2014 fares

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th July 2013

Transport failure in SEQ - if the hat fits wear it!

Greetings,

Time to speak up for the community.  Public transport is south-east Queensland is heading for more massive failure.  Already at rock bottom in terms of affordability, and stagnation in terms of patronage gains, more of the same failure that is now the hallmark of public transport in Queensland awaits under the leadership failures of the Transport portfolio.

The bus reviews and the consequent failures are a prime example of politics taking a priority over real community needs.

The bus changes that come into effect on the 22nd July 2013 via the so called ' BCC Bus Review ' are just mainly service cuts in effect without commensurate network gains ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10075.0 ). These changes are concentrated in Labor and Independent wards of course.

Promised a new fare structure by the Premier in January 2013 as part of the 6 month action plan, nothing of any real improvement has occurred.  The fact that many public transport services are transporting a lot of 'air' is something that the TransLink Bus Review was about fixing.  Under the TransLink Bus Review, patronage gain would have been very significant.  Alas we are now heading for more cuts and continuing unaffordability.  This is massively impacting on those least able to afford it - Pensioners, unemployed, families particularly - but all passengers are feeling the impacts of the worlds worst fare system. See --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.msg128854#msg128854 .

The Newman Government bleats about the money being short, well not fixing fares and the network is actually costing a lot of money.  Directly via patronage loss, more indirectly by impacts on congestion costs, health care costs as road trauma continues to worsen, and massive environmental impacts.  The Newman Government is a lot of rhetoric but little real action where it matters.

The media coverage of the TransLink Bus Review was largely hysterical poorly researched rubbish.  There were some exceptions, see http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9045.msg123362;topicseen#msg123362

This poor media was driven in part by the apparent 'gagging' of TransLink and the Assistant Minister for Public Transport.

What needs to happen is the Brisbane Transport needs to be removed from the direct political control of the BCC.  In 2010, the now Premier then Lord Mayor Campbell Newman was correct when he called for the State Government to take over Brisbane Transport ( Lord Mayor Campbell Newman wants State Government to run buses http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/campbell-newman-wants-state-government-to-run-buses/story-e6freoof-1225839337936 ). Unless this is done we are just spinning down a spiral of mediocrity.

Enjoy the transport failure.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th July 2013

Re: Transport failure in SEQ - if the hat fits wear it!

Greetings,

On the day that Segways get the green light public transport in south-east Queensland continues headlong into the failure abyss.

Industrial problems on BT buses, not unexpected really is it?  Guess rail will be next ...

Brisbane City Council bus drivers to stop work for four hours over pay offer
--> http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/brisbane-city-council-bus-drivers-to-stop-work-for-four-hours-over-pay-offer/story-fnihsrf2-1226679803927

All part of the ' competitive tender / privatisation ' plan?

Here is a tip.  Segways will not do much for the transport failure.  Is this what we pay a lot of money for?  Failed transport leadership.

Don't fall over ..

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

14th July 2013

Transport failure in SEQ - if the hat fits wear it!

Greetings,

Time to speak up for the community.  Public transport is south-east Queensland is heading for more massive failure.  Already at rock bottom in terms of affordability, and stagnation in terms of patronage gains, more of the same failure that is now the hallmark of public transport in Queensland awaits under the leadership failures of the Transport portfolio.

The bus reviews and the consequent failures are a prime example of politics taking a priority over real community needs.

The bus changes that come into effect on the 22nd July 2013 via the so called ' BCC Bus Review ' are just mainly service cuts in effect without commensurate network gains ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10075.0 ). These changes are concentrated in Labor and Independent wards of course.

Promised a new fare structure by the Premier in January 2013 as part of the 6 month action plan, nothing of any real improvement has occurred.  The fact that many public transport services are transporting a lot of 'air' is something that the TransLink Bus Review was about fixing.  Under the TransLink Bus Review, patronage gain would have been very significant.  Alas we are now heading for more cuts and continuing unaffordability.  This is massively impacting on those least able to afford it - Pensioners, unemployed, families particularly - but all passengers are feeling the impacts of the worlds worst fare system. See --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.msg128854#msg128854 .

The Newman Government bleats about the money being short, well not fixing fares and the network is actually costing a lot of money.  Directly via patronage loss, more indirectly by impacts on congestion costs, health care costs as road trauma continues to worsen, and massive environmental impacts.  The Newman Government is a lot of rhetoric but little real action where it matters.

The media coverage of the TransLink Bus Review was largely hysterical poorly researched rubbish.  There were some exceptions, see http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9045.msg123362;topicseen#msg123362

This poor media was driven in part by the apparent 'gagging' of TransLink and the Assistant Minister for Public Transport.

What needs to happen is the Brisbane Transport needs to be removed from the direct political control of the BCC.  In 2010, the now Premier then Lord Mayor Campbell Newman was correct when he called for the State Government to take over Brisbane Transport ( Lord Mayor Campbell Newman wants State Government to run buses http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/campbell-newman-wants-state-government-to-run-buses/story-e6freoof-1225839337936 ). Unless this is done we are just spinning down a spiral of mediocrity.

Enjoy the transport failure.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[#Metro]

Cr Quirk, however, said Brisbane's bus drivers were already paid up to 28 per cent more than drivers employed by other bus companies.

