New fare strategy - articles and discussion

[Mozz]

Made a few complaints to Translink in the beginning of the gocard re the oxley bus/train issue - if you live in Inala (suburb directly adjacent to Oxley) and use the train, you get off at Oxley in Zone 3, transfer to a bus which will debit a zone 4, then get off at Inala and cop a zone 5 .... needless to say living at Oxley near the station, I never catch public transport to the Inala civic centre when I go there.

[somebody]

That graph of Simon's is misleading, as most commuters travelling long distances would have had some form of periodical, and have lost a significantly larger discount than was available to others.

Excuse me?  I included the periodicals.

[dwb]

That graph of Simon's is misleading, as most commuters travelling long distances would have had some form of periodical, and have lost a significantly larger discount than was available to others.

Excuse me?  I included the periodicals.

Yeah i realise this, and thank you for the graph, it is useful and interesting, I just think it isn't painting the right picture, it's kind of like that graph that Campbell held up at some press conference painted in blue and yellow saying how many new buses there were... didn't say anything about who paid for them, or the fact that they were running in more congestion than ever thanks to his removal of and refusal to install new, bus lanes/priority. Graphs, just like maps, paint a story, and I think we need to be careful we're telling the right stories.

[Fares_Fair]

What was the source of the data used for the graph?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[dwb]

Simon has taken the ticket prices from the various years, then worked out the multiplication factor... if I dug around I could probably give you some of the similar data... however maybe simon could provide the spreadsheet with the raw data he used?

[somebody]

What was the source of the data used for the graph?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Translink's website + web archive of TL's website from 2004.

[morb]

re. reply #16 in this thread: http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2877.msg14961#msg14961, which contained the October 2009 ministerial press release:

Fares will also be increased by 15% per annum over the next five years, so we can keep rolling out more and better services.

I'm trying to find the origins of the justification behind this 5 year fare path, and the closest I've got to the source is that quote.

Google leads me to another hints as to its justification:  http://www.ptx2uitp.org/sites/default/files/showcase_pdf/8_australia.pdf:

Prior to implementation of TransLinks 5 year fare path strategy, extensive modelling was carried out to determine price elasticity.

Does anyone have a copy of the "extensive modelling" report that justifies the 5 year fare path?  Or a link?

[ozbob]

Welcome Morb!  I don't have anything I recall, but have you tried searching on the Queensland Parliament web site, it might be a tabled document.  It is the Government's plan ultimately .

[morb]

Thanks Bob for hosting the discussion.

I've had a fair crack at the tabled papers search, without any success at the moment.  I just thought surely it had been already sought and obtained by the RBOT community before now?

It's just that the headline rate, significantly above CPI, really seems to have had little robust discussion as to its origins.  To me, a robust discussion is the kind of thing the rail timetables got in a published 2007 report.

I've also had a look at some of the historical budget papers and the RTI section of both TMR and Translink.  It's too easy to blow a whole weekends' worth of time in pursuit.

Looks like an RTI application is on the cards if I'm $40 worth of seriousness.

[Fares_Fair]

I have the source statement .. wait here.
Rachel Nolan made it in 2009.
They were to reduce the Government subsidisation of PT from 75% back to 70%.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Here it is .. (and an RTI is $38.00)

Rachel Nolan MP, the previous Transport Minister said on 15 October 2009;
This text is about 3/4 way down the statement.

"the fare strategy also aimed to return the State Government's per-trip subsidy from 75 per cent back to 70 per cent
within five years. To help reach that goal fares will increase 15% a year from 2011 to 2014 – or around 40 cents to 60 cents a year for a typical two-zone ticket."

Source Ministerial Media Statement, see link in blue below;

http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/mms/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=66877


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

From the South West News 18th January 2012 page 5

Fare pain driving jump in car trips

[#Metro]

^^^

This is the legacy of running a bus from every suburb and a rocket for every suburb all to the centre. You need a bus ($500 000 - $750 000) that only gets used for a few hours, labour for a short shift, lots of buses....

It is also the legacy of not removing deadwood.

Overall, I would like to see the number of bus routes decline, leaving a simple stable network of fewer, but stronger routes with concentrated frequency along arterial roads.

