Queensland fares

[achiruel]

We are arguing different value propositions. Same service for less $ versus more service for same $.

Network planning and frequency improvements should be done first rather than cut fares IMHO.

People are willing to pay for quality, we see that when people choose to take the car.

We're not getting more service though. We're getting more of the same crapola service. If there was actually noticeable service improvements, people might not be so loud in complaining, but we still have a redundant bus network run by the wankers at BCC, hopeless bus networks in outer areas that are largely only useful for school children and the retired, and a rail network that runs at 30 minutes frequency for much of the network, even contra-flow during peak times, and a fuking single track to the Sunny Coast and 90-minute off-peak frequency. No wonder the punters are p%ssed !

[ozbob]

Hear hear!

Consider these graphs

Patronage, went backwards until the new fare structure introduced.  Then a slight reversal of the stagnation.  Adjusted for population growth patronage actually fell around 11% over the decade.  This was the impact of the botched fare table.

Patronage was growing strongly until go card #1 arrived, with it's high cost fares.  It is very clear what needs to be done.

Don't forget there were TWO new rail lines added to the network as well.  The patronage is absolutely shocking.  Why heads haven't rolled is beyond my understanding.

The three key problem areas identified from the TransLink ' Customer Experience ' survey.

Affordability, poor frequency, problems with transfers. 









This is from our annual survey.  New fare structure introduced Dec 2016, which coincides with our 2016 survey point.  Affordability started to improve for while, but again is drifting back to unaffordable.  I would like to see this measure < 40%.

[ozbob]

For interest. When a certain Transport Minister states that 189 million passengers is a record, it really isn't.  The record was around 202 million passengers in 1945.

What he should state is that 189 million passengers is the most carried on the network since 1945/46.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1207736685447938048

[SurfRail]

For interest. When a certain Transport Minister states that 189 million passengers is a record, it really isn't.  The record was around 202 million passengers in 1945.

What he should state is that 189 million passengers is the most carried on the network since 1945/46.

The Gold and Sunshine Coast figures need to be removed from Greater Brisbane counts so the comparison is actually 202m with around 150m, as per the BITRE stats.

[achiruel]

For interest. When a certain Transport Minister states that 189 million passengers is a record, it really isn't.  The record was around 202 million passengers in 1945.

What he should state is that 189 million passengers is the most carried on the network since 1945/46.

The Gold and Sunshine Coast figures need to be removed from Greater Brisbane counts so the comparison is actually 202m with around 150m, as per the BITRE stats.

If we're going to be serious about statistics, much of the Greater Brisbane area wasn't even populated back then. Kingston was dairy farms, Caboolture was dairy farms, Redlands was strawberry farms etc.

If we look at percentage of trips taken, our current level is utterly woeful.

[ozbob]

Indeed.

This graph is very interesting.  The spike in bus patronage from around 2004 was due to the busway and BUZ routes being introduced.

Heavy rail has not really changed a great deal ...

Trams were very efficient people movers in their day.

[AnonymouslyBad]

Indeed.

This graph is very interesting.  The spike in bus patronage from around 2004 was due to the busway and BUZ routes being introduced.

Heavy rail has not really changed a great deal ...

Trams were very efficient people movers in their day.

2004 is also when Translink ticketing was introduced.

Train fares went up, but broadly speaking - given the amount of heavy lifting buses do in SEQ - most trips probably became more affordable.

And transfers actually became a reasonable prospect. The public transport network may still suck for transfers, but it's easy to forget just how unthinkable they were in ~2000.

[ozbob]

The introduction of integrated ticketing in 2004 remains TransLink's crowning achievement.  A necessary precursor to the introduction of the go card.  Contrast to the mess in Sydney. Integrated ticketing facilitated mode transfers.  The gain in patronage was on the buses.

From https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13554.msg223320#msg223320

I just checked my files from a forum we held in 2010. Alan Warren who then was Divisional Manager Brisbane Transport reported that the reasons the bus patronage doubled between 1999 and 2010 was because the introduction of the BUZ services, and the progressive introduction of the busways as the two key factors. The diagram below shows the growth in patronage on the upgraded BUZ routes (taken from Mr Warren's lecture presentation).

[achiruel]

Fare machines at Garden City/Upper Mount Gravatt not accepting EFTPOS, and the first bus I got on the card readers were down. Wonder if something went wrong with the fare update? 

