Statement: Integration and savings as TransLink goes statewide

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Integration and savings as TransLink goes statewide

The Newman Government has ended the duplication in Queensland public transport with the restructure of TransLink.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson said the bill passed by the Queensland Parliament last night was great news for all Queensland public transport users.

"The new structure is now in place to deliver the reforms and savings to get Queensland back on track," Mr Emerson said.

"For the first time, all Queensland Government transport services will be under the TransLink banner.

"TransLink will no longer operate as a statutory authority confined to the state's south east.

"This more efficient and streamlined structure will save Queensland taxpayers around $12.1 million which can be reinvested back into improving the reliability, frequency and affordability of the public transport network.

"I also look forward to better integration of services across Queensland – including existing TransLink services, qconnect bus services, TravelTrain services and school bus services, along with subsidised regional airline, coach and ferry services.

"Under Labor there were two separate government agencies doing the same task in different areas of the state which created additional costs which were  passed on to passengers in the form of three consecutive 15 per cent fare increases in South East Queensland.

"This new bill will put an end to this duplication which has enabled us to halve Labor's planned fare hikes in January 2013 and January 2014.

"We've already delivered free travel after nine journeys improving affordability for passengers leading to an increase in the number of people getting back onto public transport.

"From July to September there were more than 600,000 extra trips taken compared to the same period in 2011, a promising start to reversing the four years of patronage decline we saw under Labor.

"Customer satisfaction for affordability has also improved on trains and buses since the LNP's fare policy announcement."

[ENDS] 2 November 2012

[ozbob]

Don't think Q Connect passengers will be overjoyed with fare increases 4 or 5 times CPI as inflicted on SEQ.  Q Connect has had CPI increases.

Some benefits for Sunshine Coast Q Connect, but not so confident that real integration will occur.

TransLink is struggling already with staff losses and past performance with the flawed fare path does not give one great confidence that they are up to task ...

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

2nd November 2012

Some observations from Melbourne

Greetings,

I have spent this week in Melbourne, which has afforded the opportunity to use the public transport.
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9206.0

Melbourne has an excellent integrated public transport network, workhorse rail and tram system, supported by a bus network more focussed on connections, and cross suburban routes than radial routes as such.

Two things really differentiate public transport in Melbourne from Brisbane.

Frequency:  Trams and trains operate at a frequency that facilitates connections and drives patronage increases.

Fares:  The myki (equivalent of the go card) has a fare price structure and options that are economically and socially responsible that encourage people to use public transport.  The go card needs an urgent fare review, a point we have made many times. See --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9193.msg111522#msg111522

Regional rail V/Line is also a stand out success.

The State Government and TransLink need to get cracking, and stop wallowing in the 'world class' rhetoric but rather act sensibly to make public transport first choice.

Melbourne rates very high on liveability indexes, far above Brisbane.  Public transport is a key factor in this difference.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets;

28th October 2012

Fare box leakage massive ....

Greetings

The Minister for Transport has indicated in a statement that the number of trips on public transport increased by 600,000 trips between July - September ( http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2012/10/25/affordability-up-on-lnp-fare-package ).  That is approximately 50,000 trips per week.  In the same statement the Minister also indicated that free trips are running at around 200,000 per week.

This means that actual paid public transport trips is reduced by 150,000 per week.  This is a significant fare box leakage.  The real cost of this is approximately [$6.72 (subsidy) plus forgone average fare $2] by 150,000 per week = $1.3M dollars per week.  Which is equivalent to $65 million per year!  This around 7 times the budgeted cost.

The fare box leakage due to the flawed nine and free rort, is the main reason why the fares need an urgent overhaul.  This leakage will just continue to distort the fare price structure, disadvantaging most of the community.  The only people who are benefiting from the flawed fare system are cashed up long haul commuters.  Families, pensioners, unemployed, and those who are not able to reach the nine journey cap and rort are being punished.  This is why public transport patronage is stagnating.  We have the worlds worst fare system and one of the most expensive nationally and globally in terms of base fares.

Turning people away from public transport actually costs more in terms of congestion costs, impacts from road trauma on the health sector, worsened environmental outcomes.  It is not rocket science or advanced economics.  It is commonsense, something lacking with the fares on public transport in south-east Queensland.

Is it not time that Government and TransLink stopped the rot?

Best wishes
Robert

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

=====================================

This is the sort of fare system that will drive patronage increases, make public transport fares balanced, equitable and sustainable for the long term.

The LNP just simply chose to follow the flawed system and move the cap from 10 to 9 journeys,   Time to face up to the fact that the fare system is off the rails and it is time to put in place fares that are socially and economically responsible.

A suggested fare system:

1.   Take a $1.50 of all go card adult fares (concession  75 cents).  Zone one fare adult peak is then $1.55

2.   Bring back 50% fares after 8 paid journeys in a week.  This means that those people who presently enjoy a free journey home on the Friday will still effectively have that as Friday will be two journeys at 50%.
People will still be able to offset their travel but importantly a fare box will still be achieved.

3.  Increase off peak discount to at least 30%.

4.  Give Seniors free travel during the off peak and weekends/holidays.  Normal concession fares in the peak.

5.  Introduce a family/group go card ticket - up to two adults and 5 children for 1.5 adult fare.  (see  Call for a group/family go card ticket on the TransLink network http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8759.0 ). An alternative is to allow children free travel who accompany a paying adult during offpeak/weekends/gazetted holidays.

6.  Give concession public transport fares to all Health Care Card holders.

7.  For 2013 and 2014, abandon the 7.5% fare increases and stick to CPI only.

8.  Withdraw paper ticketing and sell preloaded go cards on all buses, as well the usual outlets.  The present fares for paper single tickets are an obscenity.

