No tickets for AFLW grand final means free public transport for all

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> No tickets for AFLW grand final means free public transport for all

ALL passengers across the entire southeast public transport network will travel for free on Saturday, due to a decision not to issue tickets to the first women's AFL grand final.

The AFL's decision not to issue tickets for the free event at Gold Coast's Metricon Stadium has led to a major headache for the State Government, which usually allows people travelling to big events to ride free.

It is argued the absence of tickets will make it impossible to prove who is going to the Brisbane Lions and Adelaide Crows decider, forcing the Government to allow every bus, train and ferry passenger to travel free on public transport on Saturday.

The decision is expected to cost TransLink up to $400,000 in revenue.

Transport Minister Jackie Trad said the issue had been raised with her "in the last couple of days" and it was now too late to solve.

Ms Trad said she and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had decided it would not be fair to force the fans to pay when attendees at the men's AFL, NRL and A-League games on the same day would not have to.

"In recognition of how historic and important this game was, in recognition of the inconvenience for some people because it had shifted from the Gabba to Metricon, and the fact that we're just having a super Saturday of sports, we decided that travel across the network would be free on Saturday," Ms Trad said.

Ms Trad said it was usually simple to allow free travel.

"But because the women's AFL grand final is not ticketed, it's very hard to distinguish who in fact is travelling to the grand final," she said.

It is the latest development in what has been a scheduling farce for AFL fans and the unbeaten Lions side.

The AFL made the unprecedented decision on Monday to move the grand final from The Gabba after it was deemed unsafe by independent assessors after two Adele concerts were held there.

[#Metro]

Just get people to wear team colours. If you are in team colours - free ride!

[red dragin]

PR opportunity missed there.

"to celebrate the Brisbane Lions Women side making the first ever grand final, free travel will be available SEQ wide to ensure as many people can get there..... "

I'll be going, but will have to drive as I'm on the north side and don't have the entire day to travel there and back.

[ozbob]

Didn't take long ... lol

Brisbanetimes --> Free public transport Saturday thanks to Lions women's grand final

Trains, buses and ferries will be free across south-east Queensland on Saturday to get sports fans to the AFL Women's grand final, which will have free admission.

The decision, expected to cost Translink between $300,000 and $400,000, was made in part because of the difficulty of discerning whether or not people were going to the game on the Gold Coast because fans will not require a ticket.
Brisbane Lions AFLW captain Emma Zielke.

It's common for those attending major events across the region to get free travel when showing their ticket.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said history would be made on Saturday, with an AFL grand final held outside of Victoria for the first time.

"Of course Queensland's got skin in the game," she said.

"We've got a fantastic team in the Brisbane Lions women's team and in recognition of the historic occasion, we're providing free public transport right across the south-east Queensland network on trains, buses and ferries, to help people get behind the Lions and help support them in their history-making efforts to become the first premiership women's AFL team."

The free travel will be valid across the entire network, not just for those travelling to or from Carrara's Metricon Stadium for the Brisbane Lions and Adelaide Crows showdown.

The Gold Coast stadium was announced as the venue for the inaugural grand final after a footy-cricket stoush over the condition of the Gabba following the Adele concerts.

The game is scheduled to start at 1pm, with the stadium to be fully cleared out before the Q-Clash between the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.

[BrizCommuter]

Is the bill for the cost of free travel going to be sent to the Gabba management?

[ozbob]

Track closure from 7pm Saturday 25th Roma Street to Albion, Eagle Junction and Northgate, so it is basically apart from that open slather.

[Derwan]

This is great news!

Where should I go on Saturday? 

[James]

I'll be going, but will have to drive as I'm on the north side and don't have the entire day to travel there and back.

Perhaps look at Park n Ride at Beenleigh/Nerang if going to the game? GC line transit times are quite competitive vs car south of there.

[red dragin]

Didn't take long ... lol

Where should I send my invoice for PR advice to? 

[aldonius]

Is the bill for the cost of free travel going to be sent to the Gabba management?

Absolute Zinger! You should become a speechwriter for Bill Shorten...

[ozbob]

It's official ...

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/110231

Free travel across the whole SEQ network for super Saturday of sport!