[STB]

The introduction of integrated ticketing in 2004 remains TransLink's crowning achievement.  A necessary precursor to the introduction of the go card.  Contrast to the mess in Sydney. Integrated ticketing facilitated mode transfers.  The gain in patronage was on the buses.

From https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13554.msg223320#msg223320

I just checked my files from a forum we held in 2010. Alan Warren who then was Divisional Manager Brisbane Transport reported that the reasons the bus patronage doubled between 1999 and 2010 was because the introduction of the BUZ services, and the progressive introduction of the busways as the two key factors. The diagram below shows the growth in patronage on the upgraded BUZ routes (taken from Mr Warren's lecture presentation).

I find it slightly amusing that the 444 on that image is really the 440/441 which then later became the 443/444BUZ.  As a side note, I always thought that Route 450 would've been a far better contender for BUZing over the 440/441, which obviously was BUZed as a political promise - the Moggil area being a hardline Liberal electorate.

In saying that, the BUZing obviously had an effect, but it's not the be all, end all, with of course the introduction of integrated ticketing in mid-2004 helping to drive patronage, which also led to a lowering of the fares, in particular the private operators in the outer regions and parts of the rail network when integrated ticketing began.  Given we have integrated ticketing, there still seems a lot of resistance within the BCC region in particular from using integrated ticketing to encourage behaviours to change and get people to change different modes of public transport more often than many people do currently - hence why we still have a largely citybound network.

[verbatim9]

RBOT should continue to advocate for incentives and solutions in regards to regular Public Transport users.

This year will no doubt see a review of ticketing across the State as well as in SEQ  ahead of the smart ticketing roll out.

Sunday and Public Holiday caps for all Public Transport users.

Evening caps after 7pm

Acceptance of American Express cards for smart ticketing payments and touch on and offs

A submission should be put together and sent to The current Government and to the leader of the Opposition.

Then current increases inline with the Brisbane Metro inflation rate is fair and should be retained. But increases shouldn't be mandatory and occur each year.

[achiruel]

I don't really see the point of accepting AmEx. Almost everyone who has one will also have a MC or Visa, and the interchange fees charged by AmEx are considerably higher.

[verbatim9]

I don't really see the point of accepting AmEx. Almost everyone who has one will also have a MC or Visa, and the interchange fees charged by AmEx are considerably higher.

It's not just for locals but the opportunity for tourists to touch on with Amex. A lot of.international visitors carry Amex especially from the USA  NSW accepts Amex widely. It shouldn't be a problem here. It's just the Government will need to negotiate to accept Amex across all departments to ensure the best merchant deal is achieved.

P.s. People also like using Amex because the card is usually linked to lucrative airline point deals.

[achiruel]

If tourist access is a consideration, we'd be better off having Alipay and WeChat Pay than AmEx, considering forecast growth in tourism from China. I'm aware of.the rewards AmEx offers, but I don't think TransLink should be funding them by absorbing higher interchange fees. Yes, NSW accepts AmEx,.so what? They also don't have a properly integrated fare system, shall we copy that too?

[verbatim9]

If tourist access is a consideration, we'd be better off having Alipay and WeChat Pay than AmEx, considering forecast growth in tourism from China. I'm aware of.the rewards AmEx offers, but I don't think TransLink should be funding them by absorbing higher interchange fees. Yes, NSW accepts AmEx,.so what? They also don't have a properly integrated fare system, shall we copy that too?

The merchant charges would be on par with MasterCard and Visa when negotiated across Government departments. Much easier to accept Amex than Allipay and WeChat Pay as Amex uses the same payment technology as Mastercard and Visa.

USA is Queensland's number 3 for inbound tourism

The push is on to attract more Americans to Queensland by offering more than just sun, surf and sand. The new pitch will include a focus on our cities but tourism groups fear it's a tough sell at the moment with bushfires dominating headlines. @ElliottChipper #7NEWS https://t.co/9UZ2osMdIR

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1214105406462554113

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> No free off-peak travel for seniors on Brisbane trains

Brisbane seniors are unlikely to be given free off-peak travel on trains any time soon, after Brisbane City Council gave them free off-peak travel for ferries and buses.

