Airport fare potential miscalculation?

[awotam]

More strange goings on... travelled to the airport on Sat 28th Aug. Broke the journey at Central. Charged $1.44 from Sherwood, half off peak as I'd done my 10 journeys Mon-Fri for work as normal. However at the airport, was charged $7.50... wasn't aware that the 50% discount for more than 10 journeys also applied on the airport link? Coming back, $15 as expected when breaking the journey at Bowen Hills, and again charged $0.45 for the continuation to Sherwood. Not that I'm complaining... 

[dwb]

It had been in the past, but I'd thought only for a 'limited' time.... perhaps they thought it was worth keeping in place, the trial is still going, or when they upgraded some other software, something rolled back to that time when it was in place?!

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Airtrain rip-off a Go Card 'anomaly'

Airtrain rip-off a Go Card 'anomaly'
Tony Moore
October 7, 2010 - 5:00AM

Translink says it is working with Airtrain operators to fix a pricing anomaly.

A ticketing anomaly in the Go Card system has seen Airtrain passengers travelling direct to the airport pay up to $5.70 more than those who break their trip at Brisbane's Central Station.

Commuters who travel from Varsity Lakes to Brisbane Airport without touching off then on again at Central Station pay $30.40 on an adult Go Card.

However, by using their Go Card to touch off at Central Station, then touch on again for their trip to the airport, they pay just $24.70.

Translink spokesman Andrew Berkman last night said they were working with Airtrain, a private company that has run the route since 2001, to fix the "anomaly".

"It is just not good enough that people have to pay the higher fares," he said.

However, Mr Berkman said Translink had no plans to run buses to and from the airport.

A Go Card trip touching on at Cleveland and touching off at the airport costs $22.80.

The same journey, but touching off then on again at Central, cost $19.60.

From Ipswich to the airport is $23.40, but just $20 using the same Central Station technique.

Mr Berkman said price variations were a problem right across the network.

"But hopefully we can get it rectified," he said.

Airtrain's share of fare revenue comes from journeys between Eagle Junction station and the two airport stations at the domestic and international terminals.

Airtrain signed a contract with the state government before the rollout of the Go Card and receives no direct subsidy from the state.

Airtrain chief executive Chris Basche spoke to brisbanetimes.com.au very briefly yesterday afternoon and promised to return the call.

However, after follow-up phone calls it emerged Mr Basche went home without answering questions.

brisbanetimes.com.au had wanted to ask about the fare structure and whether Airtrain had plans to introduce any additional night trains to meet the 33 flights which arrived at Brisbane Airport after 8pm.

Queensland's Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said yesterday Airtrain was not meeting the needs of international passengers who needed public transport options.

Last night, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor provided a statement on the issue.

"I am happy to discuss the issue of adequate services for tourists with Airtrain and Queensland Rail and if there is a need for trains to run later," he said.

Currently, there are no public transport options to and from the airport after 8pm.

The airport's operator, Brisbane Airport Corporation, collects $2 every time a taxi collects passengers from the terminals.

BAC's Head of Corporate Relations Jim Carden said they would have "no problem" if Translink decided to run buses to the Brisbane Airport.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

And the fares ... Re: Follow Up Airtrain

7th October 2010

Greetings once more,

I note the Brisbanetimes has an article on the fare rip-off for unsuspecting punters. --> http://bit.ly/cJZH4X

This issue is not new is it?  See --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1304.0

At the very least there should be a statement on the TransLink website to the effect that if you break your journey at CBD/Eagle Junction (ie. touch off and then touch back on) then users will not pay an additional loading for travel on the non-Airtrain part of the network.  Only in the smart state ...  appalling.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[STB]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Airtrain rip-off a Go Card 'anomaly'

Airtrain rip-off a Go Card 'anomaly'
Tony Moore
October 7, 2010 - 5:00AM
Airtrain chief executive Chris Basche spoke to brisbanetimes.com.au very briefly yesterday afternoon and promised to return the call.

