6 Jul 2014: SEQ: Students need a break from the TTCC issuance failure

[ozbob]

Media release 6 July 2014

SEQ: Students need a break from the TTCC issuance failure

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 a significant number of full time tertiary students are experiencing difficulties obtaining Tertiary Transport Concession Cards (TTCC) in a timely fashion, and as a result are being denied their concession public transport fare entitlement on the TransLink network (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Despite Ministerial denials, it is clear there is a backlog, a delay in processing TTCCs.

"Feedback to RAIL Back On Track and elsewhere from students and student organisations indicates there is a real issue that needs addressing.

"Yesterday it was reported by ABC News that ' ... Mr Emerson told 612 ABC Brisbane on Tuesday: "I understand that there's no backlog at all; the longest it's taking at the moment is about 10 days to get a card."

Administrative staff at both UQ and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) said the wait time was "five or six weeks", even though they sent students' forms to TransLink in a matter of days ... ' (2)."

"Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track Robert Dow first raised the delays on ABC Gold Cost radio on Tuesday 1st July (3).  Claims of delays and bungling were dismissed by the Minister for Transport. Consistent feedback has now confirmed that the claims made by Robert Dow were correct and it is time that this failure was sorted. Many students are struggling and cannot afford the high cost fares in SEQ."

"The right thing to do here is if a bona fide full time student has applied for a TTCC they should be allowed to continue to use their concession fare entitlement.  Authorities could easily check a student's bona fides as required."

"Once the backlog with the TTCC is cleared.  A tighter enforcement policy would then be possible"

"The best solution in the longer term is a combined student ID card and go card. Similar to the combined Seniors card and go card. Hopefully this can be achieved in 2016 with the next generation ticketing system."

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10520.msg143894#msg143894

2. Queensland students fear $227 fare evasion fines, blame concession card backlog http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-05/qld-students-angry-over-ttcc-delays-transport-fines/5573270

3. ABC Gold Coast Interviews 1st July 2014 Mr Robert Dow, Mr Scott Emerson.
http://backontrack.org/docs/abcgc/abcgc1jul14.mp3

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10520.msg143968#msg143968

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

7th July 2014

Re: SEQ: Students need a break from the TTCC issuance failure

Greetings,

It is a no-brainer to resolve the present student Tertiary Transport Concession Card crisis.

When applying for a TTCC students complete an application form which is then certified by the relevant educational institution which is then submitted for the TTCC to be processed.

Allow the students to access concession fares using a copy of this application form, together with their student ID card whilst processing taking place.

Here is an interview on radio 4BC with Rick Burnett that I did yesterday to this effect.

Interview --> http://backontrack.org/docs/4bc/4bc6jul14.mp3

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 6 July 2014

SEQ: Students need a break from the TTCC issuance failure

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 a significant number of full time tertiary students are experiencing difficulties obtaining Tertiary Transport Concession Cards (TTCC) in a timely fashion, and as a result are being denied their concession public transport fare entitlement on the TransLink network (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Despite Ministerial denials, it is clear there is a backlog, a delay in processing TTCCs.

"Feedback to RAIL Back On Track and elsewhere from students and student organisations indicates there is a real issue that needs addressing.

"Yesterday it was reported by ABC News that ' ... Mr Emerson told 612 ABC Brisbane on Tuesday: "I understand that there's no backlog at all; the longest it's taking at the moment is about 10 days to get a card."

Administrative staff at both UQ and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) said the wait time was "five or six weeks", even though they sent students' forms to TransLink in a matter of days ... ' (2)."

"Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track Robert Dow first raised the delays on ABC Gold Cost radio on Tuesday 1st July (3).  Claims of delays and bungling were dismissed by the Minister for Transport. Consistent feedback has now confirmed that the claims made by Robert Dow were correct and it is time that this failure was sorted. Many students are struggling and cannot afford the high cost fares in SEQ."

"The right thing to do here is if a bona fide full time student has applied for a TTCC they should be allowed to continue to use their concession fare entitlement.  Authorities could easily check a student's bona fides as required."

"Once the backlog with the TTCC is cleared.  A tighter enforcement policy would then be possible"

"The best solution in the longer term is a combined student ID card and go card. Similar to the combined Seniors card and go card. Hopefully this can be achieved in 2016 with the next generation ticketing system."

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10520.msg143894#msg143894

2. Queensland students fear $227 fare evasion fines, blame concession card backlog http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-05/qld-students-angry-over-ttcc-delays-transport-fines/5573270

3. ABC Gold Coast Interviews 1st July 2014 Mr Robert Dow, Mr Scott Emerson.
http://backontrack.org/docs/abcgc/abcgc1jul14.mp3

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

4th November 2015

SEQ: Students need a break from the TTCC issuance failure

Good Morning,

Good to see commonsense has finally prevailed with the TTCC.

Tertiary Transport Concession Card scrapped
http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2015/11/4/tertiary-transport-concession-card-scrapped?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Well done Deputy Premier!

And thank you.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 6 July 2014

SEQ: Students need a break from the TTCC issuance failure

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 a significant number of full time tertiary students are experiencing difficulties obtaining Tertiary Transport Concession Cards (TTCC) in a timely fashion, and as a result are being denied their concession public transport fare entitlement on the TransLink network (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Despite Ministerial denials, it is clear there is a backlog, a delay in processing TTCCs.

"Feedback to RAIL Back On Track and elsewhere from students and student organisations indicates there is a real issue that needs addressing.

"Yesterday it was reported by ABC News that ' ... Mr Emerson told 612 ABC Brisbane on Tuesday: "I understand that there's no backlog at all; the longest it's taking at the moment is about 10 days to get a card."

Administrative staff at both UQ and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) said the wait time was "five or six weeks", even though they sent students' forms to TransLink in a matter of days ... ' (2)."

"Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track Robert Dow first raised the delays on ABC Gold Cost radio on Tuesday 1st July (3).  Claims of delays and bungling were dismissed by the Minister for Transport. Consistent feedback has now confirmed that the claims made by Robert Dow were correct and it is time that this failure was sorted. Many students are struggling and cannot afford the high cost fares in SEQ."

"The right thing to do here is if a bona fide full time student has applied for a TTCC they should be allowed to continue to use their concession fare entitlement.  Authorities could easily check a student's bona fides as required."

"Once the backlog with the TTCC is cleared.  A tighter enforcement policy would then be possible"

"The best solution in the longer term is a combined student ID card and go card. Similar to the combined Seniors card and go card. Hopefully this can be achieved in 2016 with the next generation ticketing system."

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10520.msg143894#msg143894

2. Queensland students fear $227 fare evasion fines, blame concession card backlog http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-05/qld-students-angry-over-ttcc-delays-transport-fines/5573270

3. ABC Gold Coast Interviews 1st July 2014 Mr Robert Dow, Mr Scott Emerson.
http://backontrack.org/docs/abcgc/abcgc1jul14.mp3

Contact:

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