They're not on the minimum wage... far from it.
Good to know my personal home rocket chauffeur is well paid. Thanks BT!!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th July 2013

Re: SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

Greetings,

The Transport Minister was quoted on the ABC News today as stating that Queensland could not afford $10 million to extend concession fares on public transport in south-east Queensland to the unemployed.  Such concessions are afforded to unemployed in every other state and territory of Australia, but not in Queensland.

Mr Emerson doesn't seem to grasp that the Five year fare path commenced in 2010 has made fares in south-east Queensland amongst the most expensive in the world and have caused patronage to stall.  Instead of increasing the fare box recovery (which was the aim of the Five year fare path) not surprisingly the opposite has happened.

The way to an improved the fare box is to actually get more people travelling.  This is achieved by improvements in frequency, accessibility and affordability.  This in turn, as in other states, allows for concessions for the unemployed.

In the Premier's action plan update there is a tick against 'a new fare structure for south-east Queensland'.  This has not eventuated actually.  It is a gross misrepresentation to claim it has.

To  increase  fares many times cost of living and wage increases does not make fares more affordable.  It is a sad indictment on a Government and a Minister who thinks it does.

To continue to allow cashed up commuters to rort the 9 and free journey cap whilst unemployed cannot even afford to get on board public transport is rather perverse don't you think?

Well that is south-east Queensland.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

7th June 2013

Re: SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

Greetings,

It is diabolical that the state Government plods on with the worlds worst fare system for south-east Queensland.

The evidence is clear, time to overhaul the system and get the public transport network back on track.

Money is being wasted as air buses run all over Brisbane.  The Newman Government is stamping itself as incompetent - bus review and fare review failures a standout.

Plenty of pics of the air buses here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9045.msg128315#msg128315

Very sad days for public transport in Queensland.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 27th June 2013



SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

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 has welcomed the change of off peak touch-on time from 9am to 8.30am weekdays from January 2014 but says more needs to be done (1, 2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The present fare system is simply driving people away from public transport.  This is clear with the patronage stagnation and fare affordability around record low levels."

"It is a minor improvement changing off peak touch on from 9am to 8.30am, welcome, but a much better proper fare review is needed.  The fares that operate on the Transperth System in WA are a good example of what can be achieved. Patronage is booming and the fare box recovery is much better than SEQ."

"We were hopeful that with the Premier's committment last January there would be a much more radical overhaul to drive patronage around the clock so that the fare box slide would be turned around."

"The bus review failures have made fare reform even harder now than it should be."

"SEQ fares are now amongst the most expensive the world.   We would hope that the Government and TransLink would re-think the fact that the 5 year fare path, commenced in 2010 has failed to reduce the subsidy which was its primary aim.  All that has happened is that patronage has stalled and we now have the most expensive fares in Australia and the world."

"7.5% is still much greater than CPI increases, when added to the previous massive fare increases of 20% 2010, 15% 2011, 15% 2012, 7.5% 2013 and as projected 7.5% for 2014 it is little wonder that fare affordability is at rock bottom. Compounded, fares have effectively doubled over this period."

"Many Seniors are struggling to use public transport.  Unemployed in Queensland do not have concessions as they do in every other state and territory of Australia."

"The free after 9 is being abused and is contributing to why high fare increases that have been applied."

"Small improvements to the failing fare system in SEQ are a start, but much more is needed to decrease the public subsidy, make public transport first choice not last choice, and in so doing generate massive macro-economic benefits through lessened congestion impacts and costs, reduced road trauma costs and improved health outcomes, and improved environmental outcomes."

"It is not rocket science!"

References:

1. Off-peak fares kick in 30 minutes earlier after commuters not satisfied with affordability  http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/offpeak-fares-kick-in-30-minutes-earlier-after-commuters-not-satisfied-with-affordability/story-fnihsrf2-1226670336463

2. http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/6/27/offpeak-trial-to-test-capacity

3. Transperth tickets and fares http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares.aspx

4. Current Senior fares in state capitals http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9122.0

5. Health care cards and concession fares around the nation http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9124.0

Contact:

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

[#Metro]

Great State. Great Opportunity.


http://www.michaelhanscom.com/eclecticism/graphics/2003/07/graphics/lalalala.gif

[ozbob]

Media release 17th July 2013



SEQ: Premier continues the fare charade ...

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 has said that despite a committment to a new fare structure for south-east Queensland in the 2013 first half year action plan, it has not been delivered. (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The final report on the Six month action (January-June 2013) claims a new fare structure was announced in the budget.  This is incorrect, all that was announced in the budget was that the fare increase for January 2014 of 7.5% was confirmed."

"The present fares in south-east are amongst the most expensive in the world, and the failed fare path since 2010 has just driven people off public transport at great cost to the economy."

"When Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell Newman suggested up 2000 express buses would use Legacy Way daily (2).  A false claim of course. Here is yet another false claim concerning fares."

"Sorting out the fares for south-east Queensland will actually reverse the fare box slide and save a lot of money. Maybe it is time to replace the present leaders in the transport portfolio with people that will act in the best interests of Queensland?"