However, after follow-up phone calls it emerged Mr Basche went home without answering questions.

brisbanetimes.com.au had wanted to ask about the fare structure and whether Airtrain had plans to introduce any additional night trains to meet the 33 flights which arrived at Brisbane Airport after 8pm.

I must admit, I did find that part of the article rather amusing.    Not a good look on Airtrain when the CEO decides to head home after promising to call back for a vital media story.

[#Metro]

This must be Brisbane's worst kept secret. Seriously. Been going on for years.

[#Metro]

Could there be a simple solution to this?

Is Airtrain part of the TransLink network? If it isn't then bring it under TransLink.
Airtrain would be contracted to TransLink, like all other operators- public and private, to supply PT services.
All revenue would be collected by TransLink, just as it is with all other operators, and then paid to the Airtrain.

They might have to negotiate an exemption from the normal payment/km that other contracted operators have.

[STB]

Airtrain does not fall under the TransLink Contract.  I'd suspect it'd have to be done at a governmental level for this to occur rather than at a departmental level (TransLink).

There is probably some complexity with the contracts/legal mumbo jumbo Airtrain using Queensland Rail as a contractor (supplier of trains and train crews) and the BOOT which would be a signed contract between Airtrain, Queensland Rail and the Governement.  Ie: Airtrain could argue a loss of income if they were brought under different revenue conditions.

[STB]

Just further to my previous post.

As I understand it, Airtrain own the track and station infrastructure, and Queensland Rail simply provide the trains and train crew.  I'd say if that 35yr contract were to be ripped up there'd have to be some drastic reason that Airtrain could not fight within the courts for this to happen.  Also Airtrain would probably ask top dollar and some complex revenue sharing setup if Government decided that Airtrain should fall under TransLink.

And that's just the start of it, don't forget of the private bus operators who probably would lose quite a bit of patronage if Airtrain were to get normal TransLink fares.  The private bus operators could take legal action over loss of revenue.

So at an educated guess, not as simple as it may seem.

[ozbob]

I am sure some compromise could be reached with Airtrain under the BOOT agreement.  Unless something dramatic happens with Airtrain, service frequency and hours of operation they will possibly be at risk when Airport link is completed. This is no doubt playing on a few minds as well.

The present Airtrain railway line is a wasted resource, clearly.  They do receive a good deal in terms of trains, track and signalling support.  Imagine the costs if they had to run their own train fleet?  Let's cut to the chase, the service needs a major overhaul, including fares.

[#Metro]

The reason why I have proposed this solution is to allow TransLink to get a hold of the revenue stream first.
This will allow corrections to be done before the revenue stream flows into Airtrain's hands. Just like any other operator.
You never see, I don't know, Veolia or Logan City buses overcharge.

Yes it might lead to a loss of revenue for Airtrain. But the whole idea of the private train was to have no cost to taxpayers. Airtrain appears to be charging for something over which it has no moral right to charge for- carriage over public sections of the public rail system.

This is in effect, a hidden subsidy!

How would people like it if taxis began charging you depending on which bus you got off in the city and how long that bus route was? People wouldn't tolerate that.

Or if Clem 7 or The Gatway started charging people tolls for the length of car trips before reaching the tolling gantry, for trips on the public road network. Nobody would accept that!

[STB]

I am sure some compromise could be reached with Airtrain under the BOOT agreement.  Unless something dramatic happens with Airtrain, service frequency and hours of operation they will possibly be at risk when Airport link is completed. This is no doubt playing on a few minds as well.

The present Airtrain railway line is a wasted resource, clearly.  They do receive a good deal in terms of trains, track and signalling support.  Imagine the costs if they had to run their own train fleet?  Let's cut to the chase, the service needs a major overhaul, including fares.

