Opposition Statement: Gold Coast Commuters lose out under Go Card

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Gold Coast Commuters lose out under Go Card

Wednesday, 19 March 2008

Gold Coast commuters are being charged more for less under the State Labor Government?s troubled Go Card ticketing system.

Commuters face an increase of up to 23 percent under the Go Card discount scheme which is still unavailable on Surfside buses.

The State Government says cross-border negotiations are to blame for the delayed roll-out on the Gold Coast bus lines.

Shadow Minister for Transport Tim Nicholls said the State Government has had more than five years to finalise negotiations.

"These details should have been organised and finalised before the Go Card system was rolled-out," he said.

"The State Government gave us excuse after excuse as to why the system took so long to deliver, and now we are being given more excuses as to why the system is still not fully-functional."

Currently Go Card commuters wanting to transfer from the Gold Coast rail line to a Surfside bus must buy a paper ticket.

"For those commuters who travel by train and bus the Go Card is more expensive and less convenient than the current paper tickets," Mr Nicholls said.

Under the Go Card discount scheme, commuters travelling daily from the Gold Coast to Brisbane will face a fare increase of up to $1,000 more a year, compared to the popular weekly and monthly tickets.

While the paper discount tickets allow unlimited travel during the week, commuters using the Go Card will only be entitled to half-price fares after their sixth trip in a week.

"Until the State Government provides a competitive discount option for the Go Card, commuters will continue to stick with the cheaper paper tickets," Mr Nicholls said.

"Commuters deserve better than the Government has so far delivered. They deserve the electronic ticketing system first promised.

http://www.qldcoalition.org.au/news/article.aspx?ID=2214