on your behalf mufreight.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

If you want moral support, FF, I'd part with $35 for a bit of rubber chicken at a political do.  Maybe we could split the questions, and ask a few more.   

[Fares_Fair]

Happy to do that SW.
Not sure how many questions one person can put without hogging the time available, so sounds like a good idea to me.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[mufreight]

Had an Email response from the local Members office, the Member is presently unavaliable yet the said Member was observed walking out of his office in the local shopping centre less than two hours after the receipt of the Email.
Obviously the questions asked were a little too hard and have to be referred to the advisers and spin doctors for a response.   

[jouzocha]

I would also like to ask: do you support the reintroduction of daily/weekly/monthly TransLink tickets and/or fare caps on go card.  If not, why not?

[O_128]

I would also like to ask: do you support the reintroduction of daily/weekly/monthly TransLink tickets and/or fare caps on go card.  If not, why not?

No!, for the simple fact that they are delaying buses.

[longboi]

I would also like to ask: do you support the reintroduction of daily/weekly/monthly TransLink tickets and/or fare caps on go card.  If not, why not?

No!, for the simple fact that they are delaying buses.

+1

[somebody]

+2

[SurfRail]

I've never had a massive objection to daily tickets, particularly where we are not moving ahead with limited life go cards (which would be a better arrangement).  Everything else needs to stay out of the mix though.

[O_128]

I've never had a massive objection to daily tickets, particularly where we are not moving ahead with limited life go cards (which would be a better arrangement).  Everything else needs to stay out of the mix though.

" Ill get a ticket to the city"
              " that will be 4.60"
"4.60 thats so expensive"
              " I don't set the prices"
"is there nothing cheaper?"
              "No"

Person then fumbles in handbag for a minute as they didn't have there change out. This whole process usually takes over a minute, 5 people buy tickets and the bus is 10 minutes late.

[HappyTrainGuy]

They work for trains... not for busses.

[somebody]

I've never had a massive objection to daily tickets, particularly where we are not moving ahead with limited life go cards (which would be a better arrangement).  Everything else needs to stay out of the mix though.

I don't follow the whole concept of limited life Go Cards.  How is it different to a normal Go Card?  No Deposit?  Then what's to stop rampant fare evasion?  A better idea is to just make it easier to cash in the go card for tourists.

[SurfRail]

I've never had a massive objection to daily tickets, particularly where we are not moving ahead with limited life go cards (which would be a better arrangement).  Everything else needs to stay out of the mix though.

" Ill get a ticket to the city"
              " that will be 4.60"
"4.60 thats so expensive"
              " I don't set the prices"
"is there nothing cheaper?"
              "No"

Person then fumbles in handbag for a minute as they didn't have there change out. This whole process usually takes over a minute, 5 people buy tickets and the bus is 10 minutes late.

Maybe that's how it works in BT-land, but Surfside drivers were well-practised in issuing daily fares and disruptions were minimal.

For somebody unfamiliar with go card, the exact same conversation would happen anyway, so what's the point?  Go card uptake is 80% +, but we need to accommodate people who don't have access to one.  What is so special about us that it can't work?  Works in every other Australian city and most overseas cities.

[somebody]

I think that the Perth model is best here, fares before 9am on a weekday do not count toward the daily cap.  But before the argument is put that daily would make it simpler, that is clearly completely false as you are adding a rule.  You may be removing one if you get rid of the FUD, but then that would mean most frequent users end up paying more.

For the love of God, no paper dailies please!

[SurfRail]

I think that the Perth model is best here, fares before 9am on a weekday do not count toward the daily cap.  But before the argument is put that daily would make it simpler, that is clearly completely false as you are adding a rule.  You may be removing one if you get rid of the FUD, but then that would mean most frequent users end up paying more.

For the love of God, no paper dailies please!

Capped fares on go card and having a product like Perth's all-day ticket, which is only available after 9am, would suffice.  The vast majority of people would not be taking advantage of the all-day ticket, which could be priced something like a Sydney MyMulti, because you have missed peak-hour customers and it is out of the price range of most off-peak commuters.  Go card would remain cheaper.

[somebody]

I think that the Perth model is best here, fares before 9am on a weekday do not count toward the daily cap.  But before the argument is put that daily would make it simpler, that is clearly completely false as you are adding a rule.  You may be removing one if you get rid of the FUD, but then that would mean most frequent users end up paying more.

