SEEQ Card - tourist go card

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Tourists offered unlimited ride on public transport

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Slow going for new tourist travel card


http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2012/11/05/1226510/190798-tourist-card-postcard.gif

Slow going for new tourist travel card

    by: Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    December 14, 2012 12:00AM

A NEW tourist-targeted go card is not exactly off to a flying start, with fewer than four "SEEQ" passes a day being sold since they were launched early last month.

A TransLink spokesman said in the first three weeks since going on the market, 78 cards had been distributed.

In the same period, about one million people visited the southeast, including day-trippers, overseas travellers and interstate tourists.

At $79 for a three-day pass, and $129 for a five-day pass, the go cards offer unlimited public transport in the southeast corner, as well as a range of discounts at tourist attractions including theme parks.

The cost also includes a return trip on the Airtrain, valued at $31.

Despite the small number of sales, a TransLink spokesman said they were "encouraged by the initial response from the tourist industry".

"We will continue to monitor sales as we head into the school holiday period," he said.

The passes are sold at Brisbane domestic and international airports, CBD train stations and online.

Affordability remains an ongoing issue for public transport in southeast Queensland, with more than 50 per cent of commuters dissatisfied with the cost of train travel in the latest TransLink customer survey.

Janet McGarry from the Youth Hostels' Association said their Brisbane City venue did not sell the new tourist pass.

"That product has no demand for it," said Ms McGarry.

"They do sell the go card with $5 credit on it but there's low demand for that amongst our guests. The majority of people either hire bikes from us or walk, or buy single use tickets."

She said affordability was a factor in the low interest in public transport in Brisbane.

"Backpackers are an extremely price conscious market, even more so with the high Aussie dollar," Ms McGarry said.

[ozbob]

Ummm, unaffordability is a key issue ....

Fare affordability or more correctly un-affordability is at crisis point.

A good question is will the cost of the SEEQ go card go up 7.5% too?  If not why not, they don't hesitate to slam the punters.  If so, it will be even less attractive than now.

Catch 22 of their own silly making?

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

@TransLinkSEQ Is the cost of SeeQ cards increasing 7.5% from 7 Jan 2013, or remaining the same as now? Thanks ..

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

@TransLinkSEQ Is the cost of SeeQ cards increasing 7.5% from 7 Jan 2013, or remaining the same as now? Thanks ..

Twitter

1m TransLink SEQ TransLink SEQ ‏@TransLinkSEQ

@robert_dow Hi, SEEQ prices will remain the same. Thanks

[nathandavid88]

I guess they designed the SEEQ Card with the 7.5% increase in mind. On the plus side, that will increase the card's value for money after the fare hikes come into effect, which is no bad thing.

[ozbob]

It was stated on Channel 10 News, 5pm Bulletin that only 150 SEEQ cards have been sold since the start of the program ...

Cost might be a factor, reflecting in part the high fare base in SEQ ...

[HappyTrainGuy]

Would be interesting to compare them to the TravelTrain tourist cards 

Fixed fare with unlimited travel in one or any direction with 3 or 6 month passes and includes travel on the CityTrain and CityRail networks to connect between services such as terminuses for CountryLink, TravelTrain and other long distance providers 

Unlimited Travel Passes
Effective for Passes sold from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013

Rail Australia offers a range of travel passes that allow three and six months unlimited travel across Australia. You can now
choose a pass that best covers the destinations you plan to explore while travelling in Australia.
There are seven rail passes to choose from. The maps next to each of the rail passes highlights the places that the rail
pass can take you. All passes cover travel in an economy seat/red day/nighter seat. Upgrades to a higher level of travel are
available on payment of the additional charges.

