Article: Rates of evasion highest on trams

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Rates of evasion highest on trams

Rates of evasion highest on trams
Jason Dowling
October 3, 2011

ALMOST 30 per cent of passengers on some Melbourne tram routes are riding free, according to figures released to The Age.

A detailed survey conducted across the public transport network in May found rates of fare evasion were much higher on trams than trains.

Among the worst tram routes for evasion were those operating out of the Southbank depot - including the popular route 96 between St Kilda and East Brunswick - with 28.6 per cent of passengers estimated to be without a valid ticket.

There were also high rates of evasion on routes using the Glenhuntly depot (3, 64, 67, 78, 79) with 25.3 per cent and Malvern (5, 6, 8, 16, 72) at 21 per cent.

Dandenong was by far the worst train line, with 17.6 per cent of passengers evading fares. The next highest rate was on Watergardens, in the western suburbs, with 12.3 per cent, and Sandringham (10.3 per cent).

The numbers were generated by public transport marketing agency Metlink, which checked 10,000 passengers on each of the tram, train and bus services during May.

It is estimated that across the entire transport network about 13.5 per cent of passengers are not buying valid tickets, costing the system about $80 million a year.

Despite the high levels of fare evasion, none of the Baillieu government's 940 new protective services officers will be checking tickets, a government spokesman has confirmed.

Most fare evaders do not have a ticket at all or use a concession ticket when they are not entitled to.

Michelle Herbert from Metlink said operators focused ticket inspectors on lines that had demonstrated high levels of fare evasion.

Ms Herbert said a small group of public transport users refused to pay fares ''in some sort of protest to what they see as inadequate services''.

But she said for most fare evaders, it was opportunistic.

She said common excuses for fare evasion were ''no change, the machine wasn't working and I'm only going two stops''.

Ms Herbert, said myki had not increased fare evasion.

Melbourne will soon become one of the only major cities in the world where visitors and occasional users cannot buy a short-term public transport ticket after the Baillieu government confirmed it would dump 50 million short-term myki tickets, now in storage, valued at $15 million.

Daniel Bowen from the Public Transport Users Association said people evaded fares because they thought they could get away with it.

''Increasing the number of inspections, including putting on more station staff and looking at tram conductors would obviously solve this,'' he said.

There are just over 500 authorised officers that check tickets across the public transport network with 4.7 million tickets checked in the first seven months of this year and 76,000 fines issued.

Being caught by ticket inspectors without a valid ticket attracts a fine of $180 (or $61 for a child under 18).

With CLAY LUCAS

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/rates-of-evasion-highest-on-trams-20111002-1l3ym.html

[#Metro]

I know how much people love trams, but I hate Melbourne trams in their current form.

The entire network is so unbelieveably slow. High floor boarding and narrow doors make it very hard if you have luggage
and the entire things are packed like you would not believe. Buying a ticket on the tram while it is packed and moving is also silly! Services frequently get stuck in traffic and at lights and the network
is a bit hard to understand.

The trains are generally ok. But I was shocked when I caught a train - I don't know what it was but it looked like some kind of 1960s/1970s empty drink can. When it pulled up I was shocked with disbelief- what was this thing? Maybe it was one of the ancient hitachi sets.

Serious issues all around...

Ah yes, this was it


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hitachi196MInterior.jpg

[ozbob]

Fare evasion is almost a 'national sport' at times it seems in Melbourne. The trams have been improved ticket wise with just touch on with a myki.  Touching off is optional.

But the last time I was in Melbourne I seemed to be the only person actually touching on ...  I was checked by the AOs on a tram ride from Carnegie last January.  Haven't been checked on rail down there for a while though.  If you have nothing to do particularly, watching the fare gates at Flinders Street is always interesting - folks leaping over and tailing.  I think that is why the fare gates are shoulder high in Paris, an attempt to block the leapers ..

[ozbob]

Melbourne train wise is an excellent example of failed transport policies.  The privatisation has just seen a run-down of the trains and infrastructure.  The track and trains in SEQ are better quality overall, despite the gauge differences.  The good thing going for Melbourne is frequency on most lines, but the down side are the things you are alluding too.  To be fair I think Metro are doing a better job than past operators, but the bottom line for them too is to make a buck.

