25 Feb 2015: SEQ: Fare unaffordability crisis continues - fare & network reform

[ozbob]

Media release 25th February 2015

SEQ: Fare unaffordability crisis continues - fare & network reform needed!

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 January 2015 has again confirmed that fare 'affordability' remains at crisis levels. Worst KPI is ' affordability ' by a huge measure. When will the State Government act to sort out this festering fare failure in line with election commitments?

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 - January 2014 (1). A recent 5% decrease in November 2014 has only had a marginal effect. The Affordability KPI remains the most unsatisfactory of the KPIs and is a standout failure."

"CPI for the period 2010-2014 has gone up around 10% (2).  The sheer magnitude of the fare increases  stagnated and falling 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 no surprise then that affordability is again the stand out failure for the TransLink Customer Satisfaction KPIs for January 2015 (3).

"It is a great disappointment to our members, and to many informed public transport users that rather than take the big steps to sort out the failed fare system and the network once and for all, in the shadows of the election a charade poll was put to the public - suggesting that a windfall gain from the cancelled carbon tax can be used to fund cut in fares of 5%."

"Fares on qconnect and TransLinkQLD (Cairns) urban buses are around half to a third the cost of fares in SEQ.  Service improvements would be far more important for these jurisdictions, but they were simply done over by the numbers in SEQ on the poll."

"A new balanced fare system needs to be put in place immediately for SEQ, rather than just a notional cut.  A fare system that drives patronage around the clock, is affordable and fair to all demographics.  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 Bligh 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, the TransLink Affordability KPI attests to that.  It is just a massive rort and a drain on the fare box! (4)"

"We have seen fuel prices fall lately.  This in time is going to mean that more people will abandon public transport in SEQ due to the very poor anti-public transport fare system.  Road congestion will only worsen.  Road trauma costs will further exacerbate."

"There are very big cost savings to be made to the economy by getting people back on public transport with a sound fare system and a truly connected network.  Fares in SEQ are amongst the worlds most expensive. Token fare cuts do very little without real reform, a lesson hopefully learned by the Newman Government."

Contact:

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

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/sites/default/files/assets/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/open-data/2015-Jan-snapshot.pdf  pages 1 & 14
KPI Summary Jan 2015


http://backontrack.org/images/tl/summaryjan15.jpg

Affordability KPI Jan 2015


http://backontrack.org/images/tl/affordabilityjan15.jpg

4. 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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