For the love of God, no paper dailies please!

Capped fares on go card and having a product like Perth's all-day ticket, which is only available after 9am, would suffice.  The vast majority of people would not be taking advantage of the all-day ticket, which could be priced something like a Sydney MyMulti, because you have missed peak-hour customers and it is out of the price range of most off-peak commuters.  Go card would remain cheaper.

So long as such a ticket is not available as a paper ticket, and only on the go card.

[Fares_Fair]

I think that the Perth model is best here, fares before 9am on a weekday do not count toward the daily cap.  But before the argument is put that daily would make it simpler, that is clearly completely false as you are adding a rule.  You may be removing one if you get rid of the FUD, but then that would mean most frequent users end up paying more.

For the love of God, no paper dailies please!

Capped fares on go card and having a product like Perth's all-day ticket, which is only available after 9am, would suffice.  The vast majority of people would not be taking advantage of the all-day ticket, which could be priced something like a Sydney MyMulti, because you have missed peak-hour customers and it is out of the price range of most off-peak commuters.  Go card would remain cheaper.

So long as such a ticket is not available as a paper ticket, and only on the go card.

Why have it only on the go card when it is shown to fail or incorrect touches 29 times per whatever the stat is, and is unreliable on the bus network, or has that improved ?
You need a much better reason than 'because it's there'.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[somebody]

Why have it only on the go card when it is shown to fail or incorrect touches 29 times per whatever the stat is, and is unreliable on the bus network, or has that improved ?
You need a much better reason than 'because it's there'.

In spite of those criticisms, faster bus boarding is a big reason.  With a competent authority greater data would also be a reason.

You still have to wonder how many of the fixed fares are deliberate.  I guess we will find out soon enough.

[SurfRail]

I think that the Perth model is best here, fares before 9am on a weekday do not count toward the daily cap.  But before the argument is put that daily would make it simpler, that is clearly completely false as you are adding a rule.  You may be removing one if you get rid of the FUD, but then that would mean most frequent users end up paying more.

For the love of God, no paper dailies please!

Capped fares on go card and having a product like Perth's all-day ticket, which is only available after 9am, would suffice.  The vast majority of people would not be taking advantage of the all-day ticket, which could be priced something like a Sydney MyMulti, because you have missed peak-hour customers and it is out of the price range of most off-peak commuters.  Go card would remain cheaper.

So long as such a ticket is not available as a paper ticket, and only on the go card.

As long as all AVVMs and bus drivers can sell go cards as well, and the distribution chain is increased even further.  Without this, paper will be a necessary evil for a while, even though I would be more than happy to see the back of it.

[O_128]

Emailed kevin rudd who is my federal member and got a reply from one of his assistants telling me that CRR is state priority and to email my state member 

[Fares_Fair]

Emailed kevin rudd who is my federal member and got a reply from one of his assistants telling me that CRR is state priority and to email my state member  

Good luck with that !
Seriously though, you might as well follow it up and do so.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[SurfRail]

Emailed kevin rudd who is my federal member and got a reply from one of his assistants telling me that CRR is state priority and to email my state member 

You should email them back and tell them you are not interested in petty distinctions when the Commonwealth Government holds the purse-strings.  What is he doing to work with his State colleagues to advance the cause of the project on his constituents behalf?

This idea of demarcation is just idiotic.  There are, in substantive terms, no such clearly defined things as "State responsibilities" and "Federal responsibilities", anything in section 51 of the Constitution notwithstanding.  The Commonwealth Grants Commission can impose conditions on GST revenue and other payments, Infrastructure Australia pays for concrete, etc etc etc - there is considerable overlap because of the various powers of the Federal government which are outside the terms of section 51 and anything else governing pure legislative power. 

[somebody]

Emailed kevin rudd who is my federal member and got a reply from one of his assistants telling me that CRR is state priority and to email my state member 

You should email them back and tell them you are not interested in petty distinctions when the Commonwealth Government holds the purse-strings.  What is he doing to work with his State colleagues to advance the cause of the project on his constituents behalf?

+1

This idea of demarcation is just idiotic.  There are, in substantive terms, no such clearly defined things as "State responsibilities" and "Federal responsibilities", anything in section 51 of the Constitution notwithstanding.  The Commonwealth Grants Commission can impose conditions on GST revenue and other payments, Infrastructure Australia pays for concrete, etc etc etc - there is considerable overlap because of the various powers of the Federal government which are outside the terms of section 51 and anything else governing pure legislative power. 

