18 July 2009: SEQ: TransLink and Government fail to grasp the big picture ...

[ozbob]

Media Release 18 July 2009

SEQ:  TransLink and Government fail to grasp the big picture for public transport to the Ekka

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 that TransLink and the Queensland Government have failed to properly think through public transport arrangements for the Ekka.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"It was confirmed in Brisbane media yesterday that Exhibition patrons who travel by rail direct to the Exhibition by rail will again have to pay an additional fare for the CBD to Exhibition leg.  Bus passengers will not pay this additional fare (1)."

"The RNA does not want to include a public transport surcharge in its ticket prices.  TransLink and Government need to look at the Exhibition as a special situation.  It is potentially a huge public transport journey generator.  Exhibition station is in zone one.  RAIL Back On Track has consistently called for a policy that is consistent with normal TransLink ticketing (2).  If a patron has a ticket that covers zone one they should not have to pay for an additional fare.  If you stop and think this through this is smart. If this was the policy it would actively encourage people to seamlessly take rail to the Exhibition.  As it is, many people break their journey at the CBD and transfer to the free buses.  Idiotic, and typically another demonstration of what is wrong with public transport in south-east Queensland."

"Other cities such as Melbourne and Sydney do not put surcharges on for travel to their exhibitions (shows).  They are truly smart and actively encourage patrons onto public transport.  Queensland is in a transport backwater!  By encouraging patrons to take public transport fare revenue overall would increase, and costs of road congestion and damage and environmental impacts will be lessened, and the reduced injury and death on roads would more than compensate for any notional loss of surcharge fares."

"This policy of requiring an extra fare for the Exhibition leg is also very confusing to public transport users.  They rightly expect if they have a ticket covering zone one, they can travel to a station that is in zone one.  Last year, I noticed Transit TransLink Officers on the Exhibition services first day of the Exhibition ready to pounce on unsuspecting patrons who having their normal ticket that covers zone one ticket but not the additional leg, are sitting ducks for a $200 fare evasion fine.  Acceptable?  Course not, and a sad indictment on our authorities and another reason for patrons to avoid public transport.  These practices build anti-public transport and anti-government resentment in the community."

"With the redevelopment of the Exhibition area generally, regular rail services will need to be introduced on the Exhibition loop.  This will then be normal zone 1 travel.  Why are we so backward?"

"RAIL Back On Track calls on the Minister for Transport to bite the bullet and put in place a common sense public transport policy for the Exhibition.  If a patron has a ticket that covers zone one, they should be allowed to travel free of further additional fare surcharges on their journey from the CBD to Ekka leg on all public transport!"

Reference:

1.  TransLink slams Ekka rail shame Brisbane Mx 17th July 2009 page 4
http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2316.msg12161#msg12161

2.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2316.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org