Ministerial Statement: Don't forget to take advantage of free Easter travel

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
19/03/2008

Don't forget to take advantage of free Easter travel

Commuters with go cards will be rewarded for their support of the new integrated ticketing technology with free travel across the TransLink network during the Easter long weekend.

Minister for Transport John Mickel reminded go card holders they could travel free from midnight Thursday March 20 to midnight Monday March 24 as a thank you for embracing the ticketing option.

"People who have go cards can travel free across the network, from Gympie to Coolangatta, and the fare will be on us,'' Mr Mickel said.

"You will not need to touch on or off this weekend, simply show your go card when you board the bus, train or ferry for your free travel.''

Mr Mickel said the number of people using go card had been increasing by around 1000 users per day on average, with more than 30,000 go cards now in circulation.

"It has only been three weeks since the card was made available in Brisbane so it's very encouraging to see so many people embracing this new technology. The rate of take up has remained very consistent and it looks like we will have many more people make the switch to go card in the coming weeks and months.

"If any public transport users are thinking of giving go card a try, there has never been a better time - switch to go card and travel free for four days over Easter."

All go card users can take advantage of the free travel offer on TransLink bus, train and ferry services across South East Queensland, with the exception of Airtrain.

To find out more about go card visit www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30.

March 19, 2008

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[ozbob]

I won't forget!   

All interurban lines unofficial tour!   

  Happy Easter Go Travelling

[ozbob]

On my morning walk checked the touch devices at Oxley railway station,  they are out of service 

Expect that is the same system wide.  Good maintenance window?



Oxley - touch device out of service.  Devices at Cleveland, Shorncliffe and Ferny Grove also the same.



Photograph R Dow 21 March 2008

[Fares_Fair]

G'Day Bob,

I reckon that has to be the reason,
use this long week-end as a maintenance or upgrade window
and capitalise on it by advertising it as free travel.

Someone, somewhere, probably got a raise because of the idea !

I'm hoping that it means there may be new products introduced into the system,
perhaps even fair fares ... 

Let's wait and see.

[ozbob]

All the touch devices were  out of service at Oxley, Shorncliffe, Ferny Grove and Cleveland today 21 March 2008.  Expect same all over although at Roma St they appeared to be on.  But that may be just for the gate green lights.

At least being off people won't touch and have to claim back.

[ozbob]

The 2008 Easter Tour of the QR Interurban Network - Go!

See -->  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=645.0

[ozbob]

Bus touch devices are still on.  Reports of folks not aware of the free travel and still touching on/off.  Some drivers have taped messages on the devices to alert passengers.

Folks who have touched on and off can get it refunded (provided registered card) via Translink Go card centre  call 131230.

[ozbob]

Thanks for the free travel over Easter.  My family and I certainly put it to good use!
I noticed a number of people also taking advantage of the offer over Easter too.

Be nice if this was a regular thing?     Hopefully the fare structures for the Go card in the future will be more equitable with real incentives but until then the opportunity over Easter was appreciated.