14 Mar 2012: SEQ: LNP and Labor Fares Policy for short distance travellers

[ozbob]

Media release 14 March 2012

SEQ: LNP and Labor Fares Policy for short distance travellers

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org), a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers wants a lower flag fall on fares, for cheaper short distance fares in particular.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track welcomes the LNP's policy announcement on fares (1).  However, under the LNP's fares plan one zone journeys in 2014 will cost approximately $3.50 in peak and $2.80 off peak.  While better than Labor's plan for $4.05 peak and $3.24 off peak (2) this still means short distance commuters are paying too much, and in many cases more than driving."

"RAIL Back On Track calls for both sides of politics to reduce the so called flag fall by a $1.50 or so in peak, reducing all adult fares by this amount to promote public transport use. Concession fares be reduced by a similar proportional amount."

"This flag fall improvement is more important in our opinion than the promised 'reintroducing discounted weekly fares on go cards(1)'.

"We also note that in the recent fare announcement from the LNP they have promised to deliver a reliable frequent and safe network.  There are considerable areas of infrequency on the network.  The rail network is to be upgraded weekday daytimes only, under an LNP government on the Ferny Grove line, a policy commitment now apparently matched by the ALP (3). This should be extended to weekends and evenings to receive the full benefit and then to the rest of the rail network."

"On the buses, there is poor frequency to Bulimba routes 230/231.  Centenary routes 45x, 460 need a revamp as do Everton Park routes 350/359."

"RAIL Back On Track welcomes the LNP's promise to provide a frequent network, but would like more information on what services are to be upgraded to be frequent.

"Lowering fares, especially for short distance passengers will promote extra public transport trips and therefore improve externalities such as congestion and help reduce road trauma costs."

References:

1.   http://lnp.org.au/policies/lower-the-cost-of-living-by-cutting-waste/fairer-fares-for-commuters

2.   http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/current-fares

3.   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3083.msg90662#msg90662

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

LNP pledges to put brakes on public transport fare hikes, raising them by 7.5pc a year

LNP pledges to put brakes on public transport fare hikes, raising them by 7.5pc a year

    by: Koren Helbig
    From: The Courier-Mail
    March 14, 2012 11:35AM

CAMPBELL Newman has sought to capitalise on Labor's deeply unpopular plan to increase southeast Queensland's public transport fares promising he will sacrifice revenue to ease commuter pain.

Mr Newman yesterday pledged a 7.5 per cent fare hike each year for the next two years under an LNP government, halving the ALP's planned 15 per cent annual hike.

But the plan will cost $101 million, money the Bligh Government said was critical to funding much-needed new buses, trains and system upgrades.

The LNP's hip-pocket promise came after 77 morning trains were delayed by up to 40 minutes yesterday when a vine was blown on to a wire tripping out power to rail signals and sparking concerns about the reliability of services.

Commuter advocate Robert Dow said the meltdown was "unfortunate timing'' and reinforced the public perception the system was unreliable.

"The impact on commuters is getting pretty serious and people are becoming a little bit despondent,'' said Mr Dow.

"You do wonder if they're doing aggressive vegetation clearing? Are they paying attention to those issues in the way that they should?''

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the latest blunder was "not good enough'' but defended Queensland Rail's maintenance budget saying it had grown from $53 million in 2008-09 to $84 million this year.

Ms Palaszczuk also ruled out another $1 million fare-free day, such as the one that followed the previous system meltdown on February 28. Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk immediately accused Mr Newman of a secret plan to cut services, while defending her government's 15 per cent annual fare increases from 2009 to 2014 as necessary to ensure reliability.

Mr Newman insisted the LNP could still deliver on infrastructure, despite the revenue loss, using savings identified across the state budget which he again refused to detail at this stage of the election campaign.

"This is real fare relief, this is real cost of living savings, which people are crying out for," he said from a platform above Brisbane's Roma St Station.

Commuters, many angry at yet another morning service break-down, yesterday cautiously welcomed the policy although some took umbrage that the LNP's hikes were still double CPI.

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said the move was a start but a major overhaul of all fares was still needed, including dropping the $1.50 flagfall on all fares and increasing the 20 per cent off-peak discount to 30 per cent or higher.

"They're just too expensive upfront. Like a paper ticket, $4.50 to cross the river, is ridiculous,'' he said.

Mr Dow said lowering fares would encourage more people to use public transport, which would ultimately increase profitability.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

20th March 2012

ALP Fare policy announcement

Greetings,

The ALP has announced a fare policy for the go card of a universal two journey daily cap.  That is once a go card user has completed two paid journeys in a day, travel is free for the rest of that day.

See -->  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7930.0

It is in effect a daily cap.  This type of journey cap has worked well for Pensioners who have had this cap since January 2011.

A two journey cap is also useful for tourists.  The loss of the daily paper ticket has increased travel costs for tourists and from this point of view would be very welcome.

RAIL Back On Track members still believe that more needs to be done to adjust the fare flagfall as detailed below.

Although late in the campaign, the announcement is welcome as it does focus on one of the main concerns of the public transport community, relative high fare costs.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Media release 14 March 2012

SEQ: LNP and Labor Fares Policy for short distance travellers

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org), a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers wants a lower flag fall on fares, for cheaper short distance fares in particular.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track welcomes the LNP's policy announcement on fares (1).  However, under the LNP's fares plan one zone journeys in 2014 will cost approximately $3.50 in peak and $2.80 off peak.  While better than Labor's plan for $4.05 peak and $3.24 off peak (2) this still means short distance commuters are paying too much, and in many cases more than driving."

"RAIL Back On Track calls for both sides of politics to reduce the so called flag fall by a $1.50 or so in peak, reducing all adult fares by this amount to promote public transport use. Concession fares be reduced by a similar proportional amount."

"This flag fall improvement is more important in our opinion than the promised 'reintroducing discounted weekly fares on go cards(1)'.

"We also note that in the recent fare announcement from the LNP they have promised to deliver a reliable frequent and safe network.  There are considerable areas of infrequency on the network.  The rail network is to be upgraded weekday daytimes only, under an LNP government on the Ferny Grove line, a policy commitment now apparently matched by the ALP (3). This should be extended to weekends and evenings to receive the full benefit and then to the rest of the rail network."

"On the buses, there is poor frequency to Bulimba routes 230/231.  Centenary routes 45x, 460 need a revamp as do Everton Park routes 350/359."

"RAIL Back On Track welcomes the LNP's promise to provide a frequent network, but would like more information on what services are to be upgraded to be frequent.

"Lowering fares, especially for short distance passengers will promote extra public transport trips and therefore improve externalities such as congestion and help reduce road trauma costs."

References:

1.   http://lnp.org.au/policies/lower-the-cost-of-living-by-cutting-waste/fairer-fares-for-commuters

2.   http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/current-fares

3.   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3083.msg90662#msg90662

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7930.msg91596#msg91596