Ministerial Statement: Retail network loads up on new go card

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
23/12/2009

Retail network loads up on new go card

More than 100 new go card retailers have signed up to the network since the introduction of the pre-loaded go card last month, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said today.

Ms Nolan said the $20 pre-loaded cards were changing the way go cards were sold as they did not require the installation of expensive top-up facilities.

"The go card makes a great gift at this time of year and it has never been easier to get one," Ms Nolan said.

"These new go card agents are coming online as quickly as training and point-of-sale materials can be completed.

"The new outlets will sell pre-loaded adult, senior and child go cards."

Ms Nolan said now was the right time to switch to a go card as the upcoming new fares from January 4 would see the go card up to 30 per cent cheaper than single paper tickets.

"Paperless ticketing is the future of public transport in Queensland and the go card will be the same price in 2010 as paper tickets were in 2007," Ms Nolan said.

"TransLink has issued more than half-a-million [511,000] go cards since it was introduced last year and the network is now averaging more than 1000 cards issued a day.

"Using a go card cards mean faster boarding times and better on-time performance.

"A go card can cut an passenger's boarding time from about 11 seconds to three and that translates to a time saving of up to seven minutes on an average bus service."

Ms Nolan said the new go card sellers would be added to the existing network of more than 175 retailers of mostly of newsagents and convenience stores.

"You can buy go cards in most newsagents and 7-Elevens and the card comes loaded with $15 worth of travel and a $5 deposit," Ms Nolan said.

"A go card allows you to travel on buses, trains and river ferries across the TransLink network in Brisbane from the Gold to Sunshine Coasts east to Shorncliffe and Cleveland and west to Helidon."

Once a go card is purchased there are many ways to add value to the card, including:

-go card retailers, 7-Elevens and SupaNews newsagents and other independent retail outlets

-ticket offices at selected QR train stations

-fare machines at all train stations

-over the phone and via the web

-auto top-up feature


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[ozbob]

My local newsagent received a letter of offer yesterday.   Yep, the retail network loads up big time!  Bet a few punters have problems with getting $15 worth of travel for their $20 ....