Not at all!  The idea that both levels of government have to co-operate to achieve a positive outcome, at least to the current degree is really what is idiotic.  That was what was good about KRudd's proposed health reform in its pre-election form.  He promised to end the blame game, one would suggest this is only possible if the Feds take full responsibility, but when he got into power he wanted the states to pay for 40%.  Doh!

[mufreight]

Emailed kevin rudd who is my federal member and got a reply from one of his assistants telling me that CRR is state priority and to email my state member  

The State election comes well before the Federal election at this stage and CRR is effectively up to the State Government despite the Commonwealth providing most of the required funding.
At this time being realistic there is little point in asking Federal Members but there is valid justification in asking both sitting State Members and aspiring candidates their personal positions on transport matters and reminding them at the time of asking that they are elected to represent the views of their constituents who have elected them to represent them not for them to persue the party agenda.

[SurfRail]

Not at all!  The idea that both levels of government have to co-operate to achieve a positive outcome, at least to the current degree is really what is idiotic.  That was what was good about KRudd's proposed health reform in its pre-election form.  He promised to end the blame game, one would suggest this is only possible if the Feds take full responsibility, but when he got into power he wanted the states to pay for 40%.  Doh!

Agree - that is what I was getting at, but the big obstacle to having clear responsibilities and the ability for each level of government to fund its own commitments properly without going cap in hand to the next rung is this, of course:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiscal_imbalance_in_Australia

If this didn't exist, then responsibilities between different governments would be a lot more certain.

[somebody]

Got to say that regarding the "Horizontal Fiscal Imbalance" allegedly rectified by the Cwth Grants Commission, I'm very much against other states sending money to QLD having seen what they do with it!

[Gazza]

I think that the Perth model is best here, fares before 9am on a weekday do not count toward the daily cap.  But before the argument is put that daily would make it simpler, that is clearly completely false as you are adding a rule.  You may be removing one if you get rid of the FUD, but then that would mean most frequent users end up paying more.

For the love of God, no paper dailies please!

Capped fares on go card and having a product like Perth's all-day ticket, which is only available after 9am, would suffice.  The vast majority of people would not be taking advantage of the all-day ticket, which could be priced something like a Sydney MyMulti, because you have missed peak-hour customers and it is out of the price range of most off-peak commuters.  Go card would remain cheaper.

I was in Vancouver a few days ago. The only Daily ticket they had was a $9.00 All Zone ticket (3 Zones).
Everything else was singles, ranging from $2.50 for 1 zone to $5 for 3 zones.

[Fares_Fair]

I received this brochure from my local MP, in light of my efforts to get the rail duplication happening much sooner for the Sunshine Coast.

It is an invitation for a $35.00 dinner and questions for the opposition shadow transport minister, Scott Emerson (Indooroopilly).
I am going to attend and would be happy to submit these questions on your behalf mufreight.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Hello All,

I received an email yesterday that this function with Scott Emerson MP, Opposition Transport Minister, has had to be cancelled due to a lack of interest.
I had 'booked' in for it as it was a great opportunity to see where the LNP stand on the NCL rail duplication issue.
It was to be held locally at Woombye and for $35 for a 2 course dinner I thought it was a reasonable price.

Very disappointed.  

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

That is a worrying development, FF, if it sends a message to the LNP that the people of the Sunshine Coast are not interested in transport issues, because clearly they are.  I don't think this dinner was advertised well.  Maybe the LNP thought that to do that would open up the meeting to protestors or rabble-rousers.  Let's hope the LNP does not slacken its efforts to devise a transport policy for the Sunshine Coast, as promised.

As to KRudd's reaction re CRR, I am on his side with this one.  The federal government is expecting a full business case for CRR and has not yet got it.  The Commonwealth paid out $25 million for its preparation, so maybe Mr Rudd is trying to get the state to hurry along.  No-one would buy a house or a car unless the salesman or builder could give you a reasonably accurate price, or is able to explain exactly what you are buying.  The situation, at present, is within the state government's court.  After the business case completion, then the Commonwealth knows the extent of its expected buy-in and can make an informed decision.  It is not the Commonwealth that is dragging the chain, but the state.  Remember when the business case was to be finalised 'mid-2011'?