References:

1. Plans and progress http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/plans-and-progress.aspx

2. Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell! http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7798.0


Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

18th July 2013

Greetings,

The excessive fare rises, the direct result of rejecting the TransLink bus review and paying to run air all around the city are crushing the family budgets of the poor and unemployed. The current rate for Newstart works out to be around $35 per day. Consider a simple 4 zone return trip for an adult on GoCard - it works out to be $10 per day. We have some of the highest fares in the world and fares are set to rise 7.5% again at the end of 2013.

For people who cannot afford a car, petrol, maintenance, registration and insurance, public transport is very important.

Concessional rates should be extended to health care card holders immediately. These cards are Centrelink means tested so there is little work for the government to do other than advise TransLink.

The bus network as it stands is politically, operationally and financially unsustainable. The TransLink bus review needs to be accepted.  This would drive patronage and efficiency, generating the savings to allow effective fare reform.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

16th July 2013

Re: SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

Greetings,

The Transport Minister was quoted on the ABC News today as stating that Queensland could not afford $10 million to extend concession fares on public transport in south-east Queensland to the unemployed.  Such concessions are afforded to unemployed in every other state and territory of Australia, but not in Queensland.

Mr Emerson doesn't seem to grasp that the Five year fare path commenced in 2010 has made fares in south-east Queensland amongst the most expensive in the world and have caused patronage to stall.  Instead of increasing the fare box recovery (which was the aim of the Five year fare path) not surprisingly the opposite has happened.

The way to an improved the fare box is to actually get more people travelling.  This is achieved by improvements in frequency, accessibility and affordability.  This in turn, as in other states, allows for concessions for the unemployed.

In the Premier's action plan update there is a tick against 'a new fare structure for south-east Queensland'.  This has not eventuated actually.  It is a gross misrepresentation to claim it has.

To  increase  fares many times cost of living and wage increases does not make fares more affordable.  It is a sad indictment on a Government and a Minister who thinks it does.

To continue to allow cashed up commuters to rort the 9 and free journey cap whilst unemployed cannot even afford to get on board public transport is rather perverse don't you think?

Well that is south-east Queensland.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

7th June 2013

Re: SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

Greetings,

It is diabolical that the state Government plods on with the worlds worst fare system for south-east Queensland.

The evidence is clear, time to overhaul the system and get the public transport network back on track.

Money is being wasted as air buses run all over Brisbane.  The Newman Government is stamping itself as incompetent - bus review and fare review failures a standout.

Plenty of pics of the air buses here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9045.msg128315#msg128315

Very sad days for public transport in Queensland.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 27th June 2013



SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

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 has welcomed the change of off peak touch-on time from 9am to 8.30am weekdays from January 2014 but says more needs to be done (1, 2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The present fare system is simply driving people away from public transport.  This is clear with the patronage stagnation and fare affordability around record low levels."

"It is a minor improvement changing off peak touch on from 9am to 8.30am, welcome, but a much better proper fare review is needed.  The fares that operate on the Transperth System in WA are a good example of what can be achieved. Patronage is booming and the fare box recovery is much better than SEQ."

"We were hopeful that with the Premier's committment last January there would be a much more radical overhaul to drive patronage around the clock so that the fare box slide would be turned around."

"The bus review failures have made fare reform even harder now than it should be."

"SEQ fares are now amongst the most expensive the world.   We would hope that the Government and TransLink would re-think the fact that the 5 year fare path, commenced in 2010 has failed to reduce the subsidy which was its primary aim.  All that has happened is that patronage has stalled and we now have the most expensive fares in Australia and the world."

"7.5% is still much greater than CPI increases, when added to the previous massive fare increases of 20% 2010, 15% 2011, 15% 2012, 7.5% 2013 and as projected 7.5% for 2014 it is little wonder that fare affordability is at rock bottom. Compounded, fares have effectively doubled over this period."

"Many Seniors are struggling to use public transport.  Unemployed in Queensland do not have concessions as they do in every other state and territory of Australia."

"The free after 9 is being abused and is contributing to why high fare increases that have been applied."

"Small improvements to the failing fare system in SEQ are a start, but much more is needed to decrease the public subsidy, make public transport first choice not last choice, and in so doing generate massive macro-economic benefits through lessened congestion impacts and costs, reduced road trauma costs and improved health outcomes, and improved environmental outcomes."

"It is not rocket science!"

References:

1. Off-peak fares kick in 30 minutes earlier after commuters not satisfied with affordability  http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/offpeak-fares-kick-in-30-minutes-earlier-after-commuters-not-satisfied-with-affordability/story-fnihsrf2-1226670336463

2. http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/6/27/offpeak-trial-to-test-capacity

3. Transperth tickets and fares http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares.aspx

4. Current Senior fares in state capitals http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9122.0

5. Health care cards and concession fares around the nation http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9124.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor published Queensland Times 18th July 2013 page 9

Increased rail fares are not a path to recovery

[ozbob]

Media release 20th July 2013



SEQ: Is it too late to save public transport?

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 has said the stalemate with the bus review and fare failures is now a major crisis and impacting on all citizens.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Data on the TransLink website confirms that patronage has stalled, fare affordability is at crisis point (1)."

"Despite service improvements with bus and rail, patronage has not increased commensurate with these increases. It has gone backwards."

