2016 fares

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Qconnect fares are showing as updated 7th December 2015

> http://www.qld.gov.au/transport/public/transport/timetables/qconnect/index.html

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

[Derwan]

Maybe it'll be a Christmas Eve announcement?

[ozbob]

Maybe it'll be a Christmas Eve announcement?

Nah ... there are no papers Christmas Day ... 

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Another day in the fare wilderness ...

Meanwhile ..

[BrizCommuter]

BrizCommuter's bet is that fares will be announced after the fare rise.

Though, given the current government is good at doing nothing, then hopefully we won't see a fare rise.

[Jonno]

[ozbob]

No fare increase for 2016.

From the Sunday Mail 20th December 2015 page 8

Price increase suspended

[ozbob]

No fare changes January 2016.

Current fare tables:

[ozbob]

Qconnect fares are showing as updated 7th December 2015

> http://www.qld.gov.au/transport/public/transport/timetables/qconnect/index.html

No change for qconnect fares in January 2016.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

20th December 2015

Good Morning,

Brief item in the Sunday Mail today, 20th December 2015 page 8.  No fare increases January 2016 pending fare review.

Price increase suspended



We thank the Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe and the Palaszczuk Government for this decision.

We also welcome the return to publication of the TransLink Tracker.  It is important that public transport data be available, and be easy to follow and understand.  Again another excellent move by the Minister and Government.

Thank you.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2015/12/20/public-transport-patronage-tracking-up-as-fares-freeze

Media Release
Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

Public transport patronage tracking up as fares freeze

The Palaszczuk Government today announced a freeze on public transport fares across South East Queensland until 1 July, 2016 while the independent Fare Review is underway.

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said the decision to freeze fares and not proceed with a scheduled annual CPI increase had been made to ensure commuters would not be impacted while the current fare structure in South East Queensland was being considered by the expert-led taskforce.

"The Palaszczuk Government is committed to restoring confidence in our public transport system and boosting patronage by delivering fair, affordable and sustainable fares across our network," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"That's why in August the Queensland Government appointed an independent taskforce of public transport experts to lead a comprehensive review of TransLink's fare structure in South East Queensland.

"In the spirit of fairness, while the taskforce continues its work, the Palaszczuk Government will suspend the projected annual CPI increase due in January 2016."

Mr Hinchliffe said affordability in public transport fares was a priority for the Palaszczuk Government because public transport patronage in South East Queensland declined under the former LNP Government – with two million fewer public transport trips recorded across the network.

"In stark contrast, public transport use has increased over the past few months under the Labor Government," he said.

"Public transport patronage increased by 3.1 percent between July and September 2015, with more than 47 million trips recorded on South East Queensland's public transport network."

The data was released today in the TransLink Tracker, a quarterly report of the performance of South East Queensland's public transport network that was scrapped by the former LNP Government.

"The Palaszczuk Government's decision to release the TransLink Tracker is about restoring accountability and transparency in our public transport network and overturns the former LNP government's decision to withhold this data from the community," he said.

Mr Hinchliffe said Queenslanders would have an opportunity to have their say on the future of public transport fares when the recommendations of the review are released.

"Queenslanders can be confident that the review will deliver a fair and affordable fare structure that will help boost patronage while delivering a sustainable fare revenue stream to allow the network to continue to grow," he said.

Public transport fares regional services will not rise in 2016 as the Bus Cost Index has not increased.

The Fare Review Taskforce is set to release its recommendations for community consultation early next year. Public transport patronage increased by 3.1 percent between July and September 2015, with more than 47 million trips recorded on South East Queensland's public transport network.

For public transport information, download the My TransLink app, visit www.translink.com.au or contact the TransLink call centre on 13 12 30, anytime.

[verbatim9]

That's good news

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Freeze placed on south-east Queensland public transport fares

Public transport fare increases have been put on hold in south-east Queensland as the Palaszczuk government waits for recommendations from an independent fare review.

The freeze comes weeks before the government's scheduled 2.5 per cent increase in transport fares, which were due in January.

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said the freeze was a "great win" for commuters, with the independent fare review taskforce, appointed in August 2015, expected to deliver recommendations by early next year.

"The Palaszczuk  government appreciates that fare affordability is one of the great barriers to even greater use of our transport system and we want to get this right, we want to make sure we have a system that works best for commuters, works best for the community," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"We genuinely recognise that affordability is one of the key barriers that is holding back our system, that is why we have the fare review underway, that is why we have frozen fares today, awaiting that fare review.