[somebody]

Melbourne train wise is an excellent example of failed transport policies.  The privatisation has just seen a run-down of the trains and infrastructure.  The track and trains in SEQ are better quality overall, despite the gauge differences.  The good thing going for Melbourne is frequency on most lines, but the down side are the things you are alluding too.  To be fair I think Metro are doing a better job than past operators, but the bottom line for them too is to make a buck.

I don't know ozbob, didn't patronage rise quite sharply under privatisation?  Last few years on Connex saw some penny pinching maintenance wise, which seemed to lead to them losing the contract.

I'd call it a success.  Or at least more successful than policies in Sydney and Brisbane.

[Gazza]

Or at least more successful than policies in Sydney and Brisbane.

Le Perth???

don't know what it was but it looked like some kind of 1960s/1970s empty drink can. When it pulled up I was shocked with disbelief- what was this thing? Maybe it was one of the ancient hitachi sets.

Indeed, but there are very few of them around, so you got unlucky.

[somebody]

Or at least more successful than policies in Sydney and Brisbane.

Le Perth???

I'm quite sure Melbourne isn't as good as Perth.

[ozbob]

Melbourne train wise is an excellent example of failed transport policies.  The privatisation has just seen a run-down of the trains and infrastructure.  The track and trains in SEQ are better quality overall, despite the gauge differences.  The good thing going for Melbourne is frequency on most lines, but the down side are the things you are alluding too.  To be fair I think Metro are doing a better job than past operators, but the bottom line for them too is to make a buck.

I don't know ozbob, didn't patronage rise quite sharply under privatisation?  Last few years on Connex saw some penny pinching maintenance wise, which seemed to lead to them losing the contract.

I'd call it a success.  Or at least more successful than policies in Sydney and Brisbane.

When it was VR it was clockwork.  The patronage increases were just a function of sustained population growth and road traffic issues, which because trains relatively frequent (particularly weekdays) the other issues not really that significant in deterring travel.  Here in SEQ, because frequency is so poor I think  other issues are magnified to a degree.  The fare structure has always favoured the punters too.   Now, they have $3 flat fares on weekends, capped.  Trains running very well loaded around the clock.

[Gazza]

Or at least more successful than policies in Sydney and Brisbane.

Le Perth???

I'm quite sure Melbourne isn't as good as Perth.

My point was that Perth has a successful, non-privatised network.

[somebody]

I'm sure Melbourne's patronage growth has outstripped population growth.  Not too sure about the congestion issues though.

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

How fare evasion can pay on Melbourne's trams

How fare evasion can pay on Melbourne's trams
Reid Sexton
October 4, 2011

TRAM passengers across Melbourne have been having their tickets checked on just one trip in about every 100 despite fare evasion recently hitting more than 20 per cent.

The figures suggest many fare evaders would be better off risking occasional $180 fines than paying for every journey, and have prompted calls for a massive increase in the number of ticket inspectors.

Metlink figures released to The Age show that in the first six months of this year, 92.8 million trips were taken on Melbourne's trams, with 1.03 million tickets checked - a rate of 1.1 per cent.
Advertisement: Story continues below

By contrast, there were 108.5 million train trips, with 2.955 million checks - a rate of 2.7 per cent. On buses, inspectors check just 0.1 per cent of passengers but this is boosted significantly by drivers who are instructed to check.

Yesterday The Age reported figures showing that on some tram routes, including the 96 between St Kilda and East Brunswick, almost 30 per cent of passengers are riding for free.

It was revealed in August that evasion across the entire tram network was 20.3 per cent.

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said a lack of barriers and other staff meant trams were totally reliant on inspectors to check tickets. This made it vital for them to have a strong presence on the network and he was shocked they check such a small percentage of tickets. ''It is amazingly low,'' he said.

''If you were running a cinema and you only checked if 1 per cent of moviegoers had a valid ticket, you'd be in danger of going broke.

''The answer here is more staff on the system and more ticket checks. Whether that be a mix of [inspectors], station staff and tram conductors, the more staff checking tickets the less fare evasion there will be.''