From 12.01am until 11.59pm on Saturday 25 March, there will be free travel in celebration of Australia's first AFLW Grand Final!

Show your support for all our local footy legends with free public transport offered across the entire TransLink SEQ network (including airtrain).

There are services to get you to all the games this Saturday including:

    AFLW Grand Final - Brisbane Lions v Adelaide Crows at Metricon Stadium
    Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium
    Gold Coast Titans v North Queensland Cowboys at Cbus Super Stadium
    Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium.

During this period, free travel will apply and you will not need to touch on or off with a go card, or purchase a paper ticket.

If you have touched on or off by accident, please call our contact centre on 13 12 30 for a fare adjustment.

Please note: Tracks will be closed from Roma Street to Albion, Eagle Junction and Northgate after 7.30pm on Saturday 25 March. Buses will replace trains in both directions.

[ozbob]

"  free public transport offered across the entire TransLink SEQ network (including airtrain). "

I have asked for confirmation that Airtrain is included.   Just to be sure, to be sure ... 

Never been to BNE by train, here is your big chance!!

[ozbob]

@robert_dow Good evening. Yes, Airtrain travel is included in the free travel initiative. -J

— TransLink (@TransLinkSEQ) March 22, 2017

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2017/2017_03_22_DAILY.pdf

Questions without notice

Queensland Rail, Free Travel

Mr POWELL: My question without notice is to the Premier. With refunds valued at $300,000
offered to commuters after the 8 December rail failure, free travel costing in the order of $1 million on
Christmas and New Year's Eve and now free travel costing $400,000 this Saturday, does the Premier
really think the public are gullible enough to fall for these shiny but costly diversions from Labor's rail
fail?

Ms PALASZCZUK: I will deal with a couple of those issues. I thank the member for the question.
In relation to the free travel for south-east commuters this weekend, especially for those people who
want to go and attend the first ever AFL women's grand final to be held in this state, the Deputy Premier
came and discussed that issue with me at length yesterday and I thought, 'What a great idea!'
Unfortunately the ground was not suitable. In fact, the report stated it could prove unsafe to players and
they did not want to see players' safety put at risk. That was very clear and very sensible. I thank the
Minister for Sport for all the work he has been doing in negotiating this with the AFL. I had the
opportunity to speak to the chairman personally on the phone and he thanked both the minister and
myself and the government for coming up with the solution for this Saturday.

Instead of criticising, how about those opposite start supporting our women's AFL team—our
Lions team. It is about time everyone in this House got behind women's sport.

Honourable members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Pause the clock. I now warn the Deputy Premier and the member for Glass
House under 253A for their interjections. I have given ample warning this morning to all parties. If you
persist I will take the appropriate action.

Ms PALASZCZUK: As this is a non-ticketed event and the other sporting events happening in
the south-east this weekend, especially on Saturday, are ticketed, how could we discriminate against
those people, including families, of the south-east who want to go and show their support to the
women's team? I was not going to stand for that. I stand by the decision of the Deputy Premier and
myself to make it available to everyone in the south-east.

When we talk about Fairer Fares, this issue has needed addressing for many years. I thank the
former minister for transport, who is now the new minister for transport, for implementing Fairer Fares.
It means that across the south-east network we have cheaper fares for families. I understand the
cost-of-living pressures that families are facing, which is why my government made that decision. It is
why my government made the decision to allow more concession holders to access cheaper electricity.

It is only my government that is delivering, unlike those opposite who failed to deliver any reforms when
it came to transport or electricity. In their term of government, in terms of electricity all we saw were the
massive price hikes of around 43 per cent and in transport all we saw was the sacking of workers. I am
not going to put up with that.
(Time expired)

[ozbob]

Travel FREE on the entire SEQ network today! No need to touch on/off, or to buy a paper ticket - just hop on board https://t.co/aCPCtiyoM7 pic.twitter.com/NdCVgXwH1d

— TransLink (@TransLinkSEQ) March 24, 2017

[Cazza]

Let the fun and games begin!!! 

[ozbob]

Might head out west later, might jag a NGR somewhere 

[brissypete]

Heading to airport for some plane spotting, missed a connection due Ferny Grove train delay so not a great start.  At least all gocard readers have been turned off.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

[BrizCommuter]

Lots of people still touching on and off on buses and city cats today. Not sure why the readers are not just turned off or put into low power mode.