"We will make sure that we deal with affordability for transit users as well as reliability."

Mr Hinchliffe said the taskforce would look at zone areas in south-east Queensland, to ensure the cost of a journey reflects the distance travelled by users, who've increased in numbers by 3.1 per cent in the period between July and September 2015.

"The fare review will be addressing fares in a broader way, not just about what the price is, but how the different zones interact, how discounts for regular users interacts with a better deal for commuters overall," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"What we will see through the fare review is a change possibly in a number of ways the fares will interact with each other, the zones and making sure the fares reflect the appropriate costs for appropriate journeys.

"it isn't just about cost overall, it's about making sure fares and fit for particular journeys.

"We need to have a system that understands how the broad, large network works and that fares reflect the drivers for efficiency and affordability for all of the commuters on the network."

Mr Hinchliffe said an increase in fare prices was inevitable, in line with broader price increases due to inflation.

"We will see, over time, prices go up, prices of fares have always gone up, generally in line with broader price increases in the wider community," he said.

"That is the nature of the way that price increases happen across all sorts of costs people have in the sector.

"We want to make sure we minimise that but most importantly, make it fair for all commuters across the network."

The fare freeze, expected to last for up to six months, will cost the government $5 million dollars.

Shadow Transport Minister Scott Emerson criticised the review, and said last time Labor conducted a review into transport fares, fares went up 15 per cent.

"Commuters have to remember what Labor did last time they were in office; fares went up 15 per cent year after year after their review," Mr Emerson said.

"Whatever policies come in place, they have to show how they are going to afford it, " Mr Emerson said.

"What we said is that we would put up fares less than inflation rate, we were going to do that.

"Public transport users should be very fearful about what is to come."

The Palaszczuk government re-established the Translink tracker on Sunday, a quarterly report on the performance of the public transport network in south-east Queensland, in an attempt to show any changes that happen to the fare system are "fair and transparent".

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2015/12/20/public-transport-patronage-tracking-up

Media Statements
Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Public transport patronage tracking up

Public transport patronage increased by 3.1 percent between July and September 2015 compared with the same period last year, with more than 47 million trips recorded on South East Queensland's public transport network.

The data was released today by the Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe in the TransLink Tracker, a quarterly report of the performance of South East Queensland's public transport network that was scrapped by the former LNP Government.

"The Palaszczuk Government's decision to release the TransLink Tracker is about restoring accountability and transparency in our public transport network and overturns the former LNP government's decision to withhold this data from the community," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"It's fantastic to see that after three years of stagnating under the former government's watch, patronage on our public transport network is growing and is up by 3.1 per cent.

"The last TransLink Tracker report was released more than three years ago, and under the former LNP government key performance data about our public transport network was not published in full drawing criticism from public transport advocates and national organisations.

"The decision to publish the full report honours our commitment to the people of Queensland to lead an open and transparent government and provide people with an easy to access document that informs then how we are working to make their public transport journey better.

"The full report provides a snapshot of South East Queensland's public transport network performance and ensures full transparency about patronage, on-time running, customer enquiries, go card use, customer satisfaction, passenger safety, fare evasion and service kilometres.

"Through the TransLink Tracker, the community can measure how we are progressing towards our goal of providing a safe, integrated, reliable and efficient transport system."

The first TransLink Tracker to be delivered under the Palaszczuk Government for the 1 July to 30 September quarter shows patronage increased across all public transport modes.

Key highlights in the Q1 2015-16 report compared with the same period last year include:

    More than 47.09 million trips on the South East Queensland network - an increase of approximately 1.42 million trips
    A 430,000 increase in bus trips, 305,000 increase in train trips and 40,000 increase in ferry trips
    An increase of than 640,000 trips on Gold Coast Light Rail from 1.24 million to 1.88 million

Mr Hinchliffe said the TransLink Tracker confirmed that affordability remains the weakest performing category.

"These results show that affordability continues to be a barrier to growing patronage on our public transport network," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"The Palaszczuk Government is addressing this issue and has appointed an expert-led taskforce to conduct a comprehensive review of TransLink's fares to improve affordability and meet the government's objectives of promoting fairness, affordability and patronage growth.