Mr Bowen warned fare evasion would worsen once the rollout of the $1.35 billion myki ticketing system was complete by the end of next year, after the Baillieu government revealed cards would not be available for purchase or top-up on trams.

''The key to stopping fare evasion is to make it easier to buy [a ticket] and harder to avoid one,'' he said.

The Baillieu government recently estimated that 13.5 per cent of passengers across the Melbourne public transport network were riding for free, costing $80 million a year in revenue. This figure, which is off-set by around $10 million a year in fines, is a loss to taxpayers and not the operators because the government has accepted the revenue risk for fare evasion until myki is introduced.

Victorian Rail Tram and Bus Union secretary Trevor Dobbyn said $70 million could pay for around 1150 inspectors a year - more than double the current number of about 500. ''This would have a dramatic and immediate effect in reducing fare evasion and improving passenger safety," he said.

According to state Transport Department figures, $70 million would buy about two new trains, as well as two trams and 28 air-conditioned buses.

Yarra Trams spokesman Colin Tyrus said the government was responsible for ticket inspector numbers on the network, with about 165 currently patrolling trams.

He said plain-clothes patrols had recently been increased, and announcements warning passengers of routes being targeted had been introduced. ''The vast majority of commuters ... know they have to have a valid ticket and they do and they don't gamble on whether or not they'll be checked.''

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/how-fare-evasion-can-pay-on-melbournes-trams-20111003-1l5e5.html

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Drop in inspections of tram tickets

Drop in inspections of tram tickets
Reid Sexton
October 5, 2011

TICKET inspectors on Melbourne trams conducted fewer ticket checks in the first half of this year than they did two years ago despite fare evasion and patronage climbing in that time.

Transport Minister Terry Mulder said yesterday he had expressed his frustration at Yarra Trams about the loss of millions of dollars in revenue through high fare evasion, with government figures released in August showing 20 per cent of all tram passengers travel without a valid ticket.

The Age revealed yesterday tram passengers are checked for a valid ticket on about one trip in every 100, which the Public Transport Users Association says fuels fare evasion.

Figures provided by Metlink show in the first six months of this year, 92.8 million trips were taken on Melbourne's trams with 1.03 million tickets checked, a rate of 1.1 per cent.

But despite Metlink launching a crackdown on fare evasion in April and patronage climbing in recent years, a Metlink ''revenue protection plan'' shows 1.6 per cent of passengers were checked in a 12-month period over 2008 and 2009.

The plan, released last year under freedom-of-information laws, shows more than 2.8 million passengers had their tickets checked over that period, a rate of 1.6 per cent given the patronage numbers for that time.

Surveys reveal that in the 2008-09 financial year, 13 per cent of passengers did not have a valid ticket, while it was about 16 per cent in May last year.

Annual patronage grew by about four million in the two years to July this year.

Mr Mulder said yesterday more tickets should be checked on trams but ruled out boosting Melbourne's tally of ticket inspectors, who are funded by the government, from 540. ''I've had discussions with [Yarra Trams] ... [and] I've indicated the government aren't happy with the level of fare evasion on trams and have asked them to ramp up their activity and pay closer attention to it,'' he said. ''We [need to] claw back some of that revenue so that we can ... put it back in the network.''

Public Transport Users Association spokeswoman Kerryn Wilmot said the presence of staff to check tickets was vital to reduce fare evasion.

''If they want to be reducing fare evasion we do need to see the chances of being detected increasing not decreasing,'' she said.

A Yarra Trams spokesman said it had stepped up the number of inspections recently in line with Metlink's fare evasion crackdown - but did not say why fewer tickets were checked this year. Metlink said the crackdown was effective because monthly fines had increased across the network by more than 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, freedom-ofinformation documents obtained by the Greens showed there are about 80 incidents each month where ticket inspectors come into physical contact with passengers. Mr Mulder said three inspectors had recently been stood down.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/drop-in-inspections-of-tram-tickets-20111004-1l7b8.html

[somebody]

Are we sure we still want rear door boarding on buses?  (Yes I know CityGlider has it.)

[Golliwog]

Are we sure we still want rear door boarding on buses?  (Yes I know CityGlider has it.)

I don't think we do.

