19 Oct 2008: SEQ: Call for a public transport compensation scheme ...

[ozbob]

Media Release 19 October 2008

SEQ:  Call for a public transport compensation scheme for poor service outcomes by TransLink and its Operators

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has called for a compensation scheme when buses, ferries or trains are cancelled or delayed for more than 15 minutes. Melbourne (1) and London (2) have such schemes, why not south-east Queensland?

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?The non appearance of timetabled buses and to a lesser extent rail services in south-east Queensland is a major issue for many public transport commuters.  During peak times many of the buses, ferries and trains are so overloaded that passengers cannot board, this is the same effect for those unable to board as a cancellation.  Often a cancelled service leads to much additional expense for some commuters. For example, a cancelled or late service can lead to excess child care charges as the normal time for pick up of children from the centre is exceeded. Arrival late at work can mean loss of income.?

?For some, delayed or cancelled services means that connecting services are missed.  There is a lack of pro-active integration when there are delays.  This in turn means long waits, missed appointments or costly taxi fares. Is this ongoing shambles acceptable??

?Commuters who suffer these delays should be entitled to apply for reimbursement of their fares. This is only reasonable.?

?It is time that the go card ticketing chaos is resolved, public transport properly resourced and some innovation put in place with respect to integration between the various public transport modes and for fares.?

?It seems the election winds are beginning to blow in Queensland. Public transport and its poor performance is no doubt going to be one of the major issues in the south-east.?

References:

1.   http://www.connexmelbourne.com.au/index.php?id=75

2.   http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/fares-and-tickets-supplementary-info-08-01-02.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow

Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From Brisbane mX 20 October 2008 page 2

[ozbob]

The continuing problems with overloaded river, bus and rail transport speaks for it self. 

The response as quoted in the article above in the mX by the TTA is nonsense IMHO.
If there was some incentive and redress for punters we might actually see improvements. The TTA is only managing the public transport paid for by you and me, the taxpayer.  The tripe rolled out about the fares being subsidised is exactly that.  So is education, health and water. 

Public transport is an essential service and it is time that the standards were lifted.
The TTA must start looking at the broader social implications and get out of its economic rationalist mindset.  Only then we will see real progress ....  It would appear that the TTA is just a clone of Translink.  Cannot see past economic modelling ...

[Mozz]

True true Bob - and let's not get into the economics of the black tarmac (and now tunnels) over sustainable public transport solutions which is consistently awarded the lions share of government (taxpayer) funding.

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

No such thing as a free ride?

No such thing as a free ride?
Tony Moore | October 21, 2008 - 4:20AM

Brisbane commuters should be compensated with free tickets if public transport runs late, similar to a Melbourne scheme, a transport lobby group says.

Public transport lobby group "Rail: Back on Track" has questioned why commuters in South-East Queensland did not have this same compensation opportunities made available to Melbourne commuters.

Spokesman Robert Dow said there were no penalties for public transport operators in Queensdland, either state or privately-owned, which failed to meet performance guidelines.

Mr Dow gave a recent common example of a train delayed at Brisbane Central Station for 20 minutes because of an electrical fault without commuters being informed of the reason.

"That train was going to meet the 467 bus at Oxley," Mr Dow said.

He said the bus driver, who had not been informed of the train's delay, waited an additional 15 minutes, but departed just minutes before the overdue train arrived.

Passengers found themselves stranded and forced to make alternative travel arrangements, Mr Dow said.

"This is the type of inconvenience we need to address if we are going to improve public transport reliability," he said.

Mr Dow said train services were last week disrupted by a large number of power failures.

"There was 18 on one day and 27 on another last week," he said.

"We were thinking, 'are we going back to 2007 and the flu?'," he said, referring to the reason given to explain major delays to Queensland Rail's Citytrain network in 2007.

In Melbourne, the private operators of inner city trains and trams were earlier this year fined collectively more than $11 million for train and tram services which did not meet strict performance targets.

Train operator Connex was fined $9.189 million for the March to June quarter by the Victorian Government and was also forced to pay for 7682 "free" tickets valued at around $63,000.

In Melbourne, the commuter holding a monthly, six-monthly or annual ticket can apply for compensation if trains or trams do not run on time, Mr Dow said.

The compensation is available:

- if less than 92 per cent of trains run within five minutes of their published time schedule; or

- if less than 98 per cent of scheduled trains actually run, averaged out over a month.

However, Queensland's TransLink says a compensation scheme is unwarranted.

Figures for the past six months showed trains on the network had run on time on 93 per cent of occasions, a Translink spokesperson said.

"This on-time train figure is within the performance target range QR is required to meet under the TransLink Service Contract."

[ozbob]

There might be a short interview on 612 ABC Brisbane radio following up on this call for a compensation scheme

On the Mornings show hosted by Terri Begley, 21 Oct after 8.30am.  Thanks for the interest 612!

[ozbob]

4BC Brisbane Rod Tiley conducted a short follow up interview.
Thanks for the interest Rod and 4BC.

[ozbob]

From Courier Mail click here!

A Queensland Rail executive has given a telling insight into what QR thinks constitutes good passenger service.  Paul Scurrah, QR?s executive general manager of passenger services (if you please), told ABC Brisbane radio this morning that fare refunds for late running trains would be more trouble than they are worth.  In an interview all rail commuters should listen to, Scurrah said QR was offering a ?"world class?? service because 95 percent of its services ran on time.  This, he said, translated to 40 services a day being late.  What are passengers on about, then. And, anyway, safety needed to take priority over passenger service, he said.

?It is not the best way to run a public transport operation where your sole focus is on-time running," Scurrah declared.  Yes, he said it. After all the trouble Queensland Rail has found itself in over recent months, this is the message it wants to give commuters.

But there was more.  Fare refunds if train services were more than 15 minutes late, something being pushed by the Rail Back on Track lobby group, would cause ?more effort than deliver benefits??, he said.

[Mozz]

Interesting response, by Mr Scurrah, quite interesting but then again remember the hugely significant increase in public transport commuters is as a result of the introduction of the go card. Throw in the recent statement by the Premier that a new train would be delivered each and every month when I understand it has been a significant struggle to deliver 2 or 3 units this calendar year. Then consider the promise of extra services on the Ipswich rail line dating back to March 2007, then Sept 2007, then March 2008, then September 2008 and finally a service or two added outside of peak times and I suppose it's quite ok to just say things regardless. But hey everyone, things will be ok in 2012 or 2016 or 2020 so just don't you worry about that......

[mufreight]

Mozz has raise a couple of points but one must admit that while the present government can not provide infrastructure if it has to pay for it or even if someone else or those who use what should be public infrastructure pay to provide it, they do an equaly poor job of spin, who was it said you can fool some of the voters some of the time but not all of the voters all of the time.  Roll on the election and hope that enough rational credible independents get up to hold the balance of power and see the current crop unemployed.