I totally agree the Airtrain system needs a complete overhaul, I just have a bad feeling that it's going to be a legal minefield to get there, if it were to be forced upon by Government and/or TransLink and/or Queensland Rail.

[#Metro]

And that's just the start of it, don't forget of the private bus operators who probably would lose quite a bit of patronage if Airtrain were to get normal TransLink fares.  The private bus operators could take legal action over loss of revenue.

Some price reduction is possible. However, this is beside the point- I'm not arguing for TransLink fares in this case.
I'm arguing that the revenue stream should go first to TransLink and then to Airtrain. The fare structure could remain
unchanged (minus ripoff)

So it would be the normal TransLink fare + a special flat fee for entry on to the Airport train.

[ozbob]

Breakfast announcer Spencer Howson 612 ABC Brisbane just conducted a short interview on Airtrain.

Thanks for the interest 612!

[ozbob]

Breakfast with Spencer Howson 612 ABC Brisbane, Interview: click here!

Time to dump the Airtrain curfew, says public transport campaigner

07 October 2010 , 9:38 AM by Spencer Howson | Comments (0)

A 'wasted opportunity' - that's how Brisbane's air train service is being described this morning.

With only two trains an hour during non-peak times and no services after 8pm at night, our airtrain service is billed as one of the worst airport public transport solutions in the world.

But let's look at the night services - why do they stop at 8pm? Can you remember the negotiations that went on about this before 2001 when the Airtrain service started?

The message from community consultations was that the noise from trains at night would be too disruptive.

However, Robert Dow from rail advocacy group Rail Back on Track says that's no longer a valid argument:

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Airtrain night services 'too costly'

Airtrain night services 'too costly'
Tony Moore
October 7, 2010 - 2:42PM

The firm providing trains to Brisbane Airport has said it is too costly to run the service at night.

Airtrain services stop at 8pm despite there being more than 30 flights scheduled after that time on most evenings.

Company chief executive Chris Basche today told brisbanetimes.com.au those numbers did not make it viable to run extra services.

"The cost of operating additional train services is quite extreme," he said. "To run those extra services, there would not be enough passengers to offset the cost of providing the trains."

Brisbane Airport's total passenger figures increased from 13 million in 2001 to more than 19 million last year.

In September 2009, Mr Basche said Airtrain patronage had increased by 11 per cent to a record 1,889,549 people, an extra 250,000 passengers from the previous year.

At the same time, the company's profit increased 53 per cent to $7.4 million.

Airtrain and Translink today confirmed commuters are paying up to $5.70 too much using Go Cards to travel to the airport.

This payment "anomaly" has been in place since 2007, when the Go Card was introduced.

Mr Basche said there could be additional Airtrain services in coming years.

"In the next 12 to 18 months there might be one going at 8.30pm," he said. "As that [service] proves to be worthwhile, we will then move another one forward."

Extra services have been added since Airtrain began in 2001 and the company reviewed passenger numbers every month, Mr Basche said.

Mr Basche said any expansion of Airtrain would depend on Brisbane Airport's growth.

"It all depends on what the airport does. You will probably be aware that this month the flights from Japan dropped off," he said. "At the moment well over 90 per cent of people arriving at the airport are able to catch the train."

Airtrain has a "35-year concession" under a contract with the state government to run the rail connection from Eagle Junction station to the international and domestic airports.

Mr Basche could not elaborate on whether the contract included a clause preventing public transport accessing the airport.

A private bus company provides a shuttle service to all Brisbane hotels and to the Roma Street Transit Centre.

Mr Basche said the company was working towards fixing the payment irregularities

"Translink have acknowledged that anomalies with the fare system and we are keen to see that resolved," he repeatedly said.

"It is not an easy process, but we are trying to fix these variations."

Source: smh.com.au

Noise has been put to bed.  It essential that hours of operation and frequency are improved.  A bit of investment in providing a proper service would be returned many times over.  This is a huge negative for Queenslanders and tourists a like.  It also confirms the general failure mentality that grips public transport in south-east Queensland, further reinforced by the pathetic mode share targets in the Draft Connecting SEQ 2031.

