New fare strategy - articles and discussion

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

How to fix Go Card fare foibles

How to fix Go Card fare foibles
March 3, 2011 - 12:13PM

This morning, brisbanetimes.com.au published an opinion piece by TransLink CEO Peter Strachan defending the Go Card system that provoked fierce debate among commuters. Now, Robert Dow, from passenger lobby group Rail Back on Track, spells out how he thinks it could be improved.

We support the Go Card. The benefits of accurate loading data, quick loading of passengers on buses and ferries and the move to a cashless ticketing system potentially improves the reliability of the public transport network.

Our concerns with the Go Card have always been with the fare structure. Rather than implementing a fare structure that encourages more public transport utilisation, they have given us a ticketing system that does not encourage around-the-clock patronage increases.

The loss of the daily, weekly and seasonal paper tickets (e.g. monthly, three-monthly, six-monthly and yearly rail tickets) has proved to be a major concern to the majority of public transport users, due to the significant increase in the cost of their commutes without these ticketing options.

The new fare structure is also now impacting on tourists in terms of direct costs.  Amazingly, Brisbane is one of the few public transport jurisdictions that does not have a special purpose ticketing product for tourists. Despite plans and promises for a tourist product it seems this has now been ditched along with the Go Card "Lite" which would have seen paper tickets completely phased out.

The Go Card is not in my opinion the best smart card ticketing system in Australia. The fare structures of the Myki in Melbourne and the SmartRider in Perth have fare enhancements such as capping. Myki has periodical options too, that together encourage maximum utilisation of the public transport network. Other jurisdictions such as London (Oyster card) and Hong Kong (Octopus card) also have similar fare enhancements.

I have used Melbourne's Myki system and the user interface is also much better designed than Go Card.  Go Card does work, but it can be made better by delivering further fare enhancements to give a better complete product.

These enhancements could be a daily cap for all users, and the option of a periodical ticketing option.  A daily cap could simply be set at twice the cost of the highest single journey in a 24-hour period, plus a cap loading of, say, 30 per cent of the highest single journey.

For example, a Go Card user travelling through three zones to get to and from work would pay $3.68 each way, or $7.36. Under the daily fare capping proposal, this person also would be able to take numerous shorter journeys separate from the commute without paying any more than $8.46 for the entire day's travel. The current Go Card system requires a user to take 10 journeys in a week before providing a 50 per cent discount on further travel for that week.

A periodical option for the Go Card could be achieved by allowing users to choose up-front a monthly option based on the cost of nine peak journeys for the desired zones for each seven-day period.  The monthly option would allow unrestricted travel in the zones and when travel takes place outside the zones normal Go Card fares are then applied to that travel.  As users would continue to touch on and off, accurate load data would still be obtained. This would be a smart card version of the old seasonal paper tickets.

These enhancements added to the existing fare structure would drive utilisation of our public transport assets around the clock, particularly outside the core peaks where there is plenty of spare capacity. They would also boost the portion of overall transport running costs covered by total fare revenue, meaning less direct taxpayer funding for public transport.

This would be further supported by the immediate increase of the off-peak discount from 15 per cent to 30 per cent and changing the present off-peak window of 7pm to 2am, to 7pm to 7am, and keeping the 9am to 3.30pm daily off-peak window.

In cities with high public transport use, such as Zurich, discounted periodical tickets are used to drive public transport use because of the considerable economic benefits of doing so in terms of congestion reduction, lessened environmental costs and reduced road trauma.

It is time that TransLink rose to the occasion and brought on the further ticketing improvements that they have mentioned, as commuters have now largely changed from paper to Go Card.

Periodical ticketing options will mean that folks will choose to take public transport as first choice in many cases as they are not having to pay a new fare each time they travel.  This is good for our community on many levels, economically and socially.

It is time the TransLink network positioned itself with the rest of the enlightened public transport ticketing world.

[colinw]

Spot on Bob! 

Fix the Go Card fare structure NOW! 

[Fares_Fair]

Heartily agree.  

Personally I think that actions speak louder than empty words from TransLink's CEO.

They are literally oxymoronic in their approach.
Whilst claiming to make Public Transport an attractive option, their actions are doing the opposite.

The significant increased fares of 15% p.a. for the next 3 years (whilst State Government pay rises are at 2.5%) are testament to that. No one (at commuter level) gets annual wage increases of that magnitude.