"Today the government also announced a fare freeze until 1 July, 2016 while the Taskforce Review is underway to ensure commuters will not be impacted while the current fare structure in South East Queensland is being considered."

Mr Hinchliffe said that from today Queensland Rail would also proactively publish (external site) a suite of performance data on its website every month about punctuality, reliability, safety, security and customer satisfaction.

The TransLink Tracker is available online https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/translink-division-quarterly-reports

For public transport information, download the My TransLink app, visit www.translink.com.au (external site) or contact the TransLink call centre on 13 12 30, anytime.

[ozbob]

Twitter

ABC News Queensland ‏@abcnews_qld 2m

Public transport fares frozen in south-east Qld until review finished, Government says http://ab.co/1UQ86pX 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Public transport fares across southeast Queensland will be frozen for six months

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 6m
Robert Dow Retweeted Robert Dow

. @scottemerson @StirlHinchliffe #qldpol Proper reform takes time .. >>

=================
^

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 8m

Fares frozen pending fare review ...

> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11842.msg165858#msg165858 ... #qldpol Good move ... patience is a virtue say some

[ozbob]

Fare reform does take time.  Lazy simple fare cuts, as was the LNP policy, partly contributed to the mess.  Labor is not without blame, but for the Opposition Transport Shadow to try to scare the community is counter-productive.  It is no wonder the Newman Government with such a huge majority got voted out.  They still don't get it ...

Time you got a Shadow that understands LNP ...

[#Metro]

This is the election cycle. All the bad fare policies came immediately before an election.
Fare freeze then 20% increase after the election (Bligh; also tried in Victoria). 9-then waste policy. 7.5% increase by Newman and then 7.5% decrease as theatre before the election. Plus the straw poll about discounts vs more services.

Oh, and the massive rorting on the bus, people ENCOURAGED to rort by taking unnecessary trips.

Need 4-year terms, and prop. voting. Dampen down the bad policy for an extra year!

[ozbob]

Twitter

Leeanne Enoch MP ‏@LeeanneEnoch 19h

Good news, public transport fares in SEQ won't go up in the new year #SEQFareFreeze http://bit.ly/1ODlCs8 

[Derwan]

Does this mean that the new fare structure will be implemented on 1 July 2016?

[ozbob]

Does this mean that the new fare structure will be implemented on 1 July 2016?

No guarantees, but good chance I reckon.  It will depend on when the Government commences the community consultation and how long it runs for.

Opal will be going with a new fare structure from 1 July 2016.

[verbatim9]

Does this mean that the new fare structure will be implemented on 1 July 2016?

No guarantees, but good chance I reckon.  It will depend on when the Government commences the community consultation and how long it runs for.

Opal will be going with a new fare structure from 1 July 2016.

Will there be a chance to go paperless with the fare review? Offer more outlets to buy cards similar to what's been done in NSW with Woolworths? I guess a virtual card is also on the table with the current Go Cards system?

[ozbob]

No, removing paper ticketing was not in the scope of the present review > http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/fare-review-ToR

Increasing outlets is up to TransLink.

The go card is an old system.  It is very limited.  There will no major improvements in terms of products (eg. tokens - open payment, bank cards, phones, smart watches and so forth) until the NGTS.  My gut feeling is paper tickets will go when NGTS is introduced.

[verbatim9]

Cool thanks

[verbatim9]

Can RBOT recommend an upgrade to the EFT on all vending tickets machines to allow for NFC Paypass technology in preperation for the launch date of Android pay. I believe the interchange for the machines is handled by Westpac in which they have signed up to Android pay. Also recommend the all vending machines carry Go Cards and have a marketing campaign to encourage Go card and ticket sales at vending prior to hoping onto a bus. Maybe have a look at where vending machines are strategically placed? Still not one at Indoorpoopilly bus station? Is there one at Gold coast Airport at the Terminal Bus stop?

[ozbob]

I don't think it will be done in view of the NGTS on the way.  They are unlikely to invest any real money in the present system.

I will ask however.

[Derwan]

Can RBOT recommend an upgrade to the EFT on all vending tickets machines to allow for NFC Paypass technology in preperation for the launch date of Android pay.

NFC has been available on cards for years.  Android Pay won't add any additional incentive to add it.  But once Android Pay is introduced, it'll work on all NFC payment terminals.  In other words, all we need is an NFC payment terminal in every machine, which will be able to read NFC cards, Android Pay and Apple Pay.

