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6 Nov 2013: SEQ: Santa to deliver more high fare cost explosions?

Started by ozbob, November 06, 2013, 02:54:12 AM

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ozbob

Media release 6th November 2013



SEQ: Santa to deliver more high fare cost explosions?

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 says that as it stands public transport passengers are in for more nasty fare surprises from Santa - across the board 7.5% fare hikes in January 2014.

"Fares in SEQ have become unaffordable and are reaching ridiculous levels (1). The cost to travel just one zone on a paper ticket will break the $5 barrier for the first time. That's $5 just to travel down the street or catch a ferry to the other side of the Brisbane River. We think it is ridiculous that it will cost more to cross the Brisbane River on Public Transport than to use Clem 7 or AirportLink toll roads."

"South East Queensland has some of the highest fares in the world and they are set to become even higher. It is our opinion that the source of these fare hikes lies with Brisbane City Council and their bus cost explosion because they rejected the TransLink bus review. This is pushing up fares to very high levels not only in Brisbane but in neighbouring council areas as well. Brisbane City Council insists on conserving its 'taxi style' direct service bus network. The effect is that everyone will pay 'taxi style fares'. And that's really what we are seeing. The high costs are going to hurt pensioners, people on welfare, low income earners but most of all, unemployed job-seekers who do not qualify for concession fares in Queensland (2).

"To be fair, there is some good news for passengers though, Queensland Rail will see the largest upgrade to train frequency in Queensland's history come into effect in January which will increase the value for money that rail passengers experience."

"RAIL Back on Track calls for the total abolition of paper ticketing. Melbourne has abolished paper tickets and sells transit smart cards on buses. Why can't Queensland do the same? Cross River ferries that perform the same functions as a bridge should be made free for the same reasons pedestrians are not given $5 tolls to walk across the Victoria or Story Bridges."

"The public will not pay ever escalating fares. Ultimately the Queensland Government needs to deal with the root source of the problem: Brisbane City Council and Brisbane Transport."

References:

1. Public transport performance data http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/public-transport-performance-data

2. Health care cards and concession fares around the nation http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9124.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org
Half baked projects, have long term consequences ...
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ozbob

Half baked projects, have long term consequences ...
Ozbob's Gallery Forum   Facebook  X   Mastodon  BlueSky

ozbob

Sent to all outlets:

6th November 2013

Make the Cross River Ferries free!

Greetings,

Recent media has highlighted that the plans for more inner city bridges between Kangaroo Pt and the CBD, Toowong and West End, and Teneriffe and Bulimba has fallen through. The state is unlikely to fund these initiatives as they really are the primary responsibility of a local council and the federal government is even less likely to give funding as it is not clear what the benefits of this local project to the nation are.

We think that a cheaper and more effective alternative is to make cross river ferries free. For a fraction of the cost of big ticket infrastructure, these cross river ferry services could be made free. They would be made free on the same basis that pedestrians who walk across any of the inner city bridges - The Goodwill, Victoria, William Jolly and Story Bridges, are not tolled. The monohull CityFerries are approaching the end of their economic life and their replacement should be seriously considered. Yes this will cost money, but no, it will not cost anywhere near as much as constructing three or more cross river bridges. Given that BCC's bus cost explosion is now pushing up fares to $5 (paper ticket) just to cross the Brisbane River, this is the least that it could do to administer fare relief for such short trips.

It is not surprising that there is little money for useful infrastructure in BCC's budget. BCC blew up the cash pursuing hi-waste projects such as the Clem 7 Lemon. Would individual councillors, in their own private capacity, have spent their own private funds to buy shares to fund Clem 7? We doubt it. But that didn't stop BCC spending $770 million of everybody else's funds on this hi-waste project which has a market value of just $618 million. There is little incentive to be careful because they're not spending their own money, their spending yours.

Make the Cross River Ferries free!

Best wishes
Robert

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

Reference:

1. Funds dry up for cross-river bridges http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/funds-dry-up-for-crossriver-bridges-20131105-2wzmg.html


Quote from: ozbob on November 06, 2013, 02:54:12 AM
Media release 6th November 2013



SEQ: Santa to deliver more high fare cost explosions?