The real reason for this can only be to actually reduce the (former) growth in demand for services.
The infrastructure just isn't there - and cannot cope with current and projected demand.
There's no other explanation for it.

The Sunshine Coast line being a perfect example of just such neglect.
52% of current Nambour to Caboolture services are rail buses !  
Where are the trains and levels of service ?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[#Metro]

dayrider
Standard DayRider is valid for unlimited system-wide travel after 9am on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays.
Concession DayRider is valid for unlimited system-wide travel before 7:15am and after 9:00am in zones 1 to 4 and before 7:15am and 8:30am in zones 5 to 9 on weekdays. Concession DayRider is available all day on weekends and public holidays.
SmartRider users should note that SmartRider will automatically cap your fare at the DayRider rate provided the DayRider time of travel requirements are met.

http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=qWx%2BvE1c2c0%3D&tabid=191&mid=723

A DayRider ticket entitles you to unlimited all day travel on all Transperth services.

DayRider is available as a standard or concession ticket.

A Standard DayRider can be purchased after 9.00am on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays. A Standard DayRider costs $9.00 for system wide travel.

Concession tickets may be purchased as follows: 
In zones 1 to 4, Concession DayRider tickets can be purchased before 7.15am and after 9.00am on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays.
In zones 5 to 9, Concession DayRider tickets can be purchased before 7.15am and after 8.30am on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays.
A Concession DayRider costs $3.60 for concession users.

DayRider tickets can be purchased as a cash ticket from Transperth bus or ferry drivers or from the coin-operated ticket-vending-machines at train stations on the day of travel.

If you have a SmartRider card, SmartRider will always calculate the lowest fare available for you. If your fare would normally exceed the cost of your discounted DayRider fare, SmartRider will automatically cap your fare at the DayRider rate provided you meet the DayRider time-of-travel requirements.

Please click here for all Transperth fare information.

Maybe someone could ring TransPerth for more info...

[colinw]

Time to whip the hat around and buy Mr Strachan a cheap ticket to Perth? 

[#Metro]

The special-purpose card, Airport Express Tourist Octopus, was introduced by Octopus Cards Limited to target tourists in Hong Kong. Two versions of this card are offered, a HK$220 card with a free single ride on the Airport Express, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) train line that runs between the Hong Kong International Airport and the urban areas of Hong Kong, and a HK$300 card with two free single rides included. The airport journeys are valid for 180 days from the date of purchase. Both versions allow three days of unlimited rides on the MTR and include a HK$50 refundable deposit. Usable value on these cards may be added if necessary. These tourist Octopus cards may be used only by tourists staying in Hong Kong for 14 or fewer days; users may be required to produce a passport showing their arrival date in Hong Kong. Airport Express Tourist Octopus is available for purchase at all MTR stations.[31]
The other special-purpose card, the MTR Airport Staff Octopus, is available for the staff of Hong Kong International Airport and AsiaWorld-Expo, a convention centre close to the airport, for commuting at a reduced fare between the airport and MTR stations via the Airport Express. Staff who apply for the card may use it for a discount of up to 64 percent for Airport Express single journey fares.[32] The MTR Airport Staff Octopus is available upon application via the company for which that a staff member works.[33]

Hong Kong- please check sources...

http://www.octopus.com.hk/get-your-octopus/choose-your-octopus/en/index.html
http://www.octopus.com.hk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_card

[#Metro]

Look. When I bought my $4.60 paper ticket and had to wait half an hour for a train, I was not impressed.
Run more trains! They are dreaming if you increase the price, service quality must increase too.

Where are my 15 minute trains?

[Stillwater]

No, it is time to whip the hat around to shout the fare of a Brisbane Times / Courier Mail reporter to Perth for a comparison of our PT system with their's.  Mr Strachan already knows the state of play.  He just needs to know, through intelligent reporting by local media, that his client base has also wised up to the situation elsewhere.  $100 from me.

[#Metro]

This is the Breeze Card in Atlanta. IT IS IDENTICAL TO THE SYSTEM USED HERE and is also run by Cubic.

Q:   13. Will monthly and weekly passes still be available on Breeze?