[SurfRail]

Are we sure we still want rear door boarding on buses?  (Yes I know CityGlider has it.)

The busway is not going to work in the next few years without it.

Just employ more RPOs, or perhaps install go-card activated access gates at the busway stations where feasible.

Front door only boarding is utterly backwards, most of the world manages without this constraint.

[somebody]

Are we sure we still want rear door boarding on buses?  (Yes I know CityGlider has it.)

I don't think we do.

Well the polls on this site suggest otherwise.

Are we sure we still want rear door boarding on buses?  (Yes I know CityGlider has it.)

The busway is not going to work in the next few years without it.

Just employ more RPOs, or perhaps install go-card activated access gates at the busway stations where feasible.

Front door only boarding is utterly backwards, most of the world manages without this constraint.

Couldn't you just have pre-pay in those locations?  Some dwell time saving from rear door boarding, I guess, but other than at a route's origin I think this saving is minimal, and non existent if the same number are using the front door as the back door (for getting off).

How many of the other places which have rear door boarding lack off vehicle fare validation like us?

[SurfRail]

Couldn't you just have pre-pay in those locations?  Some dwell time saving from rear door boarding, I guess, but other than at a route's origin I think this saving is minimal, and non existent if the same number are using the front door as the back door (for getting off).

How many of the other places which have rear door boarding lack off vehicle fare validation like us?

I think we need pre-paid boarding at all busway stations, all interchanges (need to be kitted out with machines) and the CBD and immediate surrounds between say 7am and 7pm on weekdays.  This should work hand in hand with rear-door boarding.

The savings at places like the Cultural Centre should be quite significant I imagine, and allow passengers to spread along the platform a bit more evenly.  Most people are not going to be getting off buses in the pm peak at South Bank for instance, so the rear door gives you extra capacity to load and also distributes passengers throughout the bus more quickly.

I don't think on-board or off-board validation really matters.  It's a simple touch on and off for us these days, quite manageable at both doors.

I would suggest that perhaps the system needs to be modified so you can only touch off at the front (as per current) but that a driver should only be able to process this through entering a command into the DCU manually, and then you would only touch off at the reader attached to the DCU.  Would prevent rorting and only a minimal number of people would need to ever do this.

[somebody]

Couldn't you just have pre-pay in those locations?  Some dwell time saving from rear door boarding, I guess, but other than at a route's origin I think this saving is minimal, and non existent if the same number are using the front door as the back door (for getting off).

How many of the other places which have rear door boarding lack off vehicle fare validation like us?

I think we need pre-paid boarding at all busway stations, all interchanges (need to be kitted out with machines) and the CBD and immediate surrounds between say 7am and 7pm on weekdays.  This should work hand in hand with rear-door boarding.

The savings at places like the Cultural Centre should be quite significant I imagine, and allow passengers to spread along the platform a bit more evenly.  Most people are not going to be getting off buses in the pm peak at South Bank for instance, so the rear door gives you extra capacity to load and also distributes passengers throughout the bus more quickly.

I don't think on-board or off-board validation really matters.  It's a simple touch on and off for us these days, quite manageable at both doors.

I would suggest that perhaps the system needs to be modified so you can only touch off at the front (as per current) but that a driver should only be able to process this through entering a command into the DCU manually, and then you would only touch off at the reader attached to the DCU.  Would prevent rorting and only a minimal number of people would need to ever do this.

Got to say, now that Go Card is the norm, I am supportive of your calls for more extensive Pre-Pay locations, and full time.  There really is little excuse for bothering the driver in the Roma St-SE Busway stretch unless you don't know your number of zones I suppose.  The major interchanges should have it also, but Indooroopilly isn't ready yet as it doesn't have a AVVM. Not sure how it would work at Chermside either with the Gympie Rd f/s Hamilton Rd I/B stop, which I'd think would be too far from the machine.

Off vehicle validation matters as it allows alternate methods of fare enforcement, i.e. gates.

Don't follow why we need a further mod to the cancel touch on rules.

[colinw]

I'm sure this has been answered before, but what is the arrangement on the Gold Coast Light Rail going to be?  Readers on board, readers on platform without gates, or gated stations?