10 Oct 2012: SEQ: Review of fare system needed urgently

[ozbob]

Media release 10th October 2012

SEQ: Review of fare system needed urgently

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has again called for a review of the fare system for south-east Queensland (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The TransLink Annual Report 2011/12 (1) has confirmed that public transport fare unaffordability is the major public transport issue facing the State Government.  Excessive fare increases have stalled patronage levels, and is proving costly in terms of congestion and road trauma costs, and environmental impacts."

"The public feedback is overwhelming.  There is gross dissatisfaction with the failing fare system.  System issues with the go card are just further worsening public concerns (2, 3)."

"The present fares for the go card have an excessive base fare cost with considerable fare box leakage due to easily manipulated fares."

"Queensland is the only state that does not extend concession fares to all health care card holders (4)."

"Queensland does not have family/group tickets as in many other states (5)."

"Seniors in states and territories other than Queensland have simple public transport entitlements (6)."

"An online petition calling for an urgent fare review is filling rapidly with hundreds of signatures (7)."

"It is time the Government and TransLink acted.  It is essential that in order to optimise the bus and rail reviews, the major failing of the public transport in south-east Queensland - the fares, be sorted.

"It is time to put in place fares that are socially and economically responsible."

Contact:

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

References:

1.  http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/2011-12-annual-report.pdf page 71

2.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9155.0

3.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=432.0

4.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9124.0

5.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9123.0

6.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9122.msg109944#msg109944

7.  http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/fare-review-for-translink-south-east-queensland-now.html

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9120.msg110393#msg110393

[ozbob]

4BC News followed up, thanks for the interest ... 

[ozbob]

Media release 10th October 2012 re-released 5th January 2013

SEQ: Review of fare system needed urgently

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has again called for a review of the fare system for south-east Queensland (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The TransLink Annual Report 2011/12 (1) has confirmed that public transport fare unaffordability is the major public transport issue facing the State Government.  Excessive fare increases have stalled patronage levels, and is proving costly in terms of congestion and road trauma costs, and environmental impacts."

"The public feedback is overwhelming.  There is gross dissatisfaction with the failing fare system.  System issues with the go card are just further worsening public concerns (2, 3)."

"The present fares for the go card have an excessive base fare cost with considerable fare box leakage due to easily manipulated fares."

"Queensland is the only state that does not extend concession fares to all health care card holders (4)."

"Queensland does not have family/group tickets as in many other states (5)."

"Seniors in states and territories other than Queensland have simple public transport entitlements (6)."

"An online petition calling for an urgent fare review is filling rapidly with hundreds of signatures (7)."

"It is time the Government and TransLink acted.  It is essential that in order to optimise the bus and rail reviews, the major failing of the public transport in south-east Queensland - the fares, be sorted.

"It is time to put in place fares that are socially and economically responsible."

Contact:

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

References:

1.  http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/2011-12-annual-report.pdf page 71

2.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9155.0

3.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=432.0

4.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9124.0

5.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9123.0

6.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9122.msg109944#msg109944

7.  http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/fare-review-for-translink-south-east-queensland-now.html