Opposition Statement: Commuters speak out on go card failures

[ozbob]

http://www.fionasimpson.com.au/Pages/Article.aspx?ID=654

Commuters speak out on go card failures

Thursday, 18 February 2010

More than 1000 Queenslanders have lodged an official protest against the Bligh Labor Government's public transport fare increases and botched go card roll out.

Shadow Minister for Transport Fiona Simpson said an e-petition, calling for a freeze on higher fares and system improvements, will be tabled in Parliament next week.

"The Minister for Transport botched the go card rollout from day one," Ms Simpson said.

"Instead of delivering a system to make it easier for commuters to catch buses, trains and ferries, the Minister has simply made excuses for machines that are constantly breaking down and a lack of go card purchase points.

"When the Minister slapped commuters with a 40 per cent fare increase, whole suburbs and major bus stations did not have a single go card retailer.

"Since then, we have had a flood of complaints about broken go card readers, allegations of fraudulent top-ups, school children being left behind because they don't have a concession card and pensioners having to hire a taxi to purchase a go card."

Ms Simpson said that only the Bligh Labor Government would be shameless enough to say that this is a world class system.

"The LNP forced Minister Nolan to fast track the roll out of go card retailers and to introduce an amnesty period for students who were yet to receive their 2010 ID card.

"If this had been left up to the Minister for Transport thousands of commuters would still be unable to top up or buy a go card at the majority of railway stations.

"Commuters want a rail system that is safe, reliable and affordable — the Minister is dreaming if she thinks South East Queensland residents have that now."

[#Metro]

1% fare rise = 0.1% drop in passengers over the short term.
The money has to come from somewhere for the new services.
New buses out this month, and new express ferries. Now we need to hear about new railway services please...

GoCard should be fixed, people want to pay so it should be reliable.

[stephenk]

1% fare rise = 0.1% drop in passengers over the short term.

Except the fare rises are not 1%, they are 20-40%.

It would not surprise me if the new fare structures and Go-Card issues have reduced the growth in public transport patronage.

[#Metro]

I know. I was wanting to know what the relation between price and patronage was. And it is weak one.
2% reduction in patronage will occur, if no new services are put on.

But new services are coming, (should have been on the day!) increase the frequency, and they will return.
Express ferries and more buses are now or soon to be operating. Now for the trains...

[somebody]

I definitely side with tramtrain on this one.  Fare rises + service improvements are definitely better than no fare rises and no service improvements.

These substantial fare rises have been a positive move overall!  For a start, without them they weren't going to extend the 66.

[Jon Bryant]

Research shows that tramtrain is right.  The problem is the service increase is late, calcify increases limited due to no trains and buses stuck in traffic.  The purchase/acceleration of addition rolling stock so the network is running at max now not for some predicted demand increase.  Bus lanes on the major roads.  Bridge from Adelaide to Cultural Centre and grade separate bus way.

[somebody]

Isn't this yet more evidence that the libs would do a worse job on public transport than the government?

I submit that a sizeable part of the reason why the government was returned was the silly suggestion of 7 car trains.  All the libs had to do was to promise to remove the 3 car trains from peak hour, and they may well have been elected.

Of course, it seems unlikely that they would have implemented any part of the ICRS.

[#Metro]

I know. I was wanting to know what the relation between price and patronage was. And it is weak one.
2% reduction in patronage will occur, if no new services are put on.

Just remember, the cheapest public transport system is no system at all!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohring_effect

[stephenk]

I definitely side with tramtrain on this one.  Fare rises + service improvements are definitely better than no fare rises and no service improvements.

These substantial fare rises have been a positive move overall!  For a start, without them they weren't going to extend the 66.

I think we will see significant growth where the service has improved, such as the Northern Busway. Where service provision isn't likely to improve for some time, I think the fare increases (in combination with lack of increased capacity and mediocre timetables) may well stunt public transport ridership.

Most people don't mind fare increases if the service improves as well. However for many parts of SE Queensland, the service improvements will be small compared to the large fare increases. Don't forget that a percentage of the fare increases are to reduce government subsidy, not to improve public transport spending!

[#Metro]

However for many parts of SE Queensland, the service improvements will be small compared to the large fare increases. Don't forget that a percentage of the fare increases are to reduce government subsidy, not to improve public transport spending!

Yes, this is true. There are winners and losers. Its not possible to devise a situation with only winners.
Someone at the end of Route 540 probably won't see an improvement. Someone living at Gympie North isn't either.

The subsidy public:passenger , as a % has been brought back down to 75%. However, at the same time, funding in $ has been increased. All the bus improvements only for just $3 million! What a bargain. There must be lots more funding for more services...

[somebody]

Don't forget that a percentage of the fare increases are to reduce government subsidy, not to improve public transport spending!

Not in $ terms though.  Or at least that's what they've said: Didn't they promise to put every cent back in to the services?