It is important to lower the flag-fall and make relative costs between zones in better balance.   This suggested fare scheme is easily done on the present go card system, no additional major programming modules needed.

[somebody]

I think it should be 0% increases in 2013 and 2014.

[ozbob]

I think it should be 0% increases in 2013 and 2014.

[Jonno]

I think it should be 0% increases in 2013 and 2014.

Plus our proposed restructure!!!

[Stillwater]

So. Mr Emerson says the $12 million or so saved by abolishing the Translink Transit Authority has allowed his government to restrict two proposed 15 per cent fare increases over two years to half that amount -- and says this is an example of LNP efficiency in government.  He's dreaming!

[somebody]

I think it should be 0% increases in 2013 and 2014.

Plus our proposed restructure!!!

Yes indeed.  It might be politically achievable to have a 5% reduction in fares but bring back the 50% FUD after 10 journeys.  Something like that is, I think, about the only way a change could be made in this term.  Or perhaps a 3% reduction but with the 30% off peak.

It has to be a "no one is worse off" change IMO.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

3rd November 2012

TransLink goes statewide .... gosh

Greetings,

A statement: Integration and savings as TransLink goes statewide was released by the Minister yesterday (below).
http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2012/11/2/integration-and-savings-as-translink-goes-statewide

It is a pity that some of the media doesn't actually seek out some balance and alternative points of view, rather than just act as a mouthpiece for Government and take the spin as gospel.

The reality is past form by TransLink really does throw into question whether the present organisation with staff cutbacks is capable of successfully managing public transport across Queensland.

The experience of SEQ with the failed anti-public transport fare path is sufficient cause for great concern.

What is going to happen to the fares for the various Q Connect systems?  They have enjoyed and do enjoy much better base fare prices and have generally had CPI fare increases ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8719.msg109293#msg109293 ).  Contrast that to SEQ 65% fare increases over the past 4 years with further excessive fare increases of 7.5% planned for the next two years.  What will happen if Q Connect systems are subjected to same abysmal fare costs and failed fare system that we have in SEQ?  State wide riot probably ...

It really is time the media became a little more objective.

Best wishes
Robert

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

===================================

Media Statements
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
Friday, November 02, 2012

Integration and savings as TransLink goes statewide

The Newman Government has ended the duplication in Queensland public transport with the restructure of TransLink.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson said the bill passed by the Queensland Parliament last night was great news for all Queensland public transport users.

"The new structure is now in place to deliver the reforms and savings to get Queensland back on track," Mr Emerson said.

"For the first time, all Queensland Government transport services will be under the TransLink banner.

"TransLink will no longer operate as a statutory authority confined to the state's south east.

"This more efficient and streamlined structure will save Queensland taxpayers around $12.1 million which can be reinvested back into improving the reliability, frequency and affordability of the public transport network.

"I also look forward to better integration of services across Queensland – including existing TransLink services, qconnect bus services, TravelTrain services and school bus services, along with subsidised regional airline, coach and ferry services.

"Under Labor there were two separate government agencies doing the same task in different areas of the state which created additional costs which were  passed on to passengers in the form of three consecutive 15 per cent fare increases in South East Queensland.

"This new bill will put an end to this duplication which has enabled us to halve Labor's planned fare hikes in January 2013 and January 2014.

"We've already delivered free travel after nine journeys improving affordability for passengers leading to an increase in the number of people getting back onto public transport.

"From July to September there were more than 600,000 extra trips taken compared to the same period in 2011, a promising start to reversing the four years of patronage decline we saw under Labor.

"Customer satisfaction for affordability has also improved on trains and buses since the LNP's fare policy announcement."

[ENDS] 2 November 2012

[ozbob]

TMR QConnect has been one of the few bright spots on the public transport landscape IMHO ... 

maybe some of the TMR QConnect staff might be able to put a positive imprint on the TransLink mob,  but it might be a case of we (TransLink) know best .... 

[kazzac]

I think it should be 0% increases in 2013 and 2014.

I agree!!

[mufreight]

TMR QConnect has been one of the few bright spots on the public transport landscape IMHO ... 

maybe some of the TMR QConnect staff might be able to put a positive imprint on the TransLink mob,  but it might be a case of we (TransLink) know best .... 

Now sadly contaminated bt the infusion of Translink, Translink should be completely abolished and the old TMR transport co-ordinators expanded to take over the role of co-ordinating service delivery.  The financial role of fare box collection should come under treasury, would save a lot of problems and money with the contracted operators then more readily able to meet the demands of the provision of services in response to commuter needs.

[#Metro]

Now sadly contaminated bt the infusion of Translink, Translink should be completely abolished and the old TMR transport co-ordinators expanded to take over the role of co-ordinating service delivery.  The financial role of fare box collection should come under treasury, would save a lot of problems and money with the contracted operators then more readily able to meet the demands of the provision of services in response to commuter needs.

But Mufreight. Translink *HAS* been abolished, it is merely now a brand of a division of TMR. You've got exactly what you wanted...

Furthermore, the 'debt and deficit' report the newman gov't did earlier this year showed very clearly the administration costs were something like 5% - a very tiny slice of the budget pie. Assuming 100% of these costs were eliminated (impossible) the savings would be negligible - most of the pie (close to 60%) was eaten up by Queensland Rail.

I suspect that a reason that QR has high costs is because it is network + operating costs, whereas buses only show up the operating costs. Buses use the road network, by and large, therefore that sum of money appears off balance, and on a different sheet of paper which is the sheet which would show money spent on road maintenance and upgrades. And that sum would be further split between BCC and The State...

Just because a cost is obscured doesn't mean that one doesn't exist...