A: Yes. Instead of getting a new TransCard each week or month, you will re-use your Breeze Card. Simply go to a RideStore or Breeze Vending Machine and reload. In addition, YOU will now determine when your passes begin.
A 7-day pass can start any day of the week and is good for seven consecutive days after you first use it.
A 30-day pass can start any day of the month and is good for 30 consecutive days after you first use it.
If you purchase your monthly pass from your employer or university, your card will be reloaded by your administrator – no need to get a new card each month!

http://www.breezecard.com/htm/faqs.html#monthlyandweekly

[#Metro]

No, it is time to whip the hat around to shout the fare of a Brisbane Times / Courier Mail reporter to Perth for a comparison of our PT system with their's.  Mr Strachan already knows the state of play.  He just needs to know, through intelligent reporting by local media, that his client base has also wised up to the situation elsewhere.  $100 from me.

I hope they compare the train frequency! Perth uses the same trains as Brisbane too! 

[somebody]

Time to whip the hat around and buy Mr Strachan a cheap ticket to Perth? 

So long as it is a one way ticket.

Seriously, how can he stand up and say such things?  Did you see that article "In defence of incompetence", which was referring to Melbourne.  It's apt here.  Hopefully the new transport minister will bring in some new talent.

[colinw]

Here is a typical example of the "defending the indefensible" and "it can't be done in because ..." approach that needs to be beaten before Brisbane can progress.

Tom F | Brisbane - March 03, 2011, 1:58PM
I am familiar with Dr Mees work and I have met both him and Professor Newman in my professional capacity as a town planner, and whilst I acknowledge that there are no single factors that create poor outcomes and that transport integration is important, if we want a better, more affordable system than we have here in Brisbane, we will also need to improve density. Perth is up to 25% more dense than Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney more so. The new development in corridors around rail in Perth is at significantly higher densities than we have here in Brisbane, and 7-10 dwellings per hectare gives a very poor public transport outcome- around 1 bus per hour outside of peak. You need to start achieving around 25 dwellings per hectare (around 60 people per hectare at current dwelling occupancy rates) before it becomes viable to start running services at frequencies (6-10 per hour) that generate substantial shifts towards public transport (similar to what is being achieved in Perth). Otherwise the alternative is not enough to outstrip the attractiveness and convenience of the private car. Brisbane has opted for one of the lowest densities of any major Western city, part of the price that you pay for that choice is poor public transport. You can improve network integration as much as possible, but if there aren't enough punters close to the service, it won't be able to 'pay its way' against all the other competing demands on the public purse.

This is a good example of the kind of thinking that pervades planning in Brisbane.  Basically it writes off high frequency public transport as being impossible in Brisbane due to low density.  Brisbane doesn't qualify because it isn't dense enough, yet at the same time somehow Perth's 25% higher density warrants a quantum leap in service standard over Brisbane's.

What this post also fails to address is the fact that even where Brisbane does meet this arbitrary density standard, the service frequency is still miserable.  Much of the suburb I live in has 400 square metre blocks - 25 dwellings per hectare.  Do we get our 6-10 services per hour nominated as achievable with that density?  No way!  Hourly bus quitting at 7PM, and 2tph.  Ditto for some quite dense inner areas - 2TPH at Buranda or Dutton Park for example.

I have posted something similar to the above in response on BT.  Hopefully it will be published.

Sadly, I have a feeling that there is an almost unlimited supply of lame excuses and pathetic justifications waiting to be peddled out, when the reality is "we do not have the imagination or initiative to provide a better service, and aren't prepared to pay for it anyway".

[#Metro]

Is Perth more dense ColinW? Haven't you lived there?
We really need "PerthCommuter" on this forum LOL.

Mees and Newman eh? Possibly 2 interesting people that might be good to have on Chat Forum sometime...

[colinw]

Is Perth more dense ColinW? Haven't you lived there?

I have no idea, sorry.  Just responding to a post which claims it is.

I suspect density is one of those statistics which can be massaged easily to provide the desired outcome.

Brisbane certainly comes up as very low density on the basis of population divided into area, but is that a meaningful statistic?  Wouldn't it make more sense to look at the density of population along the key corridors, e.g. what is the density along the inner Ipswich line, or the inner Beenleigh line, or along the former tramway routes?

Brisbane's early development pattern was extremely concentrated along the tram lines and half dozen or so radial rail routes, with very little infill until the 1960s.  Up to the mid '50s or thereabouts you could fairly well define the urban boundary of Brisbane as being where the tram lines ended, apart from some linear strips along the Ipswich Line, etc.

[colinw]

Interesting exchanges, including some very good posts by BrisUrbane: click here.

I can see no way that Strachan & co. can claim that people accept TransLink's spin on this topic.  The voice of the people is coming across loud and clear.