This will hopefully happen with the NGTS, but will probably require an upgrade of every AVVM (unless they can be programmed to use the existing NFC reader to also do the reading for payments, but I dare say that they're discreet systems).

Maybe have a look at where vending machines are strategically placed?

This is one that I've been thinking recently.  The machine at South Bank is tucked underneath the station - not in the path people would take to either platform.  There should be a machine on each platform.

[verbatim9]

The Fare Review panel should also look at reducing the deposit on Go Cards with the over all fare review. I know the deposit was doubled because of users duping the system at the airport. Even a deposit reduction of 25% to $7.50 will be most appropriate and fair for all. I prefer $5.00 but looking at middle ground.

[James]

You could always increase the deposit, but make the majority of the deposit (say $5) refundable upon registration of the go card, or set-up of auto top-up. There's only so many people you can register a go card to.

[verbatim9]

You could always increase the deposit, but make the majority of the deposit (say $5) refundable upon registration of the go card, or set-up of auto top-up. There's only so many people you can register a go card to.

That's a good idea too and encourage registration/auto top up.

[techblitz]

Increasing outlets is up to TransLink.

who knows how translink decides locations....Math.random() about sums it up

TL have mixed priorities with regards to topup locations.....there is now a full service avm at redcliffe bus station which is good....buuuuut hardly gets used due to many people topping up thier gocards onboard the buses before they even get to redcliffe......

Yet....indro and inala with far more bus services passing through...continue to languish with substandard topup access.....i will add in moorooka shops as well...

Inala is having a real problem with youth fare evasion after hours...with bus drivers giving out a fare higher proportion of free rides than anywhere else....the amount of red "insufficient credit" beeps is mind boggling....translink assumes the BT drivers are pressing the fare evasion every time when they let them on for free....just isnt the case...drivers have given up shelling out lectures to out of credit riders and just let them on......the question is..how can this be fixed?

[James]

Inala is having a real problem with youth fare evasion after hours...with bus drivers giving out a fare higher proportion of free rides than anywhere else....the amount of red "insufficient credit" beeps is mind boggling....translink assumes the BT drivers are pressing the fare evasion every time when they let them on for free....just isnt the case...drivers have given up shelling out lectures to out of credit riders and just let them on......the question is..how can this be fixed?

Just allow on-board top-ups outside of peak hour, problem solved. Stuff the union - I think it is another example of the pettyness which exists on BT services that on-board top-ups aren't allowed. BT buses probably pass through some of the most affluent and safest suburbs in the state, but they're the only operator who refuses to do on-board top-ups for "security reasons".

In the long-term AVVMs will need to be installed at the major interchanges, and perhaps even a few termini.

[verbatim9]

Inala is having a real problem with youth fare evasion after hours...with bus drivers giving out a fare higher proportion of free rides than anywhere else....the amount of red "insufficient credit" beeps is mind boggling....translink assumes the BT drivers are pressing the fare evasion every time when they let them on for free....just isnt the case...drivers have given up shelling out lectures to out of credit riders and just let them on......the question is..how can this be fixed?

Just allow on-board top-ups outside of peak hour, problem solved. Stuff the union - I think it is another example of the pettyness which exists on BT services that on-board top-ups aren't allowed. BT buses probably pass through some of the most affluent and safest suburbs in the state, but they're the only operator who refuses to do on-board top-ups for "security reasons".

In the long-term AVVMs will need to be installed at the major interchanges, and perhaps even a few termini.

I noticed that on the Gold Coast too despite onboard top ups youths were taking advantage of free rides and bus drivers avoiding conflict and letting them on. Thought the free ride policy was more for school kids getting home. (Never be left behind policy)?

[techblitz]

yep verbatim ive witnessed a few down there..getting free rides along the highway on the 700...its pretty much ALWAYS young males trying to pull the swiftys........
The outbound salisbury station bus stop beaudesert rd is one of the worst stops in brisbane for attempted fare evasion as countless number of youths coming off their no doubt free ride on the beenleigh line try to get a free bus ride down to inala/acacia ridge...once again virtually no females...always young males.......this afternoon was good though......a young male 16-20yo tried to board at the stop on the 5pm 110 and pull a swifty on the bus driver(who was co-incidentally female) for a free ride......she didnt have a bar of it and told him to get back off...couldnt help but congratulate her and say more of her male counterparts could take a leaf out of her book