"The so called Brisbane Bus Review and the mediocre outcomes and changes commence on Monday 22nd July (2)."

"There is something seriously amiss with a Government that allows our public transport system to disintegrate. Already this year traffic congestion has worsened considerably, partly because many people have been forced off public transport."

"Further fare increases as projected in this year's state budget are just compounding the meltdown."

"A more enlightened approach would see the fare box slide reversed, patronage climb and the benefits of reduced congestion, reduced costs on the health care sector as road trauma lessened and a fitter community overall ensues, and better environmental outcomes."

"What is a 'no-brainer' in most jurisdictions is ignored in Queensland.  Brisbane will suffer severe economic impacts of the present and worsening transport failures."

"No amount of spin is going to change the reality of failure that is being promoted and maintained by the Newman Government."

References:

1. Public transport performance data http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/public-transport-performance-data

2. Brisbane Region http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/seq-bus-network-review-2013/brisbane

3. 27 Jun 2013: SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014 http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10049.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Published Queensland Times 20th July 2013 page 19

Bus fares need rethink

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Newman Government the thumbs down

... About 46 per cent of people thought public transport was too expensive.

Of those surveyed who used public transport, most were dissatisfied with the frequency of services as well as the affordability ...

You don't say!   

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

28th July 2013

Re: SEQ: Is it too late to save public transport?

Greetings,

More damning evidence of the failing fare system in south-east Queensland this morning.

Sunday Mail --> Newman Government the thumbs down

... About 46 per cent of people thought public transport was too expensive.
Of those surveyed who used public transport, most were dissatisfied with the frequency of services as well as the affordability ...

Don't you think it is time the Minister for Transport acted?  Fixing the fares will drive patronage increases, will reduce the public subsidy, will improve the fare box and generate broader macro-economic benefits.

Segways are not going to sort it are they?

Best wishes,

Robert

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

Media release 20th July 2013



SEQ: Is it too late to save public transport?

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 has said the stalemate with the bus review and fare failures is now a major crisis and impacting on all citizens.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Data on the TransLink website confirms that patronage has stalled, fare affordability is at crisis point (1)."

"Despite service improvements with bus and rail, patronage has not increased commensurate with these increases. It has gone backwards."

"The so called Brisbane Bus Review and the mediocre outcomes and changes commence on Monday 22nd July (2)."

"There is something seriously amiss with a Government that allows our public transport system to disintegrate. Already this year traffic congestion has worsened considerably, partly because many people have been forced off public transport."

"Further fare increases as projected in this year's state budget are just compounding the meltdown."

"A more enlightened approach would see the fare box slide reversed, patronage climb and the benefits of reduced congestion, reduced costs on the health care sector as road trauma lessened and a fitter community overall ensues, and better environmental outcomes."

"What is a 'no-brainer' in most jurisdictions is ignored in Queensland.  Brisbane will suffer severe economic impacts of the present and worsening transport failures."

"No amount of spin is going to change the reality of failure that is being promoted and maintained by the Newman Government."

References:

1. Public transport performance data http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/public-transport-performance-data

2. Brisbane Region http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/seq-bus-network-review-2013/brisbane

3. 27 Jun 2013: SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014 http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10049.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Editorial Sunday Mail 28th July 2013  click here!

Campbell Newman has a long way to go

Campbell Newman has a long way to go

Premier Campbell Newman has acknowledged his Government has much to do to convince Queenslanders that they are on the right track, particularly with roads, public transport and hospitals.

A survey commissioned by the Government says just one in five Queenslanders is satisfied with what the Newman Government is doing.

It's a stark reminder of the fickle nature of voters. Mr Newman swept to power in a landslide and his reform agenda was embraced.

In general, he has made tough decisions and a solid start but voters want their politicians to try harder in key areas such as health and transport.

[ozbob]

Great State. Great Opportunity.


http://www.michaelhanscom.com/eclecticism/graphics/2003/07/graphics/lalalala.gif

Late state, great calamity ...

[ozbob]

More evidence of failed fare path ...

Public transport patronage trends in Australasian cities

--> http://chartingtransport.com/2010/11/13/public-transport-patronage-trends/

[ozbob]

A letter to the editor Queensland Times 31st July 2013 page 8

[ozbob]

Affordability continues the nose dive to oblivion ...

--> http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/open-data/2013-jun-snapshot.pdf

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

2nd August 2013

Greetings,

Ho humm ...


Affordability continues the nose dive to oblivion ...

--> http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/open-data/2013-jun-snapshot.pdf



Idiocy not to sort it ...  more fare increases is not fixing it.  Where is the new fare structure for SEQ as indicated by the Premier January 2013 in the six month plan?

Best wishes
Robert

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

[techblitz]

If you factor in that a LOT of the bus patronage is coming from uni students/school students...who are not even paying full price....these figures are somewhat hard to get around. How many FULL fare paying commuters are ditching PT. This would be the concerning figure and interesting to know.

Either way these figures CLEARLY show that fares are driving them away.....yet emerson etc. seem un-phased by it & jacking them up higher. Fare evasion will increase no doubt.

