1 Apr 2012: SEQ: Paper tickets - it is time to scrap them!

[ozbob]

Media release 1 April 2012

SEQ: Paper tickets - it is time to scrap them!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport calls for the next government to scrap the remaining single paper tickets.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"TransLink's own research shows that less 20% of people still use paper tickets (1). The price of the single paper tickets is now extremely high relative to go card fares and we recommend that passengers use Go Card wherever possible (2). Not only do they pay 30 to 40% more for an equivalent journey using paper single tickets, they slow up buses, they miss out on off peak discounts and free travel after completing 10 journeys in the Monday to Sunday period. As was seen at last year's Brisbane Exhibition, the time limitation on paper single tickets caused a paper-ticket-crowd-crush-meltdown, which resulted in the police directing that the fare gates be thrown open!"

"Now, with most passengers using Go Card, we think it is time that the paper ticketing system was shut down. The purpose of electronic ticketing was to ultimately replace the paper ticketing system, not duplicate it (3)."

"RAIL Back On Track members have suggested that if preloaded Go Cards were available on buses and at more outlets such as supermarkets, paper ticketing could be done away with entirely (4). This would allow faster boarding as well."

"Why have two systems to do one job? The time has come to scrap paper ticketing entirely. The savings generated could ploughed back into urgently needed feeder bus services to key rail and bus stations."

References:

1. http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/what-we-do/customer-research/100501-public-transport-survey.pdf

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

3. Should the remaining paper single tickets be removed? http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7822.0

4. http://translink.com.au/about-translink/business-and-partnership-opportunities/become-a-go-card-retailer

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7822.0