2015 Ekka

[ozbob]

>> https://www.ekka.com.au/

[ozbob]

TransLink - Ekka

>> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/event-transport/details/4341

Ticket and fare information

TransLink's Ekka travel ticket is the cheapest and easiest way to travel to Ekka. You can get to and from the Brisbane Showgrounds from anywhere on the TransLink network for just $6 for adults and $3 for children/concessions.
You can also travel to Ekka using your go card.

[petey3801]

No doubt using a go card to get to the Ekka will not trigger the $3/$6 ticket again this year. Also, no doubt the Ekka Wednesday will result in peak hour fares for a weekend service frequency as well, once again...

[Arnz]

^^

I believe that is due to the exhibition holiday being for the BCC area holiday (whereas it's a weekday for the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast).  If I do recall correctly there is also a separate exhibition holiday for the Outer Brisbane Metro area (excluding BCC).

[petey3801]

Very true, although the weekend frequency rail services span the entire region. Tis a bit rich charging people peak hour fares on the rail services when it's far from being peak hour service!

[ozbob]

When they have the Ippy Show Day holiday, no off peak fares around Ippy on that day.  And so it goes all over SEQ, with the rolling dates.

It is really probably just too complicated.

Still the $6 fare is reasonable for those going to the Ekka, if they can be bothered to seek them out.

[Arnz]

The Sunshine Coast Line still uses the Weekday timetable for the Exhibition holiday. (With some services downsized to 3-car on that day only, assuming a modified staff/train roster runs for that line).

[SurfRail]

Surely it can't be that hard to get the machines to treat all go card trips that end or start at Ekka as a $3 fare?  Inbound it just credits your card back everything except $3, outbound it takes $3 and nothing further.  Done.

The real solution should be to force the RNA to just put the damned ticket price up $2 so everybody can ride without tickets.

[verbatim9]

The airport gates charge a flat fare Ekka could as well

[STB]

Just had an unfortunate (almost shouting match) argument with the TransLink Call Centre.  I'm currently staying in the Redlands while my apartment is being renovated (in Springfield Central), and the problem I've got is on Monday 10th August, it's the local Ekka Holiday in the Redlands (and other regional areas).  The only route nearby is a local route to get to the station, however the area will only be running a Sunday/Public Holiday timetable, meaning that the first bus to get me to the station doesn't leave until after 10am - university starts on that Monday at 11am, and it takes over an hour to get there, and I don't have the cash to taxi it either given I'm a student.

The guy on the phone said that it was out of TransLink's hands and that Transdev can run whatever timetable they like on the day, of which apparently they have decided to run a Sunday/Public Holiday timetable, and that even though I know I live in Brisbane, he reckons that because I'm in the Redlands, it's not part of Brisbane, and so I'm bound to whatever the local operator throws at me, in this case a Sunday/Public Holiday timetable on a day when it's a normal working day in the city only 20kms from here.  I straight away retorted that I'm not living in Toowoomba or Cairns, I'm living 20kms from the city and in fact if I go up onto some hills around here I can actually SEE the city!  He said that it wasn't TransLink's problem and that he wouldn't put in a complaint about it.

This was the same response in regards to the peak hour fares, of having to pay peak hour fares but get a Sunday/Public Holiday timetable.  FFS!

[SurfRail]

Disgraceful.

[STB]

The crazy thing is if I was living in Springfield, I'd get a normal Monday to Friday service on the 10th August, heck even if I was living down the road in Logan, I'd get a Monday to Friday service, but because of imaginary lines of living in the Redlands, I don't get a Monday to Friday service so I can get to/from university (and I'm sure others will be needing to get to/from work/uni/TAFE etc - all of which will still be running in the Brisbane area).

I thought that this is a State Government service, I'd understand if it was a Local Government service, but even then, public transport shouldn't be bound by these imaginary lines, just because I live in the Redlands, doesn't mean that I should be a second class citizen of Brisbane, of which as far as I'm concerned, I am a citizen of Brisbane, I live 20 freaking kilometres away from the city!

[ozbob]

Ipswich show holiday is in May normally.  Same sort of issues.

SEQ is getting a little too large for despot show days wrecking havoc on long haul commutes ..

I am going to see if something can be done to get the situation reviewed. 

It seems at times that there is a conspiracy to force folks off public transport.

[STB]

Ipswich show holiday is in May normally.  Same sort of issues.

SEQ is getting a little too large for despot show days wrecking havoc on long haul commutes ..

I am going to see if something can be done to get the situation reviewed. 

It seems at times that there is a conspiracy to force folks off public transport.

Thanks .

I'd personally would prefer just keeping the Sunday/Public Holiday timetable limited to the Brisbane Ekka Show Holiday on the Wednesday and have the normal timetable in all regions at all other times, same with the fares, leave the normal fares for all other times and just have the normal off peak fares for the Wednesday.

[#Metro]

The Ekka has a long tradition of botching the transport arrangements - from penalty fares, dangerous platform overcrowding to firing rocket buses in direct competition with trains to train station car parks, we can only sit back and think about how they might mess it up this year.