They obviously have some sort of backup ulterior motive to counter the next wave of fare increases...or at least they THINK they do 

[ozbob]

Media release 27th June 2013 re-released 4th August 2013



SEQ: Some changes to fares from January 2014

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 has welcomed the change of off peak touch-on time from 9am to 8.30am weekdays from January 2014 but says more needs to be done (1, 2).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The present fare system is simply driving people away from public transport.  This is clear with the patronage stagnation and fare affordability around record low levels."

"It is a minor improvement changing off peak touch on from 9am to 8.30am, welcome, but a much better proper fare review is needed.  The fares that operate on the Transperth System in WA are a good example of what can be achieved. Patronage is booming and the fare box recovery is much better than SEQ."

"We were hopeful that with the Premier's committment last January there would be a much more radical overhaul to drive patronage around the clock so that the fare box slide would be turned around."

"The bus review failures have made fare reform even harder now than it should be."

"SEQ fares are now amongst the most expensive the world.   We would hope that the Government and TransLink would re-think the fact that the 5 year fare path, commenced in 2010 has failed to reduce the subsidy which was its primary aim.  All that has happened is that patronage has stalled and we now have the most expensive fares in Australia and the world."

"7.5% is still much greater than CPI increases, when added to the previous massive fare increases of 20% 2010, 15% 2011, 15% 2012, 7.5% 2013 and as projected 7.5% for 2014 it is little wonder that fare affordability is at rock bottom. Compounded, fares have effectively doubled over this period."

"Many Seniors are struggling to use public transport.  Unemployed in Queensland do not have concessions as they do in every other state and territory of Australia."

"The free after 9 is being abused and is contributing to why high fare increases that have been applied."

"Small improvements to the failing fare system in SEQ are a start, but much more is needed to decrease the public subsidy, make public transport first choice not last choice, and in so doing generate massive macro-economic benefits through lessened congestion impacts and costs, reduced road trauma costs and improved health outcomes, and improved environmental outcomes."

"It is not rocket science!"

References:

1. Off-peak fares kick in 30 minutes earlier after commuters not satisfied with affordability  http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/offpeak-fares-kick-in-30-minutes-earlier-after-commuters-not-satisfied-with-affordability/story-fnihsrf2-1226670336463

2. http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/6/27/offpeak-trial-to-test-capacity

3. Transperth tickets and fares http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares.aspx

4. Current Senior fares in state capitals http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9122.0

5. Health care cards and concession fares around the nation http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9124.0

Contact:

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

Sent to all outlets:

2nd August 2013

Greetings,

Ho humm ...


Affordability continues the nose dive to oblivion ...

--> http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/open-data/2013-jun-snapshot.pdf



Idiocy not to sort it ...  more fare increases is not fixing it.  Where is the new fare structure for SEQ as indicated by the Premier January 2013 in the six month plan?

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Media release 10th August 2013



SEQ: High Fares a 'Segway' to Oblivion

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 has said the future of urban rail and public transport hangs in the balance in south-east Queensland.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The proposal to increase fares further by yet another 7.5% in January 2014 will be extraordinarily unpopular with the electorate. The very poor standard all day frequencies offered by most of the train and much of the bus network do not justify such a cost impost."

"The inability to reign costs in is a direct result of failing to get the bus review right. This failure has caused inefficient internal competition for passengers between buses and trains when buses should be feeding trains. The politically driven failure to reign in waste and duplication, particularly within the Brisbane Transport area just compounds the costs and drives people off public transport."

"Melbourne and even Perth are offering more train services more often to their people than we are. Embarrassingly they also charge much less too - take a look at the latest ad from Public Transport Victoria for instance - trains every 10 minutes on weekends on major lines (1) !"

"Further increases to fares will only reduce the number of paying passengers with no reductions in costs to maintain or operate the network further worsening the death spiral the network is now in (2)."

"Road congestion is worsening by the day in south-east Queensland with more road crashes.  No doubt this is partly related to the fact that many people have been forced off public transport due to the high cost fares."

"It is time the committment made by the Premier in the January 2013 Six month plan to achieve a new fare structure for south-east Queensland is actually kept!"

References:

1. Weekend frequency

2. SEQ Public Transport Affordability 'Death Spiral' http://backontrack.org/images/tl/farespiral.jpgSAEQ

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

[ozbob]

Affordability remains ' unsatisfactory ' ..  --> http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/open-data/2013-jul-snapshot.pdf

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Fed-up commuters swap go cards for car keys as price hikes continue

TRAIN travellers are abandoning public transport at a rate of 1.5 million trips a year because of the rising cost, overcrowding on peak services and a host of other issues.

Figures obtained by The Courier-Mail show rail patronage has plummeted from 55.8 million trips in 2010-11 to a projected 51.07 million this financial year - up from 50.2 million last year.

In the same period, the cost of a zone two fare has climbed from $2.70 to $3.85 - a 42 per cent jump.

Next year the cost will rise by another 28 cents to $4.13 following an across-the-board 7.5 per cent fare hike in January.

The annual rises have resulted in widespread discontent among commuters with fewer than half rating train travel as "affordable" this year in any of the monthly customer satisfaction surveys ...


... Transport Minister Scott Emerson said affordability was one of the biggest issues facing public transport in southeast Queensland.

"That is why we've halved Labor's (15 per cent) fare hikes and introduced free travel after nine weekly journeys," Mr Emerson said.