Ausrail Pass
Travel on all long distance services in any direction as often as
you like, over a three or six month period. Use the Ausrail Pass to
explore all corners of Australia; from Perth in the west, to Darwin
in the top end and the entire eastern coastline from Cairns in far
north Queensland to Melbourne in the south. The Ausrail Pass
also includes travel on CountryLink's connecting coach services in
New South Wales and Queensland Rail Travel's connecting coach
services in Queensland.
Pass travel period Price $AUD
3 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $650.00
3 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $722.00
6 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $890.00
6 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $990.00

Aus Reef and Outback
This great value pass can be used on The Ghan, Indian Pacific,
The Overland, The Sunlander, Tilt Train, Spirit of the Outback,
The Westlander and The Inlander in any direction as often as you
like over a three or six month period. Travelling to Perth, Darwin,
Cairns and/or Brisbane, Melbourne plus popular destinations like
Kalgoorlie, Alice Springs, Uluru, Katherine, Adelaide, Fraser Island,
the Whitsundays and the Australian Outback.
Pass travel period Price $AUD
3 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $605.00
3 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $672.00
6 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $821.00
6 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $912.00

Trans Aus
Travel on all The Ghan, Indian Pacific, The Overland, XPT and
XPLORER services in any direction as often as you like over a three
or six month period to explore wonderful holiday destinations like
Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, the Blue Mountains, the Barossa Valley
wine region, Uluru, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Darwin, the Nullarbor
and Perth.
Pass travel period Price $AUD
3 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $538.00
3 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $598.00
6 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $727.00
6 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $808.00

Aus Reef and Beach
Travel on The Sunlander, Tilt Train, Spirit of the Outback,
The Westlander and The Inlander, XPT and XPLORER in any
direction as often as you like over a three or six month period. Visit
Australia's east coast capital cities Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney
and Brisbane. Plus the Whitsundays, Fraser Island, Byron Bay,
Daintree Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef and the Australian Outback.
Pass travel period Price $AUD
3 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $495.00
3 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $550.00
6 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $698.00
6 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $776.00

Backtracker Rail Pass
Travel on the CountryLink XPT and XPLORER rail and connecting
coach services to over 360 locations in and around New South
Wales. The pass allows access to the capital cities of Sydney,
Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra and is valid from the first day
of travel for either three or six months for consecutive travel in any
direction. Limited Sydney CityRail services are also included.
Pass travel period Price $AUD
3 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $272.80
3 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $298.00
6 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $382.80
6 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $420.00

Queensland Explorer Pass
Travel on the Tilt Train, The Sunlander, Spirit of the Outback, The
Westlander and The Inlander in any direction as often as you like
over a three or six month period from the first day of travel. Travel
in an economy seat to Cairns, Townsville, Proserpine, Rockhampton,
Hervey Bay, Brisbane, Longreach and Charleville. These destinations
are the gateway to the Tropical North, Magnetic Island, the
Whitsunday Islands, Fraser Island, Noosa and the Outback.
Pass travel period Price $AUD
3 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $351.00
3 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $390.01
6 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $495.00
6 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $550.00

Rail Explorer Pass
Travel on The Ghan, Indian Pacific and The Overland in any
direction for a three or six month period and explore Perth, Darwin,
Alice Springs, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Taking in popular
destinations such as the Red Centre, the tropical north, Nullabor
Plain and Broken Hill.
Pass travel period Price $AUD
3 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $405.00
3 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $450.00
6 months unlimited travel (off shore purchase) $531.00
6 months unlimited travel (on shore purchase) $590.00

Edit: Added details of TravelTrain/Rail Australia Alliance Tourist Passes.

[#Metro]

All these prices are horrific for the slow awful services provided and not only that, so hugely subsidised it would make you weep! shocking value when compared to bus, coach, and plane tickets esp tiger and virgin and greyhounds or tickets for hsr in other countries.

[HappyTrainGuy]

I beg to differ. Depending on what package you get when you consider most packages feature unlimited travel in both directions with unlimited stop overs it ain't that bad for international tourists that are here for 3 to 6 months. You get to see the australian country side. You can hop off whenever for a few days and then hop back on the train again. Backtrack between places. Utilise the TiltTrain/XPT/Explorer/coach services for short journeys or trips between towns (prices are comparable to coach services anyway eg $30-35 bucks gets you to Gympie by bus or by TiltTrain. You can get an express bus to the middle of the Gold Coast for $15 bucks which isn't far off Translink prices). Planes might be cheap but not that cheap when they add up over time if your moving around - that's providing your going somewhere where theres a plane service. CountryLink coach services are also included IIRC.