[ozbob]

Mr Basche said the company was working towards fixing the payment irregularities

"Translink have acknowledged that anomalies with the fare system and we are keen to see that resolved," he repeatedly said.

"It is not an easy process, but we are trying to fix these variations."

Huh?  What is so difficult?  Airtrain can charge what they like from Eagle Junction to the Airport.  Extracting a premium from travel on a publicly funded  network is not correct.  I am sure it is a simple software solution.

Are there grounds for a general class action by commuters and tourists I wonder?  They have been neatly done over for years ... despite our best 'community education' efforts with respect to the rip-off since September 2008.  Government inaction on the fare rip-off is a major concern as well.

[ozbob]

From the archives ..   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=83.msg6016#msg6016

================

Email sent to the Minister, TTA, and all media outlets.

15 September 2008

Greetings,

The Brisbane mX highlighted the absurd situation with the rip-off fares on the Airtrain (mX 15 September 2008, page 5).  Thanks to the mX.

Amazing, the Minister for Transport's office says would not consider a rebate.  TransLink says it would not be an appropriate use of tax payer funds to subsidise Airtrain profits.

HELLO?  What on earth are taxpayers actually doing with the ripoff fares?  THEY ARE SUBSIDISING THE AIRTRAIN.

Also, what are the mate rates that Airtrain actually leases QR trains, QR crew, QR signalling system and so forth actually pays?  It is subsidised already by the taxpayer.  The taxpayer owns the public transport assets that Airtrain gets on the cheap.

Does Airtrain get 'gravy train' rates too?

The response from TransLink, the Ministers Office and Airtrain spokesman in the mX is very disappointing and misleading.  Pure and simple.

So we have the absolute farce of people using their go cards, or buying a paper ticket to Central or other CBD station, touching off and then going to buy another ticket so that they don't get ripped off.  Do we need any more evidence of the shambles that public transport ticketing has become in south-east Queensland?


Best wishes
Robert


RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
>
> Media Release 13 September 2008
>
> SEQ:  Why are public transport go card users ripped off?
>
> RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has said there appears to be a systemic policy within the former Translink, and now the TransLink Transit Authority to keep public transport commuters not properly informed when there are adverse cost impacts on their use of the go card.
>
> The public is already fed up with the technical issues and the poor fare structure, and the long history of poor communication and failure to inform when there are issues is now taking a severe toll on uptake and continued use of the go card.  RAIL Back On Track has recently highlighted the go card fare rip-off for connecting services to the airport (1).  A few months ago, when there was the time problem on the bus go card equipment, it took almost two weeks for Translink to alert commuters that there was a problem and to check carefully for incorrect charges on their go card (2).  This was despite our immediate notification to Translink of the problem.  RAIL Back On Track had limited success in publicising the problem prior to the belated official notification but many go card users lost significant amounts of money over that period.
>
> When users look at the fare structure for the go card relative to the present integrated ticketing and consider the failure to inform of earlier problems, it is little wonder then that many commuters are reluctant to use the new technology.
>
> Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:
>
> "Public transport commuters in south-east Queensland are  generally patient and are willing to be part of the new go card ticketing system for our transport network."
>
> "Unfortunately a building history of a failure to properly inform go card users as to issues such as the time problem on buses, and now the failure to properly inform about the fare impacts if they use their go card on connecting services to the Brisbane airport is causing much concern."
>
> "The clumsy refund process for incorrect charges on users' go cards is another example of a flawed system."
>
> "Urgent action is needed to fix the go card and re-establish public confidence!"
>
>
> References:
>
> 1.   SEQ: Fares on the Airtrain still don?t add up!   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1322.0
>
> 2.   Go Card - time issue and lack of official response   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=743.0
>
>
> Contact:
>
> Robert Dow
> Administration
> admin@backontrack.org
>
>
> For all RAIL Back On Track Media Releases please visit
> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=19.0

==============

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1304.msg6013#msg6013

From Brisbane mX  15 September 2008 page 5



Thanks for highlighting these issues mX!

