31 Mar 2013: SEQ: TransLink fare review now off the rails?

[ozbob]

Media release 31st March 2013



SEQ: TransLink fare review now off the rails?

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 is very concerned that the failure to drive the bus network in principle as proposed properly by TransLink, will now lead to a stalemate to sort out the fare system for TransLink south-east Queensland (1, 2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"An important premise of the TransLink bus review was that it was to be revenue neutral, because the better overall frequency and increased number of services and frequent routes particularly in the high demand period between 7am to 7pm, the improved legibility and simplification, as well as better integration with rail would have lead to increased patronage and fare box. This would have supported the intent to address the high cost of fares in south-east Queensland."

"The vacillation by the Minister for Transport and Main Roads with respect to the bus review has now put reform of the fares at serious risk.  The Brisbane City Council bus review is not likely to achieve the same results.  They have created a bus system that is broken, are in a state of denial and are struggling to see the need to adopt best practise public transport planning principles. They are locked into a 1970s high cost, poor frequency, isolated, inefficient direct service network model."

"We call on a committment by the Minister to the public of south-east Queensland that the fare review process is to continue."

"We do not accept that the rest of south-east Queensland should suffer public transport mediocrity because of the intransigence and incompetence of Brisbane City Council with respect to the failure to understand that their bus system is broken, and their obvious lack of understanding of the steps needed to position it for a sustainable transport future!"

Contact:

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

References:

1. SE Qld public transport among the most expensive in the world
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-16/se-qld-public-transport-among-the-most-expensive/4577694

2. Translink Fare Modelling - Brisbane's Transport - we just can't afford
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9783.0

3. Brisbane City Council's "not broken" bus network
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/brisbane-city-council.html

4. More on Brisbane City Council's "not broken" bus network
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/more-of-brisbane-city-councils-not.html

5. Is the Qld government missing the bus?
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2013/03/25/is-the-qld-government-missing-the-bus/

6. SEQ bus network review http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/seq-bus-network-review

7. BCC Bus Review
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/public-transport/buses/index.htm

[ozbob]

Discussion thread fares --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9120.msg123241#msg123241

[ozbob]

Media release 3 April 2013



SEQ: TransLink fare review now off the rails?

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 is very concerned that the failure to drive the bus network in principle as proposed properly by TransLink, will now lead to a stalemate to sort out the fare system for TransLink south-east Queensland (1, 2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"An important premise of the TransLink bus review was that it was to be revenue neutral, because the better overall frequency and increased number of services and frequent routes particularly in the high demand period between 7am to 7pm, the improved legibility and simplification, as well as better integration with rail would have lead to increased patronage and fare box. This would have supported the intent to address the high cost of fares in south-east Queensland."

"The vacillation by the Minister for Transport and Main Roads with respect to the bus review has now put reform of the fares at serious risk.  The Brisbane City Council bus review is not likely to achieve the same results.  They have created a bus system that is broken, are in a state of denial and are struggling to see the need to adopt best practise public transport planning principles. They are locked into a 1970s high cost, poor frequency, isolated, inefficient direct service network model."

"We call on a committment by the Minister to the public of south-east Queensland that the fare review process is to continue."

"We do not accept that the rest of south-east Queensland should suffer public transport mediocrity because of the intransigence and incompetence of Brisbane City Council with respect to the failure to understand that their bus system is broken, and their obvious lack of understanding of the steps needed to position it for a sustainable transport future!"

Contact:

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

References:

1. SE Qld public transport among the most expensive in the world
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-16/se-qld-public-transport-among-the-most-expensive/4577694

2. Translink Fare Modelling - Brisbane's Transport - we just can't afford
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9783.0

3. Brisbane City Council's "not broken" bus network
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/brisbane-city-council.html

4. More on Brisbane City Council's "not broken" bus network
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/more-of-brisbane-city-councils-not.html

5. Is the Qld government missing the bus?
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2013/03/25/is-the-qld-government-missing-the-bus/

6. SEQ bus network review http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/seq-bus-network-review

7. BCC Bus Review
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/public-transport/buses/index.htm
Goodna Qld  4300

[somebody]

There was something in yesterdays' MX about this.  Minister committed to no more than 7.5% in 2014 and a fare review which should report back by July.

[ozbob]

Thanks ... didn't see it.  Be nice if there was a statement or something ...

Another 7.5% increase is not going to ' cut the mustard ' ...   heading to oblivion by the looks of things ..

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th May 2013

The great SEQ fare fail ...

Greetings,

It would appear that any move to properly sort out the fare system for SEQ has stalled.

Simply reducing the planned fares increase of 7.5% for 2014 is not going to address the patronage slide and the present high base cost of fares.

The present fare system is socially inequitable, is causing hardship for many, and is not sustainable.  The free after nine is also easily rorted.

Free trips have to be paid for by others ultimately, simple.  Far better to have a fare system that encourages the first journey to the last journey.  By doing that the patronage slide is reversed, the fare box is increased, public transport then helps provide a real alternative to the increasingly gridlocked road system.  A balanced equitable fare system can be seen here, TransPerth --> http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares/SmartRider/SmartRiderFaresandRules.aspx

The LNP State Government promised much, but in reality has delivered little.  Following on with the failed system set up by the previous Government suggests an inability to grasp the real issues.

The shambles with the bus review, and now the failed fare strategy is making many question if Transport is up to the mark.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 31st March 2013



SEQ: TransLink fare review now off the rails?

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 is very concerned that the failure to drive the bus network in principle as proposed properly by TransLink, will now lead to a stalemate to sort out the fare system for TransLink south-east Queensland (1, 2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"An important premise of the TransLink bus review was that it was to be revenue neutral, because the better overall frequency and increased number of services and frequent routes particularly in the high demand period between 7am to 7pm, the improved legibility and simplification, as well as better integration with rail would have lead to increased patronage and fare box. This would have supported the intent to address the high cost of fares in south-east Queensland."

"The vacillation by the Minister for Transport and Main Roads with respect to the bus review has now put reform of the fares at serious risk.  The Brisbane City Council bus review is not likely to achieve the same results.  They have created a bus system that is broken, are in a state of denial and are struggling to see the need to adopt best practise public transport planning principles. They are locked into a 1970s high cost, poor frequency, isolated, inefficient direct service network model."

"We call on a committment by the Minister to the public of south-east Queensland that the fare review process is to continue."

"We do not accept that the rest of south-east Queensland should suffer public transport mediocrity because of the intransigence and incompetence of Brisbane City Council with respect to the failure to understand that their bus system is broken, and their obvious lack of understanding of the steps needed to position it for a sustainable transport future!"

Contact:

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

References:

1. SE Qld public transport among the most expensive in the world
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-16/se-qld-public-transport-among-the-most-expensive/4577694

2. Translink Fare Modelling - Brisbane's Transport - we just can't afford
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9783.0

3. Brisbane City Council's "not broken" bus network
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/brisbane-city-council.html

4. More on Brisbane City Council's "not broken" bus network
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/more-of-brisbane-city-councils-not.html

5. Is the Qld government missing the bus?
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2013/03/25/is-the-qld-government-missing-the-bus/

6. SEQ bus network review http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/seq-bus-network-review

7. BCC Bus Review
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/public-transport/buses/index.htm