But Robert Dow from commuter advocacy group Back on Track said he believed the falling patronage on trains was part of a deliberate strategy to ease pressure on the rail system.

"Falling patronage is artificial because it's induced by high-cost fares. I think that's been quite a deliberate strategy since 2010, to make it costly in order to control patronage," Mr Dow said.

"That's not going to last forever because we're looking at an increase in fuel prices, so patronage will climb."

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

7th September 2013

Re: SEQ Public Transport Death Spiral Enters Terminal Stages

Greetings,

From a public transport perspective, things possibly could not be worse.   As has been observed in Queensland following the election of the LNP State Government there has been a paralysis of policy and kowtowing to the political hierarchy when it comes to public transport.

Who is to blame for the perilous state?  A number of factors.  Incompetent ALP state Government that set up the failure.  The present LNP Government that seems content to let the mediocrity continue.  The common thread, a transport bureaucracy more concerned with self absorption than promoting and convincing the political masters of sound policy development and its implementation.

The failed bus reviews is a good example also of poor media feeding a nonsense community hysteria.  It didn't help that both TransLink and the Assistant Minister for Public Transport were apparently gagged.  But what that failure did highlight well, it is time for Brisbane City Council to get out of public transport.  SEQ is a lot larger than BCC, we need a proper connected network. Something that the TransLink bus review would have done well.

An excellent example of policy failure is the non-duplication of the North Coast Rail line north of Beerburrum. Absolutely essential from the freight and passenger perspective. Massive bang for the buck, but we see ever worsening road congestion, damage, massive trauma and injury costs as the consequence of not driving sensible transport policy.

A fare system that in SEQ is remarkable as it is one of the best examples of the worlds worst fare structures.  Look at the TransLink data, affordability is the worst 'customer'  satisfaction index by a long shot. Premier Newman indicated the 6 month action plan in January 2013 that a new fare structure would be rolled out. Still waiting Premier.  Simply following on with the flawed ALP fare system has been an insult to all Queenslanders.  Rationing  and forcing people off public transport by price control is actually costing many times over.  Getting people onto public transport around the clock is very beneficial from an economic perspective.

With our new Federal Government clearly of the view that public transport simply does not matter, congestion  and transport failure is going to get a lot worse in all of Australia.

Brisbane is very low placed relative to other cities on the liveability indexes.  Rather than screaming "It's wrong ... "  accept that fact that public transport is one of the important components of liveability, failing road transport is not.  Fixing public transport is not necessarily expensive. It takes a little bit of commonsense and 'courage' ...

Enjoy the snags!

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 5th September 2013

SEQ: Public Transport Death Spiral Enters Terminal Stages



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 says SEQ's Public Transport system will break down in peak hour with the almost certain cancelling of Cross River Rail.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Tony Abbott's costings today shows clearly that NO urban passenger rail projects - including Cross River Rail - will be funded. Thus the rail system servicing suburbs adjoining the Cleveland, Gold Coast and Beenleigh lines will congest in 2016. Passengers are likely to spill over into the bus network which also cannot cope with more passengers due to the gross inefficiency imposed on it by Brisbane City Council's reaction to bus network reform. If the Federal Government won't fund rail, it seems safe to say that the Federal Government will also not fund the Mayor's bus link proposal either."



"TransLink must take back all bus network planning functions from BCC and so there is no ambiguity, legislation altering The City of Brisbane Act 2010 needs to be passed explicitly stripping BCC of all public transport functions - bus and ferry. This will allow bus network simplification to proceed along the South East Busway without BCC political interference. BCC should focus on roads, rubbish, rates and redevelopment."

"Queensland Rail should be instructed to consider high capacity signalling or other emergency measures (such as seat stripping) to prevent catastrophic system overload in 2016."

"The present policy of pricing people off public transport is about to come crashing down as petrol prices soar!"

"No amount of spin is going to cover up this mess. Chronic overcrowding and inconveniencing of tens of thousands of morning peak hour commuters on the Gold Coast, Beenleigh and Cleveland lines is likely to snowball into a potentially electorally fatal proposition for the incumbent Government in a similar way as the Frankston Line did in Victoria."



Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

Discussion on fares after the 10am news on @NewsTalk4BC today .. background --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.msg129781#msg129781 ... #qldpol #farefailSEQ #auspol

[ozbob]

Good wide ranging interview on News Talk 4BC.  Thanks Chris Adams and 4BC for the opportunity.

[ozbob]

Good wide ranging interview on News Talk 4BC.  Thanks Chris Adams and 4BC for the opportunity.

SEQ commuters abandoning rail

4BC BIG BACKYARD: Robert Dow from Rail Back On Track tells Chris Adams that South East Queenslanders are turning away from rail transport in droves due to cost, peak hour crowding, and other issues.

--> here!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th September 2013

Interview on 4BC

Greetings,

Thanks to 4BC and Chris Adams,  here is a wide ranging interview that well demonstrates the fundamental issues with our public transport network in SEQ.

SEQ commuters abandoning rail

4BC BIG BACKYARD: Robert Dow from Rail Back On Track tells Chris Adams that South East Queenslanders are turning away from rail transport in droves due to cost, peak hour crowding, and other issues.