[#Metro]

Huh?  What is so difficult?  Airtrain can charge what they like from Eagle Junction to the Airport.  Extracting a premium from travel on a publicly funded  network is not correct.  I am sure it is a simple software solution.

Is it even legal to charge someone for a service that someone else other than yourself provides?
How can they charge for journeys taking place outside their private rail alignment?
How much is this money per year? Shouldn't this extra fee or charge be made obvious upfront?

We have heard all this "we are fixing it soon" all before if I recall correctly.
And too expensive at night- really? QR has a surplus the trains sitting in the depot leftover from peak hour.

The poor frequency for general QR citytrain services also is hampering airtrain as will the airport link IMHO. They obviously have not heard of the Mohring effect.

Flat fee!

[ozbob]

The fundamental issue is the 'gouge' mindset.  Anything to do with major airports is seen as a financial gouge opportunity IMHO.

[Otto]

Luckily, we now have a bus service from the Redlands area to Brisbane Airport and the cost is resonable.. Call Veolia for details...

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Airtrain told to slash fares

Airtrain told to slash fares
Tony Moore
October 7, 2010

Translink says it is working with Airtrain operators to fix a pricing anomaly.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan has called on the privately-run Airtrain to slash its fares after it was revealed that commuters were slugged up to an extra $5.70 to use the service from suburban stations.

brisbanetimes.com.au yesterday revealed Go Card commuters were paying extra to take a continuous Airtrain trip to the airport, rather than switch trains or touch off then on at Central Station.

"I note Airtrain has recently repaid their debt, so this would be a perfect opportunity to cut fares for commuters," Ms Nolan said.

"But even if they don't, our Go Card means you can take advantage of Queensland Government subsidised travel for part of your journey, which cuts your fare.

"With paper tickets you couldn't do this, and you had to pay the higher Airtrain fare."

Meanwhile, public transport lobby group Rail Back on Track has repeated its call for Airtrain to be taken over by the state government.

Spokesman Robert Dow called on the government to examine a green subsidy scheme proposed in Airtrain research in 2006.

"The preferred position is that the state government just takes Airtrain over, it is integrated into the Translink network tomorrow, the hours of operation match the rest of the network and the fare structure is exactly the same as the network," Mr Dow said.

"That is just not going to happen."

He said growth at Brisbane Airport and the possibility of Queensland's hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games should encourage the State Government to consider the green subsidy to boost rail transport to the Gold Coast on a 24-hour basis.

In 2006, Airtrain identified five-year savings from reducing road crashes ($5.7 million), vehicle emissions ($800,000) and fuel savings (10.6 million litres) in a joint study with Queensland University of Technology and University of Queensland.

"If that is extrapolated up until today's environment it could be a real important driver in looking for some subsidy from the government for some additional services outside what Airtrain considers viable," Mr Dow said.

Currently, there are no Airtrain services to or from Brisbane Airport after 8pm.

Airtrain chief executive Chris Basche yesterday said the arrival or departure of 30 to 40 flights from Brisbane Airport after 8pm did not provide enough passengers to cover the cost of extra trains.

However, he predicted one night train would be launched within 12 to 18 months.

Mr Dow said the Queensland Government should be more proactive.

"The Gold Coast is such a rapidly growing tourist and leisure market, it's a 24-hour economy down there," he said.

"That could be southeast Queensland's first-ever 24 hour rail transport corridor."

Mr Dow also warned the Airport Link tunnel - which will ultimately connect the northern suburb of Windsor to the airport - could hurt Airtrain.