[brissypete]

Lots of people still touching on and off on buses and city cats today. Not sure why the readers are not just turned off or put into low power mode.

Well thats stupid

[brissypete]

[BrizCommuter]

Interesting what happens when public transport is affordable!

[Stillwater]

Giveth with one hand, taketh with the other.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-track-closures-present-problems-for-afl-fans-on-gold-coast-20170325-gv6cvm.html

[aldonius]

No signs on the readers at Park Rd... and 5-10 rail cops standing around!

I expect a lot of people going through Park Rd are going to get a fixed fare at some point...

[aldonius]

66 loaded to capacity leaving UQ Lakes.

[ozbob]

Might head out west later, might jag a NGR somewhere 

Nothing much different at Ippy .. it is always free travel hey? { only joking }

Free travel Ippy pic.twitter.com/hREol7BauD

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) March 25, 2017

[Stillwater]

As the town planners slowly bring about the 'River City' lifestyle concept and 'liveable city', more people catching PT at weekends to get to theatres, restaurants, parks and cultural events, as well as shops and work.  While there are fewer people working Saturday and Sunday, the spread of people across both days is pretty steady on all services.  Time for a 'weekend timetable' (no difference Sat and Sun).  OH, then we have the fiasco of Mon-Thurs 'interim' timetable and the standalone Friday 'lucky dip' - your train turns up ... maybe, different to last week.  Still no info on Easter services.  Return to proper timetable must occur by Jan 2018.

[brissypete]

All buses ive been on have signs over readers and at train stations either signs at major stops or the readers just show out of service.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

[ozbob]

All buses ive been on have signs over readers and at train stations either signs at major stops or the readers just show out of service.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

[Derwan]

Not sure why the readers are not just turned off or put into low power mode.

I believe that the system needs to be on to enable real-time information.

[tazzer9]

All buses ive been on have signs over readers and at train stations either signs at major stops or the readers just show out of service.

Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk

Didn't stop someone still tapping on my 385.   Im amazed how in his own bubble he was when the bus driver even tried to tell him to touch it again so it wouldn't charge him.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> How much TransLink lost by giving Brisbane workers free ride home during the storm

TransLink's commitment to get people home during Brisbane's wild weather has come at a cost of $850,000.

As the effects of the former cyclone Debbie moved south on March 30, the drastic decision was made about 7.30am to shut hundreds of Queensland schools.

Hundreds of properties across Logan are flooded, leaving residents "overwhelmed" by the cost of damage and huge cleanup remaining. Nine News

Most Brisbane businesses followed suit and sent employees home.

But for many the work day had started, so the streets of Brisbane CBD were flooded with people looking for a way home.

Under the direction of the state government, TransLink turned off its Go Card readers about 10am and swung open its ticketing gates and made all public transport free.

A TransLink spokeswoman said the Queensland government's decision to make transport free encouraged most workers to leave the city before the worst of the storm hit. 

"While we saw revenue decrease by around $850,000 compared to a normal day, our number-one priority was clearing the city and getting people home safely and quickly," the spokeswoman said.

This is the second time in a week TransLink has suffered a huge financial loss.

It was compelled to offer free transport all day on Sunday, March 25, as the women's AFL grand final was an unticketed event.

The decision was expected to have cost Translink between $300,000 and $400,000.

Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Jackie Trad said the decision was made for public transport to be free during the storm as the government felt the CBD had to be cleared to ensure people's safety before weather conditions got worse.

"People responded well with the overwhelming majority taking the advice and getting home before roads and the transport network were impacted by flash flooding," Ms Trad said.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our community for their understanding last week as well as all the frontline staff at TransLink and Queensland Rail who worked so hard to get people home safely."

The revenue loss comes on the back of a months of trouble for TransLink following the Queensland Rail driver shortage and poor results in the latest feedback.

Fairfax Media asked Ms Trad if Thursday's events gave her confidence in the city's transport system and its ability, but she did not respond to that question.

" ... Fairfax Media asked Ms Trad if Thursday's events gave her confidence in the city's transport system and its ability, but she did not respond to that question. ... "