A petition launched by Enoggera ward councillor Andrew Wines to the parliament requested the state government afford seniors the same perk for trains as for the council-operated buses and ferries.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey ruled out any immediate changes to fares for seniors, writing in a petition response tabled on Monday evening that TransLink would "continue to work with its delivery partners" to provide affordable transport, but free off-peak travel for seniors was "not under consideration at this time".

Brisbane City Council announced seniors would be given free off-peak travel for all council-operated public transport from October 1 last year, with lord mayor Adrian Schrinner estimating it would cost the council about $3 million in the first year.

"Currently, the Queensland Government spends approximately $5.6 billion on concessions each year, including more than $329 million on concessions and assistance to pensioners, veterans, students, people with a disability, and their carers to make public transport more affordable," Mr Bailey wrote to petitioners.

Cr Wines said Brisbane City Council had seen a 30 per cent rise in ferry and bus use by seniors since introducing the free travel times.

"The Enoggera community is a train community and our area would have got a huge benefit from it," Cr Wines said, adding Mr Bailey was "taking for granted" his own community, which was also reliant on train travel.

Commuters were faced with a 1.9 per cent fare increase across all public transport on January 6. The adjustment saw fares increase between 6¢ and 12¢ a trip for most adult Go Cards.

A single-zone trip on an adult Go Card increased by six cents to $3.37, while a senior fare is 50 per cent cheaper.

Off-peak fares are a further 20 per cent cheaper than peak fares for seniors, and operate between 8.30am and 3.30am, and between 7pm to 6am, as well as weekends and public holidays.

Public transport patronage rose by 3.58 per cent from the year prior, with 50.9 million trips taken between July and September 2019 in south-east Queensland.

Almost a thousand people signed the petition.

[Gazza]

Good.
Stop with the handouts.
Improve services in the suburbs.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Gold Coast public transport: Councillor calls for railway reform to slash commuter fares

A GOLD Coast councillor is accusing the State Government of "price gouging" train commuters travelling from the city's south.

Robina councillor Hermann Vorster has called on TransLink to abandon a so-called "train tax" on the Varsity Lakes station.

The city's most southern station is just 4km from Robina station but sits in a different public transport zone – by a mere 1.44km – meaning passengers pay more.

Cr Vorster said Varsity Lakes passengers were paying around 27 per cent more just to travel a short distance, something he described as outrageous.

"Varsity Lakes is the only railway station in this fare zone, so this is either an oversight or a sneaking revenue raiser," he said.

"I cannot understand why you would slug commuters with a 27 per cent premium while at the same time trying to take cars off the M1.

"By my analysis, the average Go Card commuter would be slugged $1500 a year more to catch the train from Varsity Lakes than they would from Robina," he said, adding that was based on Brisbane as the destination.

Cr Vorster this week wrote to Department of Transport and Main Raids director general Neil Scales calling for Varsity Lakes station to be considered part of the same fare zone as Robina.

He argued the move would take pressure off Robina station's busy park and ride service and encourage commuters to travel from Varsity Lakes, which is set to receive a multimillion-dollar expansion of its carpark.

Cr Vorster's push has won the backing of the state's leading rail lobby group.

Rail Back on Track's Robert Dow said there was a perception public transport fares were too high anyway.

"Affordability is an area which is not performing well because there is a perception that fares are a bit too dear in the southeast," he said.

"I do not see changing the zone for Varsity station to present any problems and there is a precedent of doing this in areas to make the fares more equitable," Mr Dow said.

"It would probably encourage more passengers."

It comes nearly four years after Mayor Tom Tate successfully lobbied the State Government at its 2016 Gold Coast community Cabinet meeting to simplify the number of fare zones in the region.

A Palaszczuk Government spokesman defended Labor's public transport investment on the Coast and took a swipe at Cr Vorster.

"As a former Young LNP president, we don't expect Cr Vorster to heap praise on our government's public transport investments on the Gold Coast," he said.

"When it comes to ticket prices, the Palaszczuk Government already subsidises about 75 per cent of the cost of each ticket."

[ozbob]

Good.
Stop with the handouts.
Improve services in the suburbs.

Here in Melbourne I have gone through around $16 (concession myki) and I have been travelling around very steadily for week in myki zones.  Helped by rail bus replacement being free travel.