"Although they are returning a profit at the moment, with Airport Link coming into play in a few years, it could react quite negatively on them," Mr Dow said.

Airport Link includes a bus tunnel (the Northern Busway) and sources suggest there will be moves to provide buses to the airport.

Airtrain began in 2001, received its first profits in 2005 and posted a modest $7.4 million profit in 2009.

Airtrain's patronage by 2009 grew by 11 per cent to a record 1,889,549 people, an extra 250,000 passengers from the previous year.

The Airport Link toll project begins in mid-2012.

[ozbob]

Presently at BNE.  Travelled from Oxley to BNE Domestic using go card as single journey, deliberately to see if the fare rip-off is still in place.  Surprise, it is! 

For the Oxley to CBD leg I paid a fare equivalent to 94% more than what it should be.  Disgrace that this fare rip-off is still in  place.

On the return  leg I will be breaking my journey at Eagle Junction, this is only fair ... LOL.

[Fares_Fair]

... and Fares Fair !!   

[ozbob]

Tuesday: 4th January ... Presently at BNE.  Travelled from Oxley to BNE Domestic using go card as single journey, deliberately to see if the fare rip-off is still in place.  Surprise, it is!  cool

For the Oxley to CBD leg I paid a fare equivalent to 94% more than what it should be.  Disgrace that this fare rip-off is still in  place.

On the return  leg I will be breaking my journey at Eagle Junction, this is only fair ... LOL.

I travelled from BNE to Oxley earlier this afternoon.  I touched on at the Domestic airport with $14.21 credit,  broke my journey at Eagle Junction.  When I touched off the balance showed as -0.79 cents.   I then touched back on after a minute or so and my auto top up activated and back to positive (auto topup amount less the negative balance from the Airtrain fare).  I then travelled to Oxley and touched off, and was charged the correct zone 1 - 3 fare. 

So fare  rip off still in place, avoid by breaking journey into two trips.

[Fares_Fair]

G'day Bob,

Would it be worthwhile to add a detailed Airtrain section under the Smart GO CARD USER GUIDE 
covering the situation you describe, to save money for Tourists and regular air travellers ?

Perhaps another way to get the message out there.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

G'day Bob,

Would it be worthwhile to add a detailed Airtrain section under the Smart GO CARD USER GUIDE 
covering the situation you describe, to save money for Tourists and regular air travellers ?

Perhaps another way to get the message out there.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Yes, I thought about that but we have to be told this is going to be fixed (hopefully Jan 17 ...  and then wombats fly too ..).  If it is isn't we will make sure the message is heard (again!) ..

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th January 2011

Greetings,

I spent most of this week in Melbourne using public transport there.  Some details and photographs  here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5205.0

The myki is working well and has the worlds best fare structure.  If the go card had a similar fare structure there would be no problems with getting a 98% uptake.

The fare anomaly for the Airtrain is still in place.  There has been some advice that this is to be fixed but at the moment unsuspecting punters are still being done over.

Honestly, we have been highlighting this for years and still it is not resolved.  Not good enough.  Coupled with the relatively high fare cost and poor frequency and service hours of the Airtrain it is not an incentive for rail travel.   What a waste of a true 'congestion busting' asset, we just waste billions on roads ...

Best wishes

Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org


=============

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1304.msg44541#msg44541

Quote

Tuesday: 4th January ... Presently at BNE.  Travelled from Oxley to BNE Domestic using go card as single journey, deliberately to see if the fare rip-off is still in place.  Surprise, it is!

For the Oxley to CBD leg I paid a fare equivalent to 94% more than what it should be.  Disgrace that this fare rip-off is still in  place.

On the return  leg I will be breaking my journey at Eagle Junction, this is only fair ... LOL.

-----------------------------

I travelled from BNE to Oxley earlier this afternoon (7th).  I touched on at the Domestic airport with $14.21 credit,  broke my journey at Eagle Junction.  When I touched off the balance showed as -0.79 cents.   I then touched back on after a minute or so and my auto top up activated and back to positive (auto topup amount less the negative balance from the Airtrain fare).  I then travelled to Oxley and touched off, and was charged the correct zone 1 - 3 fare.

