The annual Ekka Rip-off...

[YoYo]

Ok, Ekka 2011 has arrived, and again Translink have not found it fit to open the train station for free:

http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AboutUs/MediaCentre/MediaReleases/Pages/TakeeasyridetoEkka.aspx

"Mr Strachan said four new go card readers had been installed near the arrivals Ekka ticket office and along the exit ramp this year, so customers could access 18 card readers to allow them to quickly get on and off the trains.

He said an additional add-on fare applied for people catching the train to and from the Ekka station to cover Queensland Rail's costs of opening and operating this station.

"This add-on fare is $1.30 for an adult single and 70 cents for a concession single per trip. This is calculated automatically for go card users or added to the cost of a paper ticket at the time of purchase," Mr Strachan said."

Which backward society do we belong to? I bet there are many, many stations on the QR network which run at a huge loss. I know there are ekka access costs imposed by the RNA, but is it really $1.30 per adult? (from memory, there are only about 4 staff employed there to handle the train stuff)

And again, the buses don't have that surcharge... Even though they enter into the ekka grounds.

Even worse, with the poorly worded media statement, the following comment was made:
" "People travelling from Roma Street, Central and Fortitude Valley train stations only are required to pay a normal zone one fare."

Does anyone here know whether the statement above means that the station access fee doesn't exist?

[BrizCommuter]

How about just walking from Bowen Hills? It takes 5 minutes and is free.

[YoYo]

How about just walking from Bowen Hills? It takes 5 minutes and is free.

Yep, that's the way to get around the issue (or even walking from Fortitude Valley isn't that challenging, or transfer to an ekka shuttle there).

But I can't work it out. There are costs for every train station in the network. Some are higher than others (eg Central would cost a heap more to keep open than say Cornubia), but if you did a cost of station based on passenger numbers, then many would be higher than the Ekka grounds.

As I said. Makes no sense. But hey it's Translink and the RNS mobs hitting their heads against each other I'm sure.

[AnonymouslyBad]

And again, the buses don't have that surcharge... Even though they enter into the ekka grounds.

They don't, actually. They stop right outside.

Everyone seems to blame everyone else:
TransLink says the RNA should do their bit to make travel free (not sure if that's waiving some kind of access fee, or outright subsidising train trips).
The RNA says it's not their problem, and they'd have to compensate for the extra cost by putting up ticket prices.
QR also probably doesn't appreciate the logistical nightmare that comes with Ekka trains.

I don't know. It's an annoying add-on charge, but at the end of the day, it's only $1.30. That's not much. It certainly doesn't deter a huge number of people from catching the train - they could just catch the bus or walk from another station, but they don't.

I do remember the old QR ticket machines listing a $2 add-on fare for Exhibition station. So it's actually cheaper than it used to be...

[Mr X]

HBU's bus ride to the EKKA and back was well synced, well done Translink 

Arrived in time for 196, got off at KGS, walked to next stop onto a 500 which pulled up, filled and then left 2mins later. Coming back, left before fireworks, got onto 500, waited 2mins and 5-10mins later we were in the city. Off at Ann St, across KGS to 196 stop and a bus came 1min later. Good for a Saturday service

[p858snake]

QR also probably doesn't appreciate the logistical nightmare that comes with Ekka trains.

I've heard (don't know if its true or not) that those services always exist in the timetable but they just aren't listed normally so it's just a matter of  having staff and trains available that QR has to worry about.

[petey3801]

QR also probably doesn't appreciate the logistical nightmare that comes with Ekka trains.

I've heard (don't know if its true or not) that those services always exist in the timetable but they just aren't listed normally so it's just a matter of  having staff and trains available that QR has to worry about.

You heard wrong. The shuttle services are all specials (they basically just fit in between everything else). Quite a lot of extra traincrew are needed for the Ekka services, as well as quite a large number of station staff (some hired purely for the Ekka).

[BrizCommuter]

QR also probably doesn't appreciate the logistical nightmare that comes with Ekka trains.

I've heard (don't know if its true or not) that those services always exist in the timetable but they just aren't listed normally so it's just a matter of  having staff and trains available that QR has to worry about.

You heard wrong. The shuttle services are all specials (they basically just fit in between everything else). Quite a lot of extra traincrew are needed for the Ekka services, as well as quite a large number of station staff (some hired purely for the Ekka).

The track slots for the Ekka services are already built into the timetable. Whether the Ekka loop services run in those slots is another matter.

[AnonymouslyBad]

Even if the Ekka services are taken into account when timetabling, they're still essentially slotted in wherever they fit, aren't they? And they don't seem to have an easy time keeping to schedule.

Perhaps it's my imagination because I'm looking out for it, but there also seems to be more late running in general during Ekka time, particularly the PM peak.

[petey3801]

The timetablers may have the ekka services at the back of their mind while doing up the timetables, but I can guarantee the services are only very, very loosely built in.

Outside of peak, all the ekka trains run wherever they can between regular services. Control is to make sure they do not delay regular services (wherever possible).

During peak, very few ekka shuttles run. In AM peak, no shuttle services run AFAIK. The only services that run in the height of AM peak are through services that normally terminate at Roma Street or Bowen Hills. In PM peak, one shuttle train runs, if the units running it are not needed elsewhere.

[awotam]

Talking of rip-off.... Public holiday, Sunday service, but full fare?!?
What's the Go with that? 

[ozbob]

Talking of rip-off.... Public holiday, Sunday service, but full fare?!?
What's the Go with that? 

Today is only a public holiday in BCC area, not a gazetted public holiday as such.  Only the gazetted public holidays have off peak fares.  I know it is not consistent with the service levels but that is the rules they use ...

I am at Goodna, everything is open including banks etc.  Just went up to Redbank shopping centre, in full swing there.  Noticed a display for the new bus station for the plaza there as well.

[p858snake]

Its a public hoilday that is marked as effecting brisbane area only (http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/fair-and-safe-work/industrial-relations/public-holidays/public-holiday-dates-for-2008-2013), there for you should be paying the public hoilday fare for any travel with in the Brisbane region.

They can't have it both ways, Public hoilday time table and full fares.

[awotam]

"They can't have it both ways, Public hoilday time table and full fares."
That's what I'm thinking. If it's not a public holiday in Ipswich, Logan etc, then why aren't these areas receiving normal services?

[Fares_Fair]

"They can't have it both ways, Public hoilday time table and full fares."
That's what I'm thinking. If it's not a public holiday in Ipswich, Logan etc, then why aren't these areas receiving normal services?

I would suggest that since it is not a state-wide public holiday but just a limited (Brisbane city) local one, then services should run as per normal schedule because that is what the rest of the network experiences.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[AnonymouslyBad]

Its a public hoilday that is marked as effecting brisbane area only (http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/fair-and-safe-work/industrial-relations/public-holidays/public-holiday-dates-for-2008-2013), there for you should be paying the public hoilday fare for any travel with in the Brisbane region.

They can't have it both ways, Public hoilday time table and full fares.

By the same token, Ipswich should get off-peak fares when they have their show day. So should the Gold Coast for their show day. And all the suburban regions should have off peak fares on the Ekka Monday.

It gets messy.

That's what I'm thinking. If it's not a public holiday in Ipswich, Logan etc, then why aren't these areas receiving normal services?

I suspect this is a decision made by the individual operators, as service levels vary between them (for both the Monday and Wednesday). The vast majority of them actually did run normal services today.