I am generally happy with the fare arrangements for Pensioners in SEQ.  The one thing that needs sorting IMHO is the two journey cap.  That should be replaced with a flat daily cap to make it equitable across the regions.  Other than that fares are reasonable.

[Gazza]

IMO the main price gouge is putting the solitary Tweed Heads terminus stop  in zone 7, when zone 7 in other parts of the network is much further out.

Bob, I don't believe in shifting the zone sorry, yes there was precedent, but it created the spider legs in the zone system, and made buses and trains at the station in different zones.
The fare review finally got rid of these inconsistencies thankfully, so there is absolutely no way we should be introducing them again.

Furthermore, there is no avoiding the issue long term. Ok, so we shift the zone for Varsity. What happens when the rail is extended to Ellanora? Or Coolangatta?
Do we keep just  shifting the zone boundary or something?

Same thing with G:Link, Currently its all within zone 5, but once 3A is finished itll be into zone 6

[ozbob]

During the fare review task force they did consider making regions flat fares essentially for local travel. It was decided too complicated for go #1 but remains an option going forward with the new smart ticketing.
Point to point would also be equitable.

There is no way they will change the zone for VL. I said a lot more but that's the game

[Gazza]

Im also a bit wary at the moment about the way a few LNP local government candidates are stepping outside their jurisdiction and raising issues about rail fares.
Very convenient, they can drive a wedge, without ever having to take responsibility for implementation or pay for it out of their budget.

[#Metro]

All politicians seem to do these days is discount fares or carve outs.

All this will do is result in a cheap but barely there network.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/CrKaraCook/status/1215035896300335104

 

[#Metro]

^^ Wow, no sooner that I wrote it...

Here we go... Open season for all and Sundry  to destroy the PT revenue base and fare system with freebie mania.

Guess the RIP tram will be back and fare free Friday.

[Gazza]

The cross river ferries is one I have long supported.

Brisbane doesn't have enough foot bridges outside the CBD, so these ferries play the role of a bridge.
For active transport, you have to pay quite a high one zone fare to go 200m across the river as part of your walking or cycling route.

In fact, its cheaper to haul 2 tonnes of steel across the river at the Moggil Ferry, only $1.90 which is a joke.

If i had a choice, I'd have free cross river trips in preference to the free city hopper.

[verbatim9]

The cross river ferries is one I have long supported.

Brisbane doesn't have enough foot bridges outside the CBD, so these ferries play the role of a bridge.
For active transport, you have to pay quite a high one zone fare to go 200m across the river as part of your walking or cycling route.

In fact, its cheaper to haul 2 tonnes of steel across the river at the Moggil Ferry, only $1.90 which is a joke.

If i had a choice, I'd have free cross river trips in preference to the free city hopper.

The plan is for new Green Bridges in relation to active Transport. I rather money go towards New Green Bridges shared path infrastructure than subsidising Public transport further and making it free. It's just Polytricks from the Council Opposition.

[Gazza]

Once the bridges are built you would remove the cross River ferry, this would only be for about 4-5 years until that is done

[#Metro]

The plan is for new Green Bridges in relation to active Transport. I rather money go towards New Green Bridges shared path infrastructure than subsidising Public transport further and making it free. It's just Polytricks from the Council Opposition.

I am more concerned about this being a general attack on the fares and zone system, something that is really TL's jurisdiction.

There is a difference between being unwilling to pay and someone being unable to pay.

Talking about the network in general, people are prepared to pay for quality, and when you have quality, fares can come down because assets (buses, trains etc) are used more intensively.

If people were truly unable to pay, service improvements would have little or no impact on the patronage of a service (e.g. BUZ upgrades would show no/little improvement in patronage because few could afford to board). This is not the case.

The conversation we should be having is one that pivots from fares to one getting more BUZ upgrades to areas such as Yeronga, Bulimba, Albany Creek, Centenary and so forth.

If Council has money to throw at freebies which which is a value proposition of 'paying more for the same' and which won't generate any new service, then surely it could consider BUZ and CityGlider upgrades as well.

[verbatim9]

The plan is for new Green Bridges in relation to active Transport. I rather money go towards New Green Bridges shared path infrastructure than subsidising Public transport further and making it free. It's just Polytricks from the Council Opposition.

I am more concerned about this being a general attack on the fares and zone system, something that is really TL's jurisdiction.

