Special Event free transport

[#Metro]

Metro Trains Melbourne is going to put on free services.
There is a good case for free services during Christmas/New Year and Easter.
People drink heaps and then get behind the wheel. Traffic accidents can be enormously costly (IIRC average payout for life lost is $83 000), the cost to run an extra train is about ~$1500 for one hour, and even less than that for buses.

Free train travel and an extra 277 services through the night are planned to cope with Melbourne crowds this New Year's Eve.

New train operator Metro says trains will run for 24 hours straight and 200 staff will man Flinders Street, Richmond, Jolimont and Southern Cross stations to help manage revellers expected to arrive in the city by train.

All-night services will run in and out of the city across all lines through until the first regular timetabled services on January 1, 2010.

http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/free-train-travel-extra-services-on-nye-20091229-lhol.html

[ozbob]

Melbourne has had regular free travel on New Years Eve I recall.

Melbourne has free early bird travel, and Melbourne has free travel for Seniors on Sundays.

Will the Premier of Queensland/Minister for Transport announce free public transport for punters?

No way in view of this:

Ms Nolan said the daily and off-peak tickets would also be extended to assist getting people home.

"Travellers who purchase a TransLink daily or off-peak daily ticket on 31 December 2009 are able to use their ticket through until 7am on 1 January 2010," she said.

http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3196.msg18431#msg18431

Another nail in the political coffin ..

[#Metro]

It really could go some way to reducing the road toll.

Oh well, QLD has cash flow problems so we have to bear with "porridge" level services.
Another opportunity down the proverbial drain...