[STB]

The Ekka has a long tradition of botching the transport arrangements - from penalty fares, dangerous platform overcrowding to firing rocket buses in direct competition with trains to train station car parks, we can only sit back and think about how they might mess it up this year.

It shouldn't be that botched though.  I understand the need for local rolling holidays to spread the crowds (at least in theory), however it should be relatively easy to just simplify the timetable and treat the Wednesday Brisbane Show Holiday as a normal State Holiday and hence have a Sunday/Public Holiday timetable and fares for that day for all regions, with normal Monday-Friday fares and timetables (with perhaps minus the school services) on the Regional Show Holidays.

[ozbob]

" ... go card can be used to travel to and from Ekka. Normal go card fares apply. Exhibition station will be zone 1 ... "


" ... The Ekka travel ticket is only valid for travel to and from Brisbane Showgrounds between Friday 7 August and Sunday 16 August 2015 .. "

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/ekka-time

Awesome hey?  If you had a flat fare on go card for people who touched at the Ekka, they might have gone somewhere else on the way!   How you know that with the ' Ekka travel ticket ' is beyond me ...

This is again another demonstration of how bureaucracy trumps common sense in Queensland.

[ozbob]

[STB]

Just got a response to my complaint on the TransLink Facebook Page.

TransLink Hi! I apologise for the inconvenience this has caused, although the customer service agent you have spoken with is correct. Unfortunately the service provider has chosen to run to the altered timetable and this is out of our hands. I have sent your feedback of to the service provider your reference number is #####. As the public holiday is not a state wide holiday the peak hour and off peak rate will still apply.

[ozbob]

^ If operators run their own timetables, as desired, why do we need TransLink ? 

That is a most unsatisfactory response IMHO.  TransLink must have OK'd the timetables I would have thought.

Queensland, crazy one day, gets worse the next ..

[#Metro]

If operators run their own timetables, as desired, why do we need TransLink ? 

Lalalalalalalaa... sleepwalking into the night....

[ozbob]

Media release 27th July 2015

SEQ: Ekka public holiday timetable mess causes headaches for passengers

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 highlighted the confusion that occurs every year with variable holiday dates for the Ekka holidays.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"During Ekka time, different parts of SEQ have different public holidays on different days, with some parts of the network running a peak hour timetable, whilst others have routes and services cancelled under a public holiday timetable (1, 2)."

"Having bits and pieces of the network only a few kilometres apart running different timetables on the Monday and the Wednesday is a complete headache for passengers. As a region of over 3 million people, thousands of passengers commute daily to workplaces outside of their home council area. For example, residents in Logan and Redlands, who have Monday the 10th of August as a public holiday may still be expected to be at work, school or university in inner Brisbane, where Monday is a normal business day."

"Logan City Bus Service will be having a modified Monday-Friday timetable on 10th August (Ekka Regional Holiday) while the Redlands, Transdev, will be having a Sunday/Public Holiday timetable on the same day except with the inclusion of the usual peak routes, which means anyone who doesn't live on a peak hour route or near a train station will be without public transport, and those who do will have to pay full peak hour fares for a Sunday/Public Holiday timetable."

"Attempts to raise these issues have been ignored, and TransLink appears to have washed their hands of the issue. Passengers are apparently expected to put up with a disconnected network on these days, and pay full peak fares for the privilege."

"It's also illogical to make transport more difficult to use on a public holiday where the very aim is for people to be out and about and going to the Ekka!"

"We call on the Transport Minister and Translink to have some common sense, and put an end to this issue, which happens every year."

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11565.msg159168#msg159168

2. http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/49716/details

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/media-releases/details/4531

Frozen fares for Ekka fun

Friday 24 July 2015

Ekka travel costs have been frozen again this year with the popular $6 adult and $3 child/concession Ekka travel ticket on sale today.

Ekka travel tickets are available for Ekka ticket holders at any attended Queensland Rail station from today and on board any TransLink bus (excluding pre-paid services) or CityCats and cross river ferries (excluding free CityHoppers) from Friday 7 August 2015.

TransLink's Acting Deputy Director-General Peter Milward said the popular Ekka travel ticket was great value for families travelling to the showgrounds — from anywhere on the TransLink public transport network.

"Public transport is the convenient way of travelling to the show with a stress free journey delivering people right into the heart of the action," Mr Milward said.

"For a family of four travelling return to the show, the Ekka travel ticket will save them up to $66 when coming from the Gold Coast, $49 from the Sunshine Coast and $25 from Ipswich.

"Dedicated shuttle buses will be in place once again and customers should check these full details on the TransLink website as some services may have changed.

"The Ekka loop train service between Roma Street, Central, Fortitude Valley and Exhibition stations will also be in place. Trains will run every 15 minutes, travelling to Ekka from 9am-8pm and from Ekka between 9am-10pm, except weekdays from 4pm-6pm when services will run every 30 minutes to Ekka."

Queensland Rail Executive General Manager Travel and Tourist Martin Ryan said as part of the loop service the pride of Queensland Rail's heritage fleet 'Bety', or BB18 ¼ 1079, will make a grand return.