--> http://www.4bc.com.au/blogs/2013-4bc-big-backyard-blog/seq-commuters-abandoning-rail/20130908-2tdi4.html#.UjCsET_LITo

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard 12th Sept 2013

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2013/2013_09_12_DAILY.pdf

Public Transport
Mr MULHERIN: My question is to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. I refer to the fact that the LNP's policy of free travel on the TransLink network after nine trips in a week was only supposed to cost $9 million. I ask: how much was expended on this initiative in 2012-13? Will the minister table documents outlining the true cost of this initiative?

Mr EMERSON: I am so pleased to take this question from the member opposite. Firstly, I would say to him, 'Refer to the budget. All the figures are in there. Have a look at the budget.'

Mr Nicholls: The annual report might help.

Mr EMERSON: Or the annual report, as the Treasurer said. This initiative is one of the most successful we have had. Let us go back to the bad old days under Labor in terms of public transport; the bad old days when the Leader of the Opposition was transport minister. Let us not forget what their policy was. Their policy was 15 per cent fare increases year after year after year.

I saw an extraordinary comment during the week from Robert Dow. Many members may know Robert Dow from RAIL—Back on Track. He was part of the Labor government's public transport advisory group. He made an extraordinary claim in the Courier-Mail the other day. Let us not forget that Robert Dow was part of the Labor minister's public transport advisory group. He was at the heart of the government and watching what they were doing. He was seeing these 15 per cent fare increases. He made this extraordinary claim which I think the Leader of the Opposition has to get up and deny because it is so disturbing. Anyone with constituents who use public transport must be worried about this claim. Mr Robert Dow said when talking about Labor's 15 per cent fare increases—
I think that's been quite a deliberate strategy since 2010, to make it costly in order to control patronage.

This is from a guy who was working closely with the then minister and now says that there was a secret plan from Labor to jack up fares to drive people away from public transport. What an extraordinary claim from Robert Dow. I have not seen the now Leader of the Opposition then transport minister get up anywhere in the media and deny the claim that Labor had a policy to deliberately drive away patronage. That is what Robert Dow claimed: that Labor had a secret plan to drive away patronage.

Why else would they be insistent on putting up fares by 15 per cent year after year? It remains their policy. Let us not forget, if Labor were still in power some of our constituents would be paying $1,000 more a year for public transport.
(Time expired)

Public Transport

Mr PITT: My question without notice is to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. I know that the minister has committed deliver a new public transport fare structure by July 2013 but to date has failed to do so. Will the minister guarantee that his failure to meet his own deadlines will not drive patronage on public transport any lower than the five-year low he delivered in 2012-13?

Mr EMERSON: As I said before, I love these dorothy dixers coming from the other side of parliament. They are just great. So I do thank the member for the question. They may have missed the announcement that we made about our latest initiative in terms of trying to deal with the fare issues that we inherited from the previous government, after halving Labor's planned fare increases of 15 per cent—we kept our election promise. Let's not forget what Labor's election promise was. Labor's election promise was to put fares up again another 15 per cent and another 15 per cent and it would have kept going on and on and on.

We are committed to not going back to the bad old days of Labor of 15 per cent fare increases. That is our first initiative. Our second initiative was—and, again, this was raised in a Dorothy Dixer earlier—free travel after nine journeys. The reality is that that is a great initiative that many people are going to benefit from. We kept to our election promise. We delivered on that. Again, that is something that the then Labor government derided, complained about and would not do. They were keen on their policy of 15 per cent fare increases every year, year after year.

Most recently, as part of our fare review, we have announced that we are bringing forward the off-peak period by half an hour in the morning peak from 1 January. Bringing the off-peak period forward by half an hour means that more people travelling a little bit later to work in that peak period can take advantage of those off-peak fares. Even though I have done media on it, even though we put out a media release about it, clearly the Labor Party and the Manager of Opposition Business ignored that issue, avoided that issue. They could not deal with it because we know that the only policy that Labor are interested in, still, is their 15 per cent fare increases.

We still have not seen the Leader of the Opposition get up and explain what we just revealed—that extraordinary claim by Robert Dow. All I heard when the Leader of the Opposition was responding by way of interjection was her saying, 'I wasn't the minister at the time in 2010. I wasn't the minister in 2010.' Well, I am sorry but she was a minister in 2011. She was a minister then when the policy was being considered in government. She was a minister in the cabinet then, but the reality was—

Ms Palaszczuk: Answer the question.

Mr EMERSON: And she does not like to talk about it—that Robert Dow, a member of her public transport advisory group, claimed that they had a deliberate strategy to drive away passengers from public transport, exposing Labor's secret plan to drive away passengers with their 15 per cent fare increases—an extraordinary claim. Defend it.
(Time expired)

[Stillwater]

Is not the issue that Mr Emerson et al are driving away patronage through high fares? 

[ozbob]

Is not the issue that Mr Emerson et al are driving away patronage through high fares? 

If something is already unaffordable for many (the only KPI less than satisfactory is ' affordability ' ) and fares are further increased by 7.5% (3 -4 times CPI/wage/pension increases) IT DOES NOT MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE ...

[Golliwog]

Is not the issue that Mr Emerson et al are driving away patronage through high fares? 

