18 Jan 2013: SEQ: Review of fare system needed urgently

[ozbob]

Media release 18th January 2013

SEQ: Review of fare system needed urgently



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 again called for a review of the fare system for south-east Queensland (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The TransLink Annual Report 2011/12 (1) confirmed that public transport fare unaffordability is the major public transport issue facing the State Government.  Excessive fare increases have stalled patronage levels, and is proving costly in terms of congestion and road trauma costs, and environmental impacts."

"There was some optimism that the recent Premier's Action Plan which indicated a new fare structure in 6 months for south east Queensland might be a turning point.  This optimism was short lived however when it was confirmed the intent is to continue to stumble along the already failed fare path past 2014.  South east Queensland has absurdly expensive fares, amongst the dearest in the world for a largely failing network."

"In February 2012, it was pointed out in Transit Australia that fare increases well over the CPI will have a drastic impact (2). This has occurred with stalled patronage levels.  There has been a fall in paid trips on the network, further exacerbating the fare box leakage.  This is costly and is direct opposite of the LNPs economic rhetoric."

"The public feedback is overwhelming.  There is gross dissatisfaction with the failing fare system.  System issues with the go card are just further worsening public concerns (3, 4)."

"The present fares for the go card have an excessive base fare cost with considerable fare box leakage due to easily manipulated fares."

"Queensland is the only state that does not extend concession fares to all health care card holders (5)."

"Queensland does not have family/group tickets as in many other states (6)."

"Seniors in states and territories other than Queensland have simple public transport entitlements (7)."

"An online petition calling for an urgent fare review is filling rapidly with hundreds of signatures, and has now over a 1000 responses (8)."

"It is time the Government and TransLink acted.  It is essential that in order to optimise the bus and rail reviews, the major failing of the public transport in south-east Queensland - the fares, be sorted."

"It is time to put in place fares that are socially and economically responsible, that will drive patronage increases and improve the fare box."

"TransLink and Governments - both the ALP and LNP, have failed. South east Queensland public transport affordability is now in a 'death spiral' (9). Mediocrity and myopia is now the hallmark of transport policy in Queensland."

Contact:

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

References:

1.  http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/2011-12-annual-report.pdf page 71

2.  Transit Australia, February 2012 Brisbane's Great Big Fare Increase page 36

3.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9155.0

4.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=432.0

5.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9124.0

6.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9123.0

7.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9122.msg109944#msg109944

8.  http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/fare-review-for-translink-south-east-queensland-now.html

9  http://backontrack.org/images/tl/farespiral.jpg

[ozbob]

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