So fare  rip off still in place, avoid by breaking journey into two trips.

Media release 4 January 2011

SEQ: Still no improvement on Airtrain

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has called for the Queensland Government to offer Airtrain a reduced rate to improve off peak services.  Airtrain does reasonably well in peak times due to road traffic congestion and the fact that they provide a reasonable service at these times.  RAIL Back On Track doesn't support discounts for peak services.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track believes that it is not an issue if Airtrain's profits increase due to a reduced hire rate for additional services.  What is an issue is that a substantial amount of the State taxpayers' money that has been spent on upgrading the roads to access the Airport.  $327m was spent for the replacement of the Airport Roundabout (1), which doesn't include what was spent to provide the new Moreton Drive exit.  This is more than the whole airport line originally cost at $220m, even at current dollar terms.  This has not solved the traffic congestion on roads to and from the Airport (2).  Much or all of this money could have been saved if more passengers could have been enticed on to the Airtrain.  Airtrain have publicly committed to running more services if a more attractive charge than the current $460 per train was offered (3). Increased train frequency and hours of operation can only improve patronage on the line."

RAIL Back On Track suggests that a discount could be offered for the extra trains to increase off peak frequency to the Airport.  To put it another way, the current $460 per train should apply if the service is to be half hourly out of peak, and during peak times, but for a 15 minute frequency service in the off peak times, a charge of $299 per train should apply.

RAIL Back On Track believes that such a discount is justified because:

(a) No extra rolling stock is required.  It is merely properly employing existing under utilised rolling stock assets.

(b) Crews have to endure a 24 minute dwell at the Domestic Terminal station due to the single track constraints.  A 15 minute service would reduce this to 9 minutes.

(c) This would also allow for the reduction in the dwell time at Varsity Lakes from the current 32 minutes to 17 minutes with re-timing of the Gold Coast trains.  This is important not just from a crew wages point of view, but also as the current long dwell effectively consumes a space in the 7 space Robina stabling yard.  Reducing this dwell would allow for the addition of an extra peak service in each direction, or the re-timing of a morning southbound service into the evening to delay the onset of the hourly frequency by another hour.

RAIL Back On Track believes that at the reduced rate, Airtrain would like to operate at a 15 minute frequency until at least 10:30pm, and if so, the reduced rate could then apply to a half hourly service until midnight.  The 24 minute dwell requirement wouldn't apply after this as the Gold Coast line isn't running at a half hourly frequency any more in either direction.

References:

1. http://www.brisconnections.com.au/Portals/0/docs/ARU%20Media%20Release%20Premiers_090424.pdf

2. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/emergency-parking-to-ease-airport-bottleneck-20101223-196df.html

3. http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2010/10/airtrain-answers-its-critics.html?site=brisbane&program=612_breakfast

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[justanotheruser]

Mr Basche said the company was working towards fixing the payment irregularities

"Translink have acknowledged that anomalies with the fare system and we are keen to see that resolved," he repeatedly said.

"It is not an easy process, but we are trying to fix these variations."

Huh?  What is so difficult?  Airtrain can charge what they like from Eagle Junction to the Airport.  Extracting a premium from travel on a publicly funded  network is not correct.  I am sure it is a simple software solution.

Are there grounds for a general class action by commuters and tourists I wonder?  They have been neatly done over for years ... despite our best 'community education' efforts with respect to the rip-off since September 2008.  Government inaction on the fare rip-off is a major concern as well.

It may be a software solution but fixing the software is usually way more difficult then people realise.  Look at what happened with NAB bank recently where people were not receiving their pay and were being overcharged. That was a result of upgrading software.