BCC do not really accept TL network planning (e.g. CityGliders, Mt. Coot-tha 480, bus reform in general) OR fare policies IMO.

There is a difference between being unwilling to pay and someone being unable to pay.

Talking about the network in general, people are prepared to pay for quality, and when you have quality, fares can come down because assets (buses, trains etc) are used more intensively.

If people were truly unable to pay, service improvements would have little or no impact on the patronage of a service (e.g. BUZ upgrades would show no/little improvement in patronage because few could afford to board). This is not the case.

The conversation we should be having is one that pivots from fares to one getting more BUZ upgrades to areas such as Yeronga, Bulimba, Albany Creek, Centenary and so forth.

If Council has money to throw at freebies which which is a value proposition of 'paying more for the same' and which won't generate any new service, then surely it could consider BUZ and CityGlider upgrades as well.

The funny thing is that what would a voter in Ashgrove, Chermside, Indooroopilly or Carindale or beyond care about free Cross River ferries? Nothing! Plus they would be thinking what a waste of tax payers money. I bet they would rather a shiny new bus or upgrades to local infrastructure prior to free river crossings with the Ferry.

It wouldn't benefit many financially anyway, because people would still need to get to a ferry terminal by Bus or Car. So people travelling by bus to connect with a ferry have paid the fare anyway. They will be just paying again through rates and taxes to subsidise the people who live near the terminals and for tourists that also use them.

[#Metro]

The funny thing is that what would a voter in Ashgrove, Chermside, Indooroopilly or Carindale or beyond care about free Cross River ferries? Nothing! Plus they would be thinking what a waste of tax payers money. I bet they would rather a shiny new bus or upgrades to local infrastructure prior to free river crossings with the Ferry.

Ferries are a BCC symbol because unlike the rest of the network (here again is another BCC exception) they are contracted to BCC.

It is difficult to believe that money isn't available for tweaking the bus network... but plenty of $$$ for ~ 50 M bridges and free ferries.

Also, inner-city areas generally have higher incomes, so it is not as if people are struggling to afford to cross the river.

And is there really a dire shortage of bridges in the inner city? Why not use that money to but bridges further out or only use some of that

money and fix up the buses. Infrastructure is hugely expensive. Why are we doing this when what we need is service?

[Gazza]

Talking about the network in general, people are prepared to pay for quality, and when you have quality, fares can come down because assets (buses, trains etc) are used more intensively.

Therein lies the problem.
The Norman park Ferry for instance runs every 10 mins each direction (5 min over, 5 min back) so nothing wrong with the frequency.
But at $5.40 for a return trip (which face it, most people would be doing), it is objectively bad value for money, and disproportionate to what most PT users pay.

I am more concerned about this being a general attack on the fares and zone system, something that is really TL's jurisdiction.

Consider it like the free inner city loop buses.

If it was proposed that there were free journeys between a random pair of stations I'd agree with you.
But Brisbane is a river city, and we should be reducing the barriers to cross river travel IMO.

It wouldn't benefit many financially anyway, because people would still need to get to a ferry terminal by Bus or Car.

Ok so you are making two conflicting statements here.

The first is that you need a bus or a car, which is utterly false, you can cycle and walk.
This is evident by the trial of dogs on ferries. Clearly to get a dog on a ferry, you couldn't have come via bus.

The 2nd is that you are saying people have already paid, but at the same time saying it would be a major policy cost.

You are correct in saying that if people have already caught a bus, then of course the reader will deduct $0 for the ferry leg.

So then the only fares the cross river ferries would be yielding would be people making a cross river trip alone, as part of an active travel journey.
And these are the journeys where the current fares amount to a tax on cross river movement.

Why is it fair that someone who lives in Dutton Park can walk across the river for free, but someone at Guyatt Park must pay $2.70?

[timh]

Consider it like the free inner city loop buses.

If it was proposed that there were free journeys between a random pair of stations I'd agree with you.
But Brisbane is a river city, and we should be reducing the barriers to cross river travel IMO.

That's my thinking. IMO it's a bit of a nothing PT policy from the Labor candidates, but if you look at it from that perspective it makes a lot of sense.

[verbatim9]

Consider it like the free inner city loop buses.

If it was proposed that there were free journeys between a random pair of stations I'd agree with you.
But Brisbane is a river city, and we should be reducing the barriers to cross river travel IMO.