If something is already unaffordable for many (the only KPI less than satisfactory is ' affordability ' ) and fares are further increased by 7.5% (3 -4 times CPI/wage/pension increases) IT DOES NOT MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE ...

"Instead of hitting you over the back of the head with this cricket bat like those nasty Labor types were, we're going to gently caress the rear of your skull with this tennis racquet instead." seems to be the line they're trying to sell...

[#Metro]

What's Emerson's tagline going to be when Clive Palmer's PUP forms the QLD Opposition. Can't talk about Labor this Labor that ad nauseum.

[ozbob]

Governments are elected to manage the affairs of state in this case.  The ALP failed 5 year fare path is and was a disaster for public transport.

It is time that the LNP Government called it as is (ALP fare shambles) and fix it.  All they have done is just carry on with the basic failed fare structure.

The evidence is stark.  Time the festering mess was sorted.

I would suggest that if it isn't, there is a certain chance that they (LNP) will become very vulnerable at the next state election.

Believe me, part of the current thinking is that the powers to be are terrified that too many people might use public transport.  The answer is very obvious, maintain the premium peak (with some base adjustment) get the system working around the clock. The Premier made the committment last January, time for it to be done.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th September 2013

Mates or community?

Greetings,

In January 2013 the Premier indicated in his six month action plan that a new fare structure for the public transport in SEQ would be done.

We are still waiting.  The Government is just continuing on with the failed fare structure commenced in 2010, with a couple of minor modifications.

Increasing fares by another 7.5% does not make already unaffordable fares any more affordable.  Despite the nonsensical spin trotted out.  7.5% is many times increases in pensions, salary and wages.

There was an interesting revelation in Parliament this week --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.msg131375#msg131375

It is time TransLink, the Department of Transport and Main Roads, the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, the Assistant Minister for Public Transport and the Premier acted to sort out the failed fare path.

It makes no sense - economic or moral, to force more and more people off public transport onto the ever worsening maelstrom of road congestion, death and injury.

Can the real leader please stand up?

Best wishes
Robert

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

[Stillwater]

In his reply to Mr Pitt in the Parliament, Mr Emerson seems to be indicating that the LNP's reduction in the annual fare increase from 15 per cent to 7.5 per cent represents the totality of the 'fare review' as promised by the Premier.  It is an attempt by Mr Emerson to re-write history and, as usual, sink the boot into Labor with the 'it was them that done it' line.

He then goes off into cloud cuckoo land, ranting about how Robert Dow had somehow revealed Labor's 'secret plan' to drive away patronage by keeping fares high!

The halving of the fare increase was an LNP election promise, as was the free travel after nine journeys.  We then had some minor adjustments, such as changes to what constituted the 'peak period' – all fiddling at the edges.

The Premier's undertaking was made in January 2013 and promised a fare review, i.e. subsequent to the halving of the annual fare increase commitment.  And the fare review was promised to be completed by the end of July, or thereabouts.

Through his bluff and bluster, Mr Emerson is disguising the fact that he, as Minister, has failed to carry out a fare review (in addition to the reduction in annual fare increases) and do so in the timeframe specified by Mr Newman.

We have seen in the case of CRR that the Premier, essentially, took charge of the process to come up with a cost-effective bus-rail river crossing.  At precisely the same time as the Premier was announcing the changed CRR plans, Mr Emerson was still banging on publicly about how he was seeking funding from the Coalition for the old CRR-Lite, despite the fact that the new PM, Mr Abbott, had ruled out any federal funding for urban rail projects.  Mr Emerson was fighting a lost cause and Mr Newman realised this.

Premier Newman saw that Emerson's approach was getting nowhere, changed the paradigm to the new set of circumstances and forced Mr Emerson to change course.

As then, Mr Newman should now instruct Mr Emerson to conduct the fare review that was promised in January.  Clearly, the review was promised to be in addition to, and subsequent to, the halving of the annual fare rise. 

By fudging the facts and suggesting, wrongly, that the election commitment halving of the fare increases is in fact the 'fare review', Mr Emerson is undermining the credibility of his Premier.  And let's not forget that the Premier is Campbell Newman, ex-major. (Corrected)  He doesn't tolerate subordination lightly.

Mr Emerson's position (not to conduct the fare review as ordered by his commander) is indefensible and military-man Newman realises this.   He must intervene, as in the case of CRR to get the matter back on track, or discipline a junior officer / minister for not carrying out the fare review order issued in January.

[ozbob]

^ Premier Campbell Newman resigned from the Army with the rank of Major. 

His late father Kevin was a Lieutenant-Colonel, a fine Officer, and was also a MHR.
--> http://www.examiner.com.au/story/643255/former-minister-newman-dies/

[techblitz]

the 9 then free structure is a rather simple one..
make a certain amount of money off each passenger and then let them have their way with the network for the rest of the week...
Pretty basic and abused by only a small minority.

[ozbob]

the 9 then free structure is a rather simple one..
make a certain amount of money off each passenger and then let them have their way with the network for the rest of the week...
Pretty basic and abused by only a small minority.

The fare structure needs to be fixed.  Affordability has never been worse, patronage is sliding ...  failure I am afraid.

[Stillwater]

Thanks for the correction, Ozbob.  I also knew Newman Snr, the Lieutenant-Colonel.