But is anyone listening?

[#Metro]

Brisbane certainly comes up as very low density on the basis of population divided into area, but is that a meaningful statistic?  Wouldn't it make more sense to look at the density of population along the key corridors, e.g. what is the density along the inner Ipswich line, or the inner Beenleigh line, or along the former tramway routes?

I see-- large sand islands, Mt Coo-tha (an entire suburb in area), Brisbane Airport (2-3 suburbs), Rocklea floodplains (2-3 suburbs), The Uni of QLD campus (a suburb) I wonder if this has a bearing...

[justanotheruser]

No, it is time to whip the hat around to shout the fare of a Brisbane Times / Courier Mail reporter to Perth for a comparison of our PT system with their's.  Mr Strachan already knows the state of play.  He just needs to know, through intelligent reporting by local media, that his client base has also wised up to the situation elsewhere.  $100 from me.

except you seem to be forgetting what happened when an australia wide comparison was done on PT.  Each person did a our PT system is the best piece rather than pointing out good and bad points.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Hope for monthly tickets

Hope for monthly tickets
Daniel Hurst
March 4, 2011 - 2:59AM

Queensland's new transport minister has left the door open to introducing a modern version of the scrapped monthly saver tickets following criticism of the Go Card fare structure.

Annastacia Palaszczuk last night promised to look for ways to improve the Go Card product, telling brisbanetimes.com.au authorities should not be "self-satisfied" with the current system.

Her pledge to consider smart card enhancements comes amid growing calls for daily fare caps and other incentives amid commuter anger over the recent 15 per cent price hike.

Yesterday, in an opinion piece for brisbanetimes.com.au, TransLink chief executive officer Peter Strachan flagged plans to introduce "an expanded ticket range" in the future.

In response, Rail Back on Track lobbyist Robert Dow called for a daily fare cap for all users that would grant them free travel after they made several journeys in a day.

He also suggested a periodical option whereby Go Card users could choose to make an up-front payment in return for unrestricted travel in selected zones within a set period.

This would effectively work as a smart card version of the now-scrapped seasonal paper tickets, which allowed commuters to make savings by buying weekly or monthly saver passes.

Melbourne's Myki smart card system allows regular commuters to load up with "pass credit" that covers all travel in specified zones for seven days, four weeks, or one year.

Ms Palaszczuk, who was sworn in to her new transport role last week, would not rule in or out any options last night but said she would look for Go Card improvements.

"If there are ways to enhance Go Card without cutting back on vital transport infrastructure projects like bringing forward the Springfield rail line extension and station by two years, then we'll explore those options," she said in a written response to questions.

Ms Palaszczuk said she had listened to the views of commuter, welfare, senior and student interest groups at a meeting yesterday and would work with them to address issues.

However, she sang the praises of the Go Card system. Ms Palaszczuk said authorities had overcome the early challenges of its establishment with patronage and customer satisfaction both increasing.

"We should be proud of that but not self-satisfied," she said.

"The journey has not stopped nor should we stop listening to the opinion of commuters."

Mr Dow, who led the charge for daily fare capping and other incentives, said he was confident commuters would benefit from additional fare enhancements in the future.

"We welcome the acknowledgement by the minister some of these things probably do need further work," he said last night.

"We'd like a real commitment to indicate further fare enhancements on the Go Card. We think it's time."

Mr Dow said the government still seemed to think it would lose money by introducing daily capping and periodical options, but this was not necessarily right.

He said the aim was to maximise public transport usage around the clock, particularly outside the main peaks where there was plenty of spare capacity.

Mr Dow also called for better off-peak incentives.

Opposition public transport spokeswoman Tracy Davis said she detected public dissatisfaction with the current ticketing options.

"From my perspective I would certainly look at ways to explore options that would afford value for money for commuters," she said.

Ms Davis said she was developing opposition policy on the issue and would take commuter views on board.

People were angry about the removal of saver tickets such as monthly passes, she said.

"What people are saying to me is that they want periodical [options]."

The debate over fares comes ahead of a planned boycott of rail services on March 17 by a group of frustrated commuters complaining about the loss of periodical saver tickets.

The current Go Card system requires a user to take 10 journeys in a week before providing a 50 per cent discount on further travel for that week.

TransLink rolled out some new Go Card incentives as part of the 15 per cent fare hikes in January, but a daily fare cap is only available to some concession holders.

Seniors