[ozbob]

It may be a software solution but fixing the software is usually way more difficult then people realise.  Look at what happened with NAB bank recently where people were not receiving their pay and were being overcharged. That was a result of upgrading software.

The software can be easily fixed and I have had advice to that effect.  The problem is a little deeper than that, partly related to the initial contracts put in place and the failure to consider the need for change in the fare structure when TransLink introduced the initial integrated paper ticketing.  Government and others all acknowledge it can be fixed, just takes a committment.  

A sign of good faith would be for TransLink to actively advertise that breaking the journey saves users money (serious money on the long haul as well) if the intransigence continues ...

The fact that the rip-off can be simply got around by breaking one's journey is proof of the absurdity.

The other issue is of course with the 15% fare increase from Jan 17 it is imperative that this sorted as the rip-off will be even greater in terms of magnitude ...

[frereOP]

The solution is to change the fare structure so that the Airtrain component is added as a station use surcharge.  Yes I know they own all the concrete and steel between Eagle Junction and Donestic Terminal but in order to use that you need to alight at one of their stations. So put the Airtrain stations into Zone 2 (or 3) and charge the correct QR fare then add the station surcharge ($10 or whatever) and the problem is solved.  Much easier to do when daily tickets are removed as well because you can tell the bus driver to add the station surcharge.

This falls down where children (5-14) are traveling with a paying adult.  Under Airtrain's fare structure, travel is free for those children and there is no restriction on how many accompanying children and no restriction on the relationship between that adult and the children.  Excellent value for school excursions of 50+ kids I would have thought.

[Stillwater]

Would the software allow for the Airport stations to be deemed to be located in 'Zone 24'.  Travel between all other zones would be as now, but for passengers to venture into 'Zone 24' would attract a special fare exclusive to that new zone.

[Stillwater]

I am not advocating that a journey to the airport from Zone 23 would be a 'two zone' fare.  Zone 24 travel would be a flat fare, the existing fare structure for the ramaining zones to be as proposed currently.

[frereOP]

I am not advocating that a journey to the airport from Zone 23 would be a 'two zone' fare.  Zone 24 travel would be a flat fare, the existing fare structure for the ramaining zones to be as proposed currently.

Makes sense.  To go to Zone 24 from any zone you would need to travel THROUGH Zone 2 (Eagle Junction) anyway. 
Only problem here is that a single-zone fare (ie Zone 24 to Zone 24 - between INT and DOM terminals) is currently $5 for adult and $1.70 for children with no concessions but the Translink fare with a single zone is $2.30 Adult and 1.15 Child/Concession.  How would this work?

[ozbob]

Heading out to BNE tomorrow.

Checking the TransLink journey planner today.  Current fare situation from Goodna (zone 5).

Still worthwhile to break journey

Single journey costs

Adult

Go  $20.62

Paper $22.80

Concession

Go  $18.26

Paper $19.40

==============

Break journey

Adult

Go $4.72 + $15.00 = $19.72

Paper $6.90 + $15.00 = $21.90

Concession

Go $2.36 + $15 = $17.36

Paper $3.50 + $15 = $18.50

=============

[Otto]

Best place to break journey is Bowen Hills... Only a few steps to the Go reader..

[somebody]

Hmm, I remember that at one stage the gap was smaller.  Or perhaps my memory fails me.

[O_128]

Best place to break journey is Bowen Hills... Only a few steps to the Go reader..

Best trick is to by a new go card and put $5 on it. throw away the card at the airport and it only costs $10 

[somebody]

I wonder if breaking the journey makes it count as two trips for the purposes of the FUD?

[dwb]

Best place to break journey is Bowen Hills... Only a few steps to the Go reader..

Best trick is to by a new go card and put $5 on it. throw away the card at the airport and it only costs $10 

To the airport you *could* just not tag off... they don't know you've gone to the airport.  Coming back harder.

But this forum wouldn't be suggesting for people to evade the fare is it?