23 Aug 2014: SEQ: Fare failure on the political agenda

[ozbob]

Media release 23rd August 2014

SEQ: Fare failure on the political agenda

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 said the TransLink performance snap shot data for June 2014 has again confirmed that affordability has worsened for ferry and train.  Patronage is barely keeping pace with population growth during peak times and is falling outside peak as people are forced off public transport due to botched and high cost fares.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Fares for public transport in SEQ have gone up in real terms (compound) around 83% for go card and 114% for paper single tickets during the period 2010-2014 (1).

"CPI for the period 2010-2014 has gone up around 9.5% (2).  The sheer magnitude of the fare increases has stagnated patronage on public transport in SEQ.  Fare box revenue is also on the slide.  To continue on this failed fare path is not in the interests of anyone."

"It is then little wonder then that affordability was again the stand out failure for the TransLink Customer Satisfaction KPIs (3, 5) for June 2014. Worst unaffordability ever recorded for ferry and rail!"

"A new balanced fare system needs to be put in place (4).  A fare system that drives patronage around the clock, is affordable and fair to all.  The present free after nine paid journeys is easily rorted and is adding to further cost pressures for high base fares. This failed fare paradigm was introduced by the former State Government as free after 10 paid journeys in a week. The Newman Government simply carried on the basic flawed paradigm by changing it 9 paid journeys in a week as the threshold. The end result has been worsening patronage, a failed fare box and  worsening affordability overall."

"The nine and free fare paradigm is leading to massive fare box leakage and is NOT making fares affordable at all (6).  It is just a massive rort!"

"There are very big cost savings to be made by getting people back on public transport with a sound fare system.  Fares in SEQ are amongst the worlds most expensive.  Time to act!  All political parties need to address the mess that is the fare system in SEQ with sound policy around fare reform."

Contact:

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

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.msg135186#msg135186

2. http://www.oesr.qld.gov.au/products/tables/cpi-all-groups-bris-wt-avg-eight-qtr/index.php

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

4.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10571.msg139861#msg139861

5.  The June 2014 Public transport performance data for affordability:

http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/open-data/2014-jun-snapshot.pdf page 14

Affordability June 2014



6.  16 Jun 2014: SEQ: Flawed cost estimates for the nine and free go card rort?
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10765.0

[ozbob]

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