[ozbob]

[somebody]

What happens if you don't touch off?  Anything?


I say that I was right - there was never a need for this card.

[ozbob]

From the Sunday Mail 31st March 2013 page 21

Tourists SEEQ new travel plan

[BrizCommuter]

The lack of success is not surprising, given that it appears to be one of the world's most expensive tourist cards.

[somebody]

The lack of success is not surprising, given that it appears to be one of the world's most expensive tourist cards.

The only thing which was surprising is that people saw the need for such a product.

[Gazza]

The lack of success is not surprising, given that it appears to be one of the world's most expensive tourist cards.

The only thing which was surprising is that people saw the need for such a product.

Agreed.
If Go Cards were cheap enough then tourists would just grab a normaly one like they do in London, Singapore etc.

This is a better idea: http://www.myki.com.au/About-myki/myki-visitor-pack

And I actually saw several people on the skybus with them when I was in Melbourne last week.

[BrizCommuter]

The lack of success is not surprising, given that it appears to be one of the world's most expensive tourist cards.

The only thing which was surprising is that people saw the need for such a product.

There is a need for a product - it's called "daily tickets", and used in most of the world's top cities.

[somebody]

There is a need for a product - it's called "daily tickets", and used in most of the world's top cities.

Don't Hong Kong and Singapore count as top cities?

[BrizCommuter]

There is a need for a product - it's called "daily tickets", and used in most of the world's top cities.

Don't Hong Kong and Singapore count as top cities?

They don't have daily tickets, but they do have relatively low fares that are not a deterrent to frequent public transport use in the first place.

[somebody]

They don't have daily tickets, but they do have relatively low fares that are not a deterrent to frequent public transport use in the first place.

Exactly.  Why not move in that direction?

[BrizCommuter]

They don't have daily tickets, but they do have relatively low fares that are not a deterrent to frequent public transport use in the first place.

Exactly.  Why not move in that direction?

Well, it's a bit difficult when we have massively inefficient bus and train networks.

Anyway, I don't understand your dislike of daily tickets/capping - it's a very popular fare product on most cities!

[SurfRail]

I don't support dailies.  Perth survives without them, and they are a much closer decently run analogue to Brisbane.

Waste of time.  Just lower the base fares.

[BrizCommuter]

I don't support dailies.  Perth survives without them, and they are a much closer decently run analogue to Brisbane.

Waste of time.  Just lower the base fares.

You might not support them, but I would guess that the majority of tourists would love dailies.

[somebody]

Well, it's a bit difficult when we have massively inefficient bus and train networks.

Fixing these networks is complicated by removing the revenue from trips beyond 9/10 per week.  Obviously they need to drive down costs too.

[Arnz]

Just lower the base fares.  Forget the dailies.   Just offer a 3-5 day pass similar to Hong Kong/Singapore for tourists.  If a number of world cities can survive without one, why can't Queensland?

The 3-5 day pass for example would cost a daily for specific zones (2 single trips a day) multiplied by certain days.   For example, a 23 zone daily x 5 days, similar to "world" cities like Singapore/HK which is purchasable ONLY by international tourists or interstate visitors.  Eg, it requires a passport or a interstate driver's license to purchase

[SurfRail]

I don't support dailies.  Perth survives without them, and they are a much closer decently run analogue to Brisbane.

Waste of time.  Just lower the base fares.

You might not support them, but I would guess that the majority of tourists would love dailies.

Tourists make up a relatively small part of the market except for the Gold Coast (where they have the option of buying one of Surfside's unlimited tickets which, depending on what you buy, can include theme park and airport transfers too). 

There are plenty of tourists using go cards even down here, see them on a very regular basis.  They need to be promoted better at Coolangatta and other entry points.

If some kind of automatic capping is feasible, fine.  No need to offer it as a separate product.