Have your say for a new fare system for TransLink SEQ

[ozbob]

As was indicated in the Premier's 6 month action plan, page 6 there are moves for a new 'fare structure' for SEQ.  This is actually a new fare system.

This is an opportunity for you to suggest your preferred fare system. 

Please note these definitions from the Wellington Fare Review (available --> here PDF 0.65MB)

Fare system components

Fare structure

The foundation for the system. For example, it could be based on flat,
distance-based, time-based or zonal-based fares, or a combination of
fare types.

Fare products

The range of tickets available (e.g. single, multi-ride, periodical*) and
associated business rules (e.g. in relation to concessions and transfers).

Fare levels

The price of the fare products.

Fare concessions

Particular groups that qualify for concessions (such as children, young
people, tertiary students and 'seniors'), and the concession levels.

Ticketing system

The technology used to process transactions, such as paper tickets, tokens,
magnetic-stripe cards and 'stored-value card'.

==================

Please start a new thread for your suggested fare system.

Thanks.

[ozbob]

Time for all ideas to go into the melting pot ...

Don't be bashful, have a go, example --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9625.0

Please start a new thread for your suggested fare system.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Public transport efficiencies to drive better fares

The Newman Government has begun work to improve public transport fares for south east Queensland passengers.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the public transport advisory group had been asked to provide submissions on the future fare path.

"This government is committed to delivering better cost of living for Queensland families and passengers," Mr Emerson said.

"This will be reflected in our six-month action plan commitment to announce a new fare structure for public transport in south east Queensland.

"Savings from delivering a more efficient public transport network will be reinvested in fares to tackle the affordability crisis left by the Bligh Government's on-going 15 per cent hikes."

Earlier this week, Queensland Rail started negotiation on a new business model to consolidate services within their Office of the CEO, business strategy, corporate services and human resources areas.

"Future negotiation of its enterprise agreements is a matter for Queensland Rail, however as Queenslanders would expect, they will be seeking efficiencies," Mr Emerson said.

"I think people would be surprised to learn that under the current arrangements there were situations like 50 per cent additional train crew left in Cairns for up to two years following Labor's sell off of QR National.

"While we had excess staff in some areas of the state at the same time we were looking to employ additional train crew in south east Queensland to meet a growing number of services, including the 140 additional weekly services on the Ferny Grove line and 10 additional weekly services on the Gold Coast line."

======================

[ozbob]

Draft.  Being incorporated into final joint submission QCOSS and COTA.

============================

Why we need a fare review

We note that the recently published  Six month action plan (1) makes the following point: Announce new fare structure for public transport in South East Queensland. This is a welcome development, so it would appear that is now recognised the present TransLink Five Year Fare strategy has not been successful.

A fare review of the SEQ TransLink network is needed for two main reasons, falling revenue and stalling patronage. As is shown in the most recent publicly available TransLink Tracker, patronage peaked at 181.8M trips annually in the 09/10 financial year. Prior to this patronage had been growing quite impressively, but more importantly for funding improved services, prior to the peak when patronage was still growing, the government subsidy per trip fluctuated around the $4.75-$5.00 mark. Since patronage has begun to decline this subsidy has blown out to $6.72 per trip as reported in the latest TransLink Tracker. At the same time, the dollar amount contributed by the passenger has increased from around $1.50 to $2.08. This clearly shows that the fare increases are not having their intended effect of decreasing the amount of subsidy per trip as while they are increasing the fare paid by passengers, they are driving more away through the prohibitive costs.
As this method of decreasing the subsidy has failed, it leaves only two options to decrease the subsidy per trip: drastically reducing services, or reducing fares to get more people on services. Reducing services is a flawed notion in many cases as services are quite well used and any reduction in service would only further reduce patronage, although reviews to find efficiencies (such as the current SEQ Bus Network Review) are useful for reducing duplication in the network. The key to ongoing patronage growth and (more importantly for the public transport budget) and  reducing the subsidy per trip is to review the current fares to reduce the cost to individual passengers. In this way more people will find travel affordable and will take more trips.

Why has the current fare scheme failed?

The current fare scheme has failed because while fares have gone up dramatically over recent years, around 70% in real terms since 2010, the average income of Queensland has not. While the 9 then free scheme has done something towards increasing patronage in overall trips, paid trips has fallen and  this then has an opposite impact on the subsidy per trip, leaving a net decrease in the number of trips for which passengers contributed towards the cost of running the service. This is most likely because the 9 then free scheme was attractive for those who might already be commuting by PT most days of the week, it isn't attractive at all for those who might only be using the network on occasion, which is where most growth in patronage would be coming from (because those who already use it 3-5 days a week have little capacity to use it more frequently).
 