That's my thinking. IMO it's a bit of a nothing PT policy from the Labor candidates, but if you look at it from that perspective it makes a lot of sense.

It's not a sensible policy if Council has a plan to build Green Bridges in the next few years. It will just be a burden on the tax payer and rate payer. Plus put pressure on incremental increases of fares.

Off peak capping is the way to go for everyone to help increase loads on empty services after 7pm. Plus also allowing payments with American express. Rumour has it that American Airlines will start flying to Brisbane soon. Increasing the prospect of more American tourists that carry Amex.

[Gazza]

So what do people do between now and then?

[verbatim9]

So what do people do between now and then?

Pay. It's free anyway if you  transfer from a bus.

People have money to pay for fares.

Students and People on social welfare get 50% off. It's peanuts.

[Gazza]

Pay. It's free anyway if you  transfer from a bus.

But if you've read my posts, you'd see its about encouraging active transport by removing the cost barrier to quick cross river trips that are bad value for money.
Passengers that are not interchanging from bus.

It's peanuts.

It' not peanuts.
It's $2.70 to go 250m.

Equates $10 per km. Rip off.

[AnonymouslyBad]

Consider it like the free inner city loop buses.

If it was proposed that there were free journeys between a random pair of stations I'd agree with you.
But Brisbane is a river city, and we should be reducing the barriers to cross river travel IMO.

No, it's a much better idea than the free inner city loop buses. The money used to fully subsidise the city loop buses could be used for literally anything else and it'd be money better spent: commuters have already paid to get into the CBD, and for visitors, it's a largely useless route and overall makes Brisbane look like a city straight out of 1985 (which is true as far as BCC buses are concerned).

I think, free cross river ferries are a good idea but a healthy dose of cynicism wouldn't go astray in this case. It's an election promise, therefore, it's far more about optics than actual usefulness.
I don't think it will drive patronage: for the vast majority of trips it's meaningless (transfers), for the small number of actual point to point trips, the same people will be using it as always, just for free.
That said, the overall cost is small enough and the use case obvious enough (no bridges!) that I think it's more worthwhile than most other "free PT" efforts.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast trains: Councillor's war of words over price of train tickets from Varsity Lakes

A WAR of words has erupted between a Gold Coast councillor and leading State Government bureaucrat over the price of train tickets at Varsity Lakes.

The Bulletin last week revealed passengers travelling from the southern station paid 27 per cent more than those that get on at the next station on the line, Robina.

The stations sit in neighbouring fare zones, meaning those who travel from Varsity are forced to pay upward of $1500 extra a year. Area councillor Hermann Vorster wants to extend the Robina fare zone.

About 54,700 passenger trips are taken from Varsity station monthly.

Deputy Transport and Main Roads director-general Matthew Longland wrote to the Bulletin to dispute Cr Vorster's claims.

"It was disappointing to read claims that the State Government is 'price-gouging' customers when the cost of a trip between Varsity Lakes and Central Station is 31 cents cheaper than it was prior to the December 2016 introduction of Fairer Fares," he said.

"The State Government subsidises 75 per cent of the cost of each ticket on public transport across southeast Queensland, which costs more than $1.9 billion a year.

"A one-way trip from Varsity Lakes to Central Station or vice versa costs $13.79 with an adult go card, compared to $10.86 for a one-way trip on an adult go card between Robina and Central Station."

Mr Longland insisted customer satisfaction was high and there were no plans to alter fare zones on the Gold Coast.

Cr Vorster responded by describing Mr Longland's statement as "reading like a whistleblower's confession".

"It admits southern Gold Coast residents can pay 27 per cent more for a train ticket – and there is zero intention to fix the problem," he said.

"The bombshell revelation is the department surveys existing customers to inform pricing decisions – and not those forced on to the M1 because of price."

"That's like Event Cinemas asking audiences if like going to the movies and then giving themselves four stars just for asking."

Cr Vorster said Robina and Varsity Lakes could become dual-zone stations, similar to those in Brisbane.

"There are three dual-zone stations around Brisbane – but not one on the Gold Coast.

"Why is the Gold Coast being treated differently and why should Varsity Lakes Station be the only station that has its own zone? There is no justification unless it's all about Brisbane."​