21 Dec 2008: SEQ: Call for Family tickets on the TransLink Network

[ozbob]

Media Release 21 December 2008:

SEQ:  Call for Family tickets on the TransLink Network

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 concession family ticketing scheme to be made available on the TransLink network.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The NSW Government has seen fit to introduce a Family Funday Sunday ticket for unlimited travel on Sydney?s buses, trains and ferries (1, 2) from today, the 21st December.  The cost is $2.50 per person, and thereby putting in reach affordable travel for families on days when there is some reserve capacity on public transport.?

?RAIL Back On Track calls on the Queensland Government to do the same! This will help struggling families to get and about on our public transport.?

1.  http://www.131500.com.au/faresandpasses/funday.asp

2.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1681.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[mufreight]

Family tickets by all means but perhaps if all travel at weekends was at off peak rates and up to two children could travel free for if accompanied by a fare paying adult, this could be done quite easily using the Go card ticketing system and the increased patronage in terms of adult fares would offset the costs and encourage further uptake of the Go card.
Just a thought.

[ozbob]

Yes, easy to do.  Children and one adult travel for free on Sundays with an accompanying adult fare payer?  This could be implemented next weekend.   

[dwb]

I wonder, what if you're not a family? Do you need kids to be a family? Can it be a group? Can it be a couple? Do you need to be heterosexual? Do you need to be white?

Surely groups and couples and individuals are 'suffering' just as bad in these 'hard economic times' as everyone else?!

This is b*llocks politicking for subscribers to the 'working families' or 'Howard battlers' labels - I for one am sick of them.

Yes, groups of individuals travelling together probably deserve a discount and this would make PT more attractive to an alternative ie driving. HOWEVER, a family shouldn't get a free ride just bc they're dragging a kid around.  Off peak tickets on the weekend and decent service levels would do far more to improve use on the wkend than cheaper tickets. Neither families nor individuals like to wait around (particularly in the sun in summer with luggage ie eskies, sports equipment), and with many services in SEQ only on hourly or at best half hourly frequencies, usage probably isn't really going to change with a gimmick ticketing policy such as this.

[ozbob]

Melbourne has had Sunday saver fares for all for some time (since 2005).

-->  http://www.connexmelbourne.com.au/index.php?id=63

This is a better approach as a cheaper fare for all, also Seniors enjoy free travel on Sundays as well.

We had family tickets here in SEQ for rail not so long ago.  I used to use them when my daughters were younger.

There has been another backflip with free school student travel too in NSW.  They were going to charge $90 for each student but it has been dropped.  Politics will generally always win out ...   

e.g.

NSW, Decision On School Bus Passes Welcome
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Independent State MP, Peter Draper, has welcomed a decision by the State Government to drop its short-sighted plan that would have seen free school travel axed for students.

?Some will call this decision a back-flip, but call it what you will, it is a victory for common sense,? Mr Draper said.

?Of a number of unwise decisions in the mini budget this was the one that hurt families the most, and it was only going to save $33 million a year,? he said.

?Most importantly the strong opposition from the wider electorate has been listened to and acted on,? Mr Draper continued.

Mr Draper said that the States' school transport subsidy could be compared to the Medicare system in the Federal sphere.

?It has been a long standing social policy that benefits families across the state,? he said.

Mr Draper indicated he had received feedback input from all affected parties including families, parent groups, schools plus bus operators.

?Many questions were raised about eligibility, including whether travel should be limited to the nearest public or church school," Mr Draper said.

"I also was asked whether Government had considered the impacts upon small schools in rural communities,? he said.

?Children must be able to attend school without the Government putting financial impediments in the way of parents.?

?While it is an expensive scheme, it is important to also consider the ability for country families to meet increased costs of school transport,? he continued.

?World economics will influence the need for better public transport provision nationwide, not to mention considering the environmental implications.?

?There has been a massive under investment in rural and regional public transport provision compared with the major metropolitan areas over many years.?

?The stupidity of axing the school transport scheme has thankfully been righted, however the Government needs to not only deliver the school transport required , but also to improve general public transport provision in regional and rural communities into the future,? Mr Draper concluded.

[Otto]

QR used to have a 4 for 1 fare on weekends quite a few years back. 4 children traveled free with 1 full fare payng passenger. Can't remember when that was axed. BT had a $1 flat fare on Sundays to compete.