Revised fare structure

A revised fare structure should address the fare box leakage as a result of the 9 and then free structure, provide a lower base fare cost and drive out of peak patronage.  Additionally the fact that not all Health Care Card holders in Queensland are given public transport concession fares needs to be addressed.  Some form of family/group ticketing should be introduced to encourage people back to public transport.  The present two paid journey cap, then free for Seniors and some DVA pensioners needs a review.  This scheme is inequitable to those Seniors/Pensioners who don't have access to high frequency public transport services and makes their initial journey costs very expensive.

Reference:
1.   http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/plans-and-progress/plans/assets/6-month-action-plan-jan-jun-13.pdf page 6

Additional information
2013 Australian Fare Comparison http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/2013-australian-fare-comparison.html
2013 World Fare Comparison - Part 1 http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/2013-world-fare-comparison-part-1.html
2013 World Fare Comparison - Part 2 http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/2013-world-fare-comparison-part-2.html
2013 World Fare Comparison - Part 3 http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/2013-world-fare-comparison-part-3.html
2013 World Fare Comparison - Conclusion and Recommendations http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/2013-world-fare-comparison-conclusion.html
Get Smart - smart card daily and weekly options http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/get-smart-smart-card-daily-and-weekly.html
Car vs Train costs in SE Queensland http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/car-vs-train-in-se-queensland.html
Evaluating Public Transit Benefits and Costs Best Practices Guidebook 10 December 2012 http://www.vtpi.org/tranben.pdf
Australian Consumer Price Index http://www.natrem.com.au/inflation/index.html
RAIL PATRONAGE MANAGEMENT – effectiveness in practice, and new theoretical frames http://intranet.imet.gr/Portals/0/UsefulDocuments/documents/01584.pdf
MANAGING PEAK DEMAND FOR PASSENGER RAIL: A LITERATURE REVIEW http://www.atrf.info/papers/2009/2009_Hale_Charles.pdf
PRACTICE REVIEWS IN PEAK PERIOD RAIL NETWORK MANAGEMENT: http://intranet.imet.gr/Portals/0/UsefulDocuments/documents/01585.pdf

PRACTICE REVIEWS IN PEAK PERIOD RAIL NETWORK MANAGEMENT: SYDNEY & SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/eserv/UQ:195976/ATRF09_Hale_Charles_peak_practice_review.pdf
Modelling the Ability of Fare Incentives to Spread AM Peak Passenger Loads May 2012For Infrastructure NSW By DOUGLAS Economics http://www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/media/16691/douglas_economics_insw_modelling_fares.pdf

Robert Dow
27 January 2013

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

22 February 2013

Fares to be reviewed

Greetings,

Thank you for your support for our fare review petition http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/fare-review-for-translink-south-east-queensland-now.html

The Minister for Transport and Main Roads has today via  a statement (copy below) announced that fares will be reviewed.  This is the outcome we wanted.

I am hopeful that there will be an opportunity for the public to have input into a specific fare system and options that they would like to see, direct to TransLink.

Some ideas can be reviewed here -->  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=74.0

=============

Statement:  http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/2/22/public-transport-efficiencies-to-drive-better-fares
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
Friday, February 22, 2013

Public transport efficiencies to drive better fares

The Newman Government has begun work to improve public transport fares for south east Queensland passengers.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the public transport advisory group had been asked to provide submissions on the future fare path.

"This government is committed to delivering better cost of living for Queensland families and passengers," Mr Emerson said.

"This will be reflected in our six-month action plan commitment to announce a new fare structure for public transport in south east Queensland.

"Savings from delivering a more efficient public transport network will be reinvested in fares to tackle the affordability crisis left by the Bligh Government's on-going 15 per cent hikes."

Earlier this week, Queensland Rail started negotiation on a new business model to consolidate services within their Office of the CEO, business strategy, corporate services and human resources areas.

"Future negotiation of its enterprise agreements is a matter for Queensland Rail, however as Queenslanders would expect, they will be seeking efficiencies," Mr Emerson said.

"I think people would be surprised to learn that under the current arrangements there were situations like 50 per cent additional train crew left in Cairns for up to two years following Labor's sell off of QR National.

"While we had excess staff in some areas of the state at the same time we were looking to employ additional train crew in south east Queensland to meet a growing number of services, including the 140 additional weekly services on the Ferny Grove line and 10 additional weekly services on the Gold Coast line."

==============================

Thanks again for your support, it was important and greatly appreciated.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Public transport fares under review

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times 23rd February 2013 page 13

Cost review could give commuters a fare go

[ozbob]

From the Sunday Mail 24th February 2013 page 23

QR on track for job cuts

[techblitz]

Fixed fare suggestions too plz.
Eg: charges for people who purposely/forget to tag off etc.
9 then free aint the only thing that can be rorted.
With the recent price increases,fixed fare rorting would no doubt be on the increase.
Seen my fair share of people purposely not tagging off buses on the longer routes.Eg: 315,142,310,140 to name a few.
Add that with the ease of which a pax can aquire a new gocard....its a perfect recipe.