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 says that as it stands public transport passengers are in for more nasty fare surprises from Santa - across the board 7.5% fare hikes in January 2014.

"Fares in SEQ have become unaffordable and are reaching ridiculous levels (1). The cost to travel just one zone on a paper ticket will break the $5 barrier for the first time. That's $5 just to travel down the street or catch a ferry to the other side of the Brisbane River. We think it is ridiculous that it will cost more to cross the Brisbane River on Public Transport than to use Clem 7 or AirportLink toll roads."

"South East Queensland has some of the highest fares in the world and they are set to become even higher. It is our opinion that the source of these fare hikes lies with Brisbane City Council and their bus cost explosion because they rejected the TransLink bus review. This is pushing up fares to very high levels not only in Brisbane but in neighbouring council areas as well. Brisbane City Council insists on conserving its 'taxi style' direct service bus network. The effect is that everyone will pay 'taxi style fares'. And that's really what we are seeing. The high costs are going to hurt pensioners, people on welfare, low income earners but most of all, unemployed job-seekers who do not qualify for concession fares in Queensland (2).

"To be fair, there is some good news for passengers though, Queensland Rail will see the largest upgrade to train frequency in Queensland's history come into effect in January which will increase the value for money that rail passengers experience."

"RAIL Back on Track calls for the total abolition of paper ticketing. Melbourne has abolished paper tickets and sells transit smart cards on buses. Why can't Queensland do the same? Cross River ferries that perform the same functions as a bridge should be made free for the same reasons pedestrians are not given $5 tolls to walk across the Victoria or Story Bridges."

"The public will not pay ever escalating fares. Ultimately the Queensland Government needs to deal with the root source of the problem: Brisbane City Council and Brisbane Transport."

References:

1. Public transport performance data http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/public-transport-performance-data

2. Health care cards and concession fares around the nation http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9124.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org
Half baked projects, have long term consequences ...
Ozbob's Gallery Forum   Facebook  X   Mastodon  BlueSky

ozbob

Media release 6th November 2013 re-released 10th November 2013



SEQ: Santa to deliver more high fare cost explosions?

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 says that as it stands public transport passengers are in for more nasty fare surprises from Santa - across the board 7.5% fare hikes in January 2014.

"Fares in SEQ have become unaffordable and are reaching ridiculous levels (1). The cost to travel just one zone on a paper ticket will break the $5 barrier for the first time. That's $5 just to travel down the street or catch a ferry to the other side of the Brisbane River. We think it is ridiculous that it will cost more to cross the Brisbane River on Public Transport than to use Clem 7 or AirportLink toll roads."

"South East Queensland has some of the highest fares in the world and they are set to become even higher. It is our opinion that the source of these fare hikes lies with Brisbane City Council and their bus cost explosion because they rejected the TransLink bus review. This is pushing up fares to very high levels not only in Brisbane but in neighbouring council areas as well. Brisbane City Council insists on conserving its 'taxi style' direct service bus network. The effect is that everyone will pay 'taxi style fares'. And that's really what we are seeing. The high costs are going to hurt pensioners, people on welfare, low income earners but most of all, unemployed job-seekers who do not qualify for concession fares in Queensland (2).

"To be fair, there is some good news for passengers though, Queensland Rail will see the largest upgrade to train frequency in Queensland's history come into effect in January which will increase the value for money that rail passengers experience."

"RAIL Back on Track calls for the total abolition of paper ticketing. Melbourne has abolished paper tickets and sells transit smart cards on buses. Why can't Queensland do the same? Cross River ferries that perform the same functions as a bridge should be made free for the same reasons pedestrians are not given $5 tolls to walk across the Victoria or Story Bridges."

"The public will not pay ever escalating fares. Ultimately the Queensland Government needs to deal with the root source of the problem: Brisbane City Council and Brisbane Transport."

References:

1. Public transport performance data http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/public-transport-performance-data

2. Health care cards and concession fares around the nation http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9124.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org
Half baked projects, have long term consequences ...
Ozbob's Gallery Forum   Facebook  X   Mastodon  BlueSky

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