"The steam train is always a fantastic drawcard for many show-goers and we expect to see many excited faces on board again this year," Mr Ryan said.

"Bety will operate every third or fourth Ekka loop service from approximately 9am to 4pm on both the Ekka weekends and People's Day, with train enthusiasts able to jump aboard with a standard Ekka train ticket or valid go card."

Passengers for Ekka must produce their pre-purchased Ekka ticket when buying the $6 or $3 bus, train or ferry return travel ticket.

Normal TransLink fares will apply for trips taken using go cards and single paper tickets, which can still be used for travel to and from Ekka.

For more information about public transport to and from Ekka, including dedicated Ekka buses and trains, visit the TransLink website at translink.com.au, or phone our 24/7 call centre on 13 12 30.

[ozbob]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1032617556756604

Queensland Rail

We're so Ekka-cited to get you to the show next month that we're bringing back our loop services.

From Friday 7th to Sunday 16th August, a special loop service will run from Roma Street to Exhibition stations (stopping at Central and Fortitude Valley stations) every 15 minutes from 9am. Loop services will operate half hourly between 4pm and 6pm weekdays.

You won't want to miss this Ekka-cellent event so please plan ahead: http://ow.ly/Q1fCP

[dancingmongoose]

Ekka timetables have been added to the journey planner

[James]

Goodness! They've cut the Ekka express buses to Beenleigh, Shorncliffe and the ones which directly duplicate the inner northern railway line. For once Ekka PT has been done right. No more endless buses of air being fired out to woop woop. Surely there has to be a catch? P443a to the Ekka? EK9 Jindalee via Legacy Way?

[BrizCommuter]

Wow - that is a move for the better! Maybe someone somewhere is listening?

[ozbob]

https://www.facebook.com/QueenslandRail/posts/1038004329551260

Queensland Rail

Don't forget you can board our steam train BB18¼ 1079 to the show with loop services running between 11am and 3.30pm today (9 August), 15 and 16 August, and the Ekka public holiday on Wednesday 12 August.

The same Ekka travel and fare conditions will apply as per travel on City network loop services. For more information visit: http://ow.ly/Qsa7n or call TransLink on 13 12 30 anytime.

[BrizCommuter]

New public transport related showbags at the Ekka!
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/ekka-better-but-translink-still.html

[Arnz]

One of the reasons why it's a standard charge on a Wednesday because it's a standard weekday on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and parts of metro Brisbane.  Along with the bus services operating on the Weekday timetable on the coasts.  Also to add the usual modified weekday SC rail timetable on a Ekka Wednesday (as per the past few years) namely to meet the bus connections at the train stations.

You wouldn't want the pensioners and students that are regular commuters on the local buses on both coasts, the G:Link tram commuters (and to some extent full paying passengers on all local bus networks outside the BCC area) save a few $$ on a Brisbane only holiday now would we..

[SurfRail]

My view - there should be no changes to services at all during Ekka week except for the extras.

[ozbob]

My view - there should be no changes to services at all during Ekka week except for the extras.

Be nice and sensible but hey, this is Queensland after all.

School buses obviously are not needed on days school closed but the rest of the network should be maintained I agree.

I live on the boarder between ICC and BCC, confusion usually reigns  ... paticularly because the Ipswich Show Day holiday is another time of the year as well.

Is the non gazetted public holiday really warranted?

[BrizCommuter]

One of the reasons why it's a standard charge on a Wednesday because it's a standard weekday on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and parts of metro Brisbane.  Along with the bus services operating on the Weekday timetable on the coasts.  Also to add the usual modified weekday SC rail timetable on a Ekka Wednesday (as per the past few years) namely to meet the bus connections at the train stations.

You wouldn't want the pensioners and students that are regular commuters on the local buses on both coasts, the G:Link tram commuters (and to some extent full paying passengers on all local bus networks outside the BCC area) save a few $$ on a Brisbane only holiday now would we..

The majority of public transport patronage in SE Queensland is centred around journeys to/from Brisbane CBD and surrounds. So charging Gold Coasters off-peak fares for peak timetables is a benefit for a minority of commuters. Charging peak fares for off-peak/weekend services in Brisbane is fraudulent in BrizCommuter's opinion!

Edit: Though if we had 15 minute off-peak train services on the Ekka Wednesday the peak fare would be less painful to swallow.

[ozbob]

Uh ... oh .. from TL FB page

16h

So many school kids who usually get the 574 at 3:30pm are stuck at the Hyperdome because there still isn't any 574 services for them on a Saturday... And people who are waiting for the 3:45pm 572 to Springwood are wondering where their bus is... This is what happens when you don't communicate or plan properly... I hate having to tell people that "it's a Saturday timetable" because they don't know because of the poor communication... Your Logan customers do not deserve this! — at Loganholme Bus Station

[ozbob]

An absolute farce ....   

[#Metro]

Well well well, all in the EKKA Tradition of stuff-ups! Comes with the territory.
Hopefully there is someone supervising them. Prevent a potential Daniel Morcombe situation.