[ozbob]

I  have raised our concerns with TL re fare evasion with go cards, there are many ways at present and also the fact that many fare gate barriers are not fully closed and/or supervised.  Understand system changes are being looked at.  The possibly of a differential minimum balance to allow touch on (more for unregistered go cards) has been suggested as well.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail Quest click here!

The State Government looks into public transport fares

The State Government looks into public transport fares

    by: Allira Preece, North-West News
    From: Quest Newspapers
    February 25, 2013 12:00AM

The State Government has made a commitment to address public transport fares in order to establish a new fare structure for southeast Queensland.

THE State Government has committed to a six-month action plan to address public transport fares across southeast Queensland.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the plan would help deliver "better cost of living for Queensland families and passengers.''

He said a new fare structure would be introduced.

The news comes after a Rail Back on Track petition closed last month.

More than 1,100 commuters signed the petition to lower public transport costs.

The petition, headed by commuter group Rail Back on Track, highlighted the need for an urgent fare review.

Spokesman Robert Dow said the group had lobbied on the issue for more than a year.

He said the result was a win for commuters.

"This is the outcome we wanted,'' he said.

"I am hopeful that there will be an opportunity for the public to have input into a specific fare system and options that they would like to see, direct to TransLink.''

[Fares_Fair]

I would be interested to see or hear about any radical or new thoughts on how fares could be collected or raised, ignoring the current system per se.
More just as a thought experiment and to see where it could lead.

[ozbob]

From Rail Express click here!

Queensland Government announces rail fare review

Queensland Government announces rail fare review
by Oliver Probert — Mar 06, 2013 12:12 PM

Brisbane train passengers could soon be paying less for their ticket to ride.
 
Queensland Government announces rail fare review

After community outcry, the QLD government is looking closer at passenger fare pricing. Photo courtesy of RailGallery

Queensland's Newman government says it has begun work to improve public transport fares for south east Queensland passengers in an effort to get more Brisbanites on the city's rail network.

"This government is committed to delivering better cost of living for Queensland families and passengers," state minister for transport and main roads Scott Emerson said.

That commitment is to be reflected through a six-month action plan aimed at developing a new fare structure, according to Emerson, who said Queensland's public transport advisory board had been asked to provide submissions on the future fare path.

To overhaul the fare system, the government hopes to reinvest savings earned through staff cuts at the rail operator, Queensland Rail.

In July last year the government ordered QR to reduce the number of its corporate staff following a review of the government-owned operator which said it had a "bloated executive." Last month, QR started negotiation on a new business model to consolidate services within its offices.

"Future negotiation of its enterprise agreements is a matter for Queensland Rail," Emerson said, "however as Queenslanders would expect, they will be seeking efficiencies."

Industry body Rail Skills Australia (RSA) has welcomed the government's plans.

"It is simply untenable to expect the public to pay more than they have to," said the body's chief executive, Paul Daly. "A full review will most certainly provide higher workforce efficiencies and enable these issues to be addressed."

Emerson said the government had delivered on its pre-election promise of halving Labor's planned 15% increases for 2013 and 2014 and committed $200m over four years to deliver fare relief for commuters.

South east Queensland public transport fares increased by 7.5% on January 7 this year.

Nonetheless, there has been community outcry over the weight of the fares. One petition calling for a review of the fares logged over 1100 signatures.

Train patronage has also declined in the past four years in the sunshine state.

In the 2008-09 financial year, 60.9 million trips were taken on the network. That dropped to 57.6 million in 2009-10 (down 5.4%), and 2010-11 saw a further drop to 55m trips (down 4.5%).

In 2011-12 the number of trips taken dropped again, down 4% to just 52.8 million, which is around 10 million fewer trips than travelled on the Perth rail network over the same timespan, despite the fact that Queensland's public transport patronage of 178 million is significantly higher than Perth's patronage.

[ozbob]

Train patronage has also declined in the past four years in the sunshine state.

In the 2008-09 financial year, 60.9 million trips were taken on the network. That dropped to 57.6 million in 2009-10 (down 5.4%), and 2010-11 saw a further drop to 55m trips (down 4.5%).

In 2011-12 the number of trips taken dropped again, down 4% to just 52.8 million, which is around 10 million fewer trips than travelled on the Perth rail network over the same timespan, despite the fact that Queensland's public transport patronage of 178 million is significantly higher than Perth's patronage.

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9624.msg121092#msg121092

... Mr Emerson said he believed people would be shocked to learn that although bus funding had increased by 22 per cent over the past three years, patronage had improved just 0.5 per cent ...

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9045.msg121129#msg121129