Brisbane has far too many bus routes.

[dwb]

^^^

This is the legacy of running a bus from every suburb and a rocket for every suburb all to the centre. You need a bus ($500 000 - $750 000) that only gets used for a few hours, labour for a short shift, lots of buses....

It is also the legacy of not removing deadwood.

Overall, I would like to see the number of bus routes decline, leaving a simple stable network of fewer, but stronger routes with concentrated frequency along arterial roads.

Brisbane has far too many bus routes.

Indeed TT... see how Trimet in Oregon are approaching things? Predominantly cuts, but they are asking their commuters/community how to make the budget balance.

http://trimet.org/choices/why-is-there-a-budget-shortfall.htm

Too bad Translink didn't do something similar!

Btw, I found this bc Jarrett Walker tweeted it, you can follow him @humantransit!

Just to make it clear, cutting dead wood routes is still a "cut", the language could be different, but get you the same place, still under a growing network kms scenario... ie cut the deadwood, cut the loopy routes, simplify the network. This way the COMMUNITY is the one demanding it, not Translink, AND fare rises can be put off!

[somebody]

This way the COMMUNITY is the one demanding it, not Translink, AND fare rises can be put off!

I'll believe that happening here when I see it!! 

[dwb]

This way the COMMUNITY is the one demanding it, not Translink, AND fare rises can be put off!

I'll believe that happening here when I see it!! 

It might not be that community, but a broader one... and of course would need to be balanced with other concerns (particularly vulnerable low socio economic areas) but it is not without warrant.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries figures show sales of bikes, all-terrain vehicles and scooters up while new car sales down

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries figures show sales of bikes, all-terrain vehicles and scooters up while new car sales down

    by: Mark Hinchliffe
    From: The Courier-Mail
    January 19, 2012 12:00AM

RISING public transport costs will lead to a boom in scooter sales, retailers believe.

Industry figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show sales of bikes, all-terrain vehicles and scooters were up 3226 or 3 per cent to 109,067 while new cars sales dropped 2.6 per cent.

FCAI executive director Ian Chalmers said scooter sales were up 8.9 per cent to 11,374 as people sought to "avoid high petrol prices and increasingly congested metropolitan roads".

Major scooter retailer Joe D'ercole says sales of scooters will climb even higher this year as public transport costs soar by 15 per cent.

"I can't believe even more people aren't buying cheaper transport, especially with public transport costs rising," said D'ercole.

Scootpoia business was the top seller of Vespa and Piaggio scooters last year.

"Scooter sales have come back but not to pre-GFC boom levels. It's a bit like what happened with the solar scheme; people started importing cheap Chinese imports and they've failed.

"The dealers that are still surviving are those with name brands.

"I've seen 19 scooter shops come and go in Brisbane alone since I started selling scooters in 1995."

Stephen Aldenton is a scooter convert who believes he's saved more than $12,000 on transport costs in the past six-and-a-half years since buying his 150cc Vespa.

The retired army officer has even prepared an Excel spread sheet on the comparative costs of driving his car and scooter.

"I've worked out the cost of running my old Mercedes is about 70 cents per kilometre and the Vespa is about 16 cents, so I save about 54 cents per kilometre," he said.

"It's the best thing I ever did."

Along with scooters, ATVs were also up (18.4 per cent to 3486); sales of motorcycles remained reasonably static throughout the year.

Sales of road bikes recovered strongly in the fourth quarter, finishing the year 1.4 per cent ahead of 2010 with 38,628 sales.

The only segment not to grow in 2011 was off-road motorcycles.

[morb]

Source Ministerial Media Statement, see link in blue below;

http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/mms/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=66877

Getting closer, but there should be an internal report to argue the "price inelasticity" and give the Minister the confidence to do the 5 years of 15% (that's 101% all up)

[#Metro]

Something else:

"For every dollar that a passenger spends on a fare, taxpayers spend three in subsidy and that ratio needs to decrease rather than increase in the next five years," Ms Nolan said.

"The January fare increase will continue to see passengers paying cheaper fares than in Sydney and Melbourne.

"This government currently provides $1.2 billion in funding of public transport and that funding won't go backwards – extra money brought in through the fare box will directly fund new services.

[#Metro]

Paperless public transport a smarter way to go

The future of public transport in SEQ is paperless, according to the State Government's five-year fares and products strategy announced today.

The strategy, announced today by Acting Premier Paul Lucas and Minister for Transport Rachel Nolan, would see all paper tickets replaced by the go card by the end of 2010.

Time to get serious about 100 % electronic

[somebody]

This way the COMMUNITY is the one demanding it, not Translink, AND fare rises can be put off!

I'll believe that happening here when I see it!! 

It might not be that community, but a broader one... and of course would need to be balanced with other concerns (particularly vulnerable low socio economic areas) but it is not without warrant.

I was referring to the broader community.  RAILBoT might see the merit in trimming dead wood.

[dwb]

This way the COMMUNITY is the one demanding it, not Translink, AND fare rises can be put off!

I'll believe that happening here when I see it!! 

It might not be that community, but a broader one... and of course would need to be balanced with other concerns (particularly vulnerable low socio economic areas) but it is not without warrant.

I was referring to the broader community.  RAILBoT might see the merit in trimming dead wood.

Sorry you've lost me, I was simply acknowledging that there is no one "public" or one "community" that thinks and acts alike. What benefits one and costs another is likely to be perceived very differently by those two. What RBOT should be discussing is the balance between what may be a cost on one community to the benefit for another. For example, there may be a economic and social tradeoff that cutting the inefficient bus routes around town funds the extension of concession fares to health care holders.

[somebody]

What I am saying is that in Brisbane people would think "why are you complaining about inefficiency?"

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX via Couriermail click here!

Commuters desert city buses, according to Brisbane City Council figures

Commuters desert city buses, according to Brisbane City Council figures

    by: Felicity Caldwell and Cayla Dengate
    From: mX
    March 09, 2012 5:58PM

PUBLIC transport fares have emerged as a key election issue, with figures showing commuters have deserted the city's buses.

Brisbane City Council figures obtained by mX show there were 76,818 fewer passengers catching buses in February than a year ago.

In February this year 6,042,217 passengers caught buses, compared to 6,119,035 in 2011.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the 15 per cent fare hike had turned commuters off.

"Since the State Government started hiking up fares, we've seen a steady decline in the number of people catching buses," Cr Quirk said.

"The Government needs to have a long, hard look at ways to reduce fares and improve ticketing options in order to get people out of their cars and back on to public transport," he said.

Fares have risen 15 per cent each year since 2010, and the rises will continue until 2014.

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the bus figures were "misleading and mischievous" and bus numbers were up 600,000 trips between February and September last year.

She admitted off-peak trips had reduced.

"That's precisely why the government has provided more incentives as part of the scheduled 2012 fare package, including an increase in the off-peak discount to 20 per cent and a 10-journey-and-free weekly cap," she said.

The LNP has promised to reintroduce weekly fares on go cards with the 10th trip free.

Public transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said the drop in patronage was due to fare increases.

Fares have been a key issue for mX readers in our Premier for a day initiative . Tell us what you think on Facebook or @mxBrisbane.

[somebody]

Good to have some data.  So the 10-then-free isn't really helping.  4 extra BUZ services have been added since Feb 2011 (100, 120, 180, 196).

[Golliwog]

But whats happened with rail patronage? There was also the big change on the IPS-CAB line plus richlands. The difference they give could easily be people who are now finding rail more attractive. I have no evidence to back this up however.

[SurfRail]

I think its dubious to listen to Brisbane City Council for 3 reasons:

1. The current council is politically opposite to the current State government and does not have the interests of the wider network at heart.

2. Council's figures do not take into account system-wide things (eg people who decide to catch the 555 into town rather than the 111, or people who have decided they prefer to use the train at Fruitgrove to be sure they get a seat, or people who are now catching trains from Darra instead of the 461).

3. It's not clear what council's methodology is to assess these figures - otherwise it would be the same as TransLink's.

[somebody]

I think its dubious to listen to Brisbane City Council for 3 reasons:

1. The current council is politically opposite to the current State government and does not have the interests of the wider network at heart.

2. Council's figures do not take into account system-wide things (eg people who decide to catch the 555 into town rather than the 111, or people who have decided they prefer to use the train at Fruitgrove to be sure they get a seat, or people who are now catching trains from Darra instead of the 461).

3. It's not clear what council's methodology is to assess these figures - otherwise it would be the same as TransLink's.

I think it's dubious to listen to Translink's data also.  Remember when the Airtrain was compared to the Heathrow Express?  (Perhaps that wasn't TL, but shows the culture.)  Remember the spin about specific routes having lower patronage a while back?

Any data is welcomed even if we are cautious of it.  It's hard to argue with this data IMO, however.

[SurfRail]

Remember the spin about specific routes having lower patronage a while back?

That was BCC as well, and I was satisfied with TransLink's response.

[#Metro]

For example, there may be a economic and social tradeoff that cutting the inefficient bus routes around town funds the extension of concession fares to health care holders.

I agree with DWB here too. It is another reason why I am against 9-then free. Most people who catch PT CAN afford it (although they'd swear blind they can't). The real disgrace is not extending these concessions to health care card holders - I would gladly forgo the 9-then free gimmick and divert those funds to fund a proper welfare measure for HCC holders.

[#Metro]

I think its dubious to listen to Brisbane City Council for 3 reasons:

1. The current council is politically opposite to the current State government and does not have the interests of the wider network at heart.

2. Council's figures do not take into account system-wide things (eg people who decide to catch the 555 into town rather than the 111, or people who have decided they prefer to use the train at Fruitgrove to be sure they get a seat, or people who are now catching trains from Darra instead of the 461).

3. It's not clear what council's methodology is to assess these figures - otherwise it would be the same as TransLink's.

I am very suspicious indeed. Let's perform a distribution

76,818 fewer passengers catching buses in February than a year ago.

= 76 000 div 4 weeks div 5.5 days = 3454 fewer trips during the weekday. That's actually quite small,
particularly in the context of, say busway patronage which is 150 000 passengers / day, this works out to be a decrease of
around 2.3% or less (since the city bus network is bigger than just the busway).

Is this really statistically significant? We should be more interested in the overall trend using a larger data set.

For all the moaning a drop of 2% is nothing, and can be very quickly recovered by putting a BUZ on with the cash generated
from the fare raise. If anything it actually demonstrates insensitivity to the price increase.

Here's another reason to be very suspicious

- The city was recovering from the floods at that time, so some depression in trip making might be expected as some employment places
may not have recovered

- February this year was a leap year - there was an extra day and that was a weekday also. So there would be a full day's worth of extra trips for Feb 2012 anyway arising from this artifact as well.

If the number of trips overall grew in the months after, then the whole idea that fares have cut patronage growth is also undermined.

So I'm VERY suspicious. Nothing like games between the BCC and State Government. More reason to strip BT from Brisbane City Council. I wonder if Campbell Newman will take up his own offer to buy up the BCC's buses under the same terms and conditions on which he offered it.

Interesting, interesting!

Or I wonder if he will now agree to a off ramp in the Northern Link tunnel into the INB if he get's elected.

[somebody]

Remember the spin about specific routes having lower patronage a while back?

That was BCC as well, and I was satisfied with TransLink's response.

Had a look but couldn't find it easily.

The way I remember it, there were a couple of decent explanations with a couple of highly dubious ones and in at least one case no explanation was offered.

Here's another reason to be very suspicious

- The city was recovering from the floods at that time, so some depression in trip making might be expected as some employment places
may not have recovered

- February this year was a leap year - there was an extra day and that was a weekday also. So there would be a full day's worth of extra trips for Feb 2012 anyway arising from this artifact as well.

Both points bias in the exact opposite way to what you are being suspicious of.

You are also STILL ignoring lost growth, which I expect to be significant.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Statistics obtained by The Courier-Mail show just 45 per cent of commuters now rate train travel as better than having to pay for carparking, down from 56 per cent in 2011

Statistics obtained by The Courier-Mail show just 45 per cent of commuters now rate train travel as better than having to pay for carparking, down from 56 per cent in 2011

    by: Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    May 11, 2012 12:00AM

PUBLIC transport affordability has fallen to its lowest level since Translink began operation in southeast Queensland in 2007.

Statistics obtained exclusively by The Courier-Mail show just 45 per cent of commuters now rate train travel as better than having to pay for carparking, down from 56 per cent at the same time last year.

It is the first time the figure has fallen below 50 per cent and follows the third consecutive 15 per cent fare hike in January.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson said bus and ferry passengers were similarly dissatisfied with affordability diving to 51 and 53 per cent respectively, down from 60 and 69 per cent a year ago.

"This is yet more evidence that Labor failed public transport passengers with its appalling record on affordability, reliability and patronage," Mr Emerson said.

He said the LNP would deliver on its promise of free travel after nine journeys in a Monday-to-Sunday week from June 25.

"For a regular Monday-to-Friday commuter that will mean free travel home on a Friday afternoon and a potential annual saving of $150 to $220 for most commuters who travel one, two or three zones," Mr Emerson said.

"For people coming (to Brisbane) from the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast this could mean a potential saving of up to $500 a year."

Commuters who have already abandoned public transport in favour of private travel may not return in a hurry, with some carparking rates in Brisbane CBD taking an unexpected dive in recent months.

To fill spaces in its Wintergarden carpark, Secure Parking is offering an all-day rate of $15.

The company's state general manager, David Knight, said many commuters were finding it was quite cost-effective to park in the CBD.

"We've seen an increase in people coming into the city as a result," Mr Knight said.

"We're also seeing a lot of people parking at McWhirters for $8 a day and then walking the 1km or so into the CBD."

Robert Dow from commuter advocacy group RAIL-Back on Track said affordability remained the main issue for travellers and welcomed Mr Emerson's announcement of the June 25 start to the nine-journeys-then-free initiative.

"That was what came through in our public survey last year and the Translink survey seems to reflect that," Mr Dow said.

"Nothing talks louder than money and if people think they can travel cheaper by car, they probably will."

Mr Emerson said the Government was also committed to halving planned fare hikes for the next two years.

"If we are going to get people back on to public transport and reverse the staggering decline in patronage of recent years then these issues need to be addressed," he said.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

11 May 2012

Comments on affordability and public transport

Greetings,

The Minister for Transport has confirmed that the 9 journey cap for go card will be introduced from 25th June 2012 ( http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/statistics-obtained-by-the-courier-mail-show-just-45-per-cent-of-commuters-now-rate-train-travel-as-better-than-having-to-pay-for-carparking-down-from-56-per-cent-in-2011/story-e6freoof-1226352431410 ).

This is welcome but more needs to be done to the overall fare structure for the go card.  Forget paper tickets, the time limits and the obscene costs relative to go card mean that they should be removed, particularly when a tourist go card is in place.

The new government still intends to push on with 7.5% fare increases in 2013 and 2014 as far as we are aware. This is much greater than the CPI and most citizens wage and pension increases.  There is also a possible carbon price impact on fares as well.

The government and TransLink need to conduct a full and proper review of the go card fare structure.

The flag fall component on the present fare structure is too high.  This needs reduction across the entire range of zones. This can be easily achieved by removing say $1.50 from all adult go card fares (75cents for concession).

This would mean a zone one adult peak go card fare would drop from $3.05 to $1.55.  A zone 20 adult peak go card fare would drop from $16.81 to $15.31.

Off peak fare discount could be increased to a minimum of 30%.  Off peak frequency on buses and trains outside inner Brisbane is generally abysmal.  By making off peak travel more attractive this will help drive patronage increases and make more room in peak for premium paying fares.  The fare box overall increases.  Service improvements will further drive a better fare box.

Road congestion in south east Queensland is spiralling out control.  The costs of congestion, road trauma  and environmental impacts are sending us broke.  Boosting public transport in terms of frequency of services and a fare structure that encourages public transport use as first choice, not last choice, actually saves a lot of money and leads to a better quality of life for all.

No brainer stuff really.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
11/05/2012

Fare relief for fed-up passengers

The Newman LNP Government's public transport fare incentives will provide cost of living relief for an increasing number of passengers fed up with Labor's public transport hikes.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said TransLink's January-to-March customer satisfaction survey showed affordability had dropped to new lows in the final months of the Bligh government.

"This is yet more evidence that Labor failed public transport passengers with its appalling record on affordability, reliability and patronage," Mr Emerson said.

"Customer satisfaction for the January-to-March period shows affordability satisfaction for train passengers plummeted to 45 per cent - the first time this measure has ever dropped below 50 per cent," Mr Emerson said.

"Likewise bus and ferry passengers are showing similar levels of dissatisfaction with affordability diving to 51 and 53 per cent respectively.

"Customer satisfaction was on a downward slope and Labor's answer was ongoing fare increases of 15 per cent a year and to drive away passengers with four million fewer trips taken in July to December 2011 compared to the same period the previous year.

"An LNP Government will start restoring confidence in our public transport network and deliver commuters affordable transport options.

"We will be a passenger-focused government which is why we are introducing free travel after nine journeys in a Monday-to-Sunday week for go card users, from Monday 25 June."

For a regular Monday to Friday commuter that will mean free travel home on a Friday afternoon and a potential saving of $150-$220 for most commuters who travel one, two or three zones. For people coming from the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast this could mean a potential saving of up to $500 a year.

"On top of free travel after nine journeys, the Newman Government is committed to halving Labor's planned fare hikes," Mr Emerson said.

"We will also tackle frequency by trialling additional daytime peak services on the Ferny Grove line.

"I've also ordered an audit into the reliability of Queensland Rail services following major delays in January, February and March which saw on-time running drop to its lowest level in three years.

"If we are going to get people back on to public transport and reverse the staggering decline in patronage of recent years then these issues need to be addressed."

[dwb]

appalling record on affordability, reliability and patronage,"

Um.... annual growth since Translink was established in 2004 was like 9%, 11%, 12%, 8% only slowing recently.

I'd reckon most slowing of patronage growth was to do with peak hour capacity constraints more  than (though not entirely unrelated to) fares.

10%pa growth in patronage isn't exactly "appalling"!

[SurfRail]

"We will also tackle frequency by trialling additional daytime peak services on the Ferny Grove line.

Please tell me that's a typo!

[ozbob]

"We will also tackle frequency by trialling additional daytime peak services on the Ferny Grove line.

Please tell me that's a typo!

http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=79187

Appears so, I have queried it ...

Ed:  yes typo, will be updated in due course.  Off peak meant.

[somebody]

appalling record on affordability, reliability and patronage,"

Um.... annual growth since Translink was established in 2004 was like 9%, 11%, 12%, 8% only slowing recently.

I'd reckon most slowing of patronage growth was to do with peak hour capacity constraints more  than (though not entirely unrelated to) fares.

10%pa growth in patronage isn't exactly "appalling"!

The Translink referred to in the CM article is TTA who only came into being in 2007 or 2008.  Although even their formation didn't stop growth in patronage right away.  2008/9 it grew 7.4% from 2007/8.  And it's been steady since then.  No mystery as to why - #1 fares #2 slow growth in services

[#Metro]

appalling record on affordability, reliability and patronage

I am actually a bit appalled by this. This is not the case at all.

- Patronage went up, MASSIVELY. This was because TransLink was introduced and integrated fares and ticketing came into existence. Fares actually went down a lot in 2004 when integration occurred. I certainly was paying less in both time and money.

- Funding for BCC buses and the BUZ program. Although a BCC idea, the State paid for the buses and for the drivers' wages.

- Busways. There were no busways in 2000. Now busways carry ~ 50 million people per year, that's quite an achievement in a decade.

- Kippa Ring Rail, Springfield Rail, duplications on the Beenleigh line and station renewal

- Airtrain introduced

The list goes on. Yes fares went up, but we have had seen massive growth in patronage and those funds fund new services. It is the recalcitrance and reluctance to CUT LEGACY ROUTING and resistance to feed trains (invisible anti-bus forcefields appear to operate at many train stations) and put the foot down and fix up the bus network, particularly within the BCC area, which has led to a triad of high fares, high subsidy and low frequency. There are so many things that can be fixed up in Brisbane - from re-routing 235 and 230 to go down Oxford street, fixing up the GCL etc...

Reliability is in part, particularly on buses, due to the removal of bus priority, ESPECIALLY ON CORONATION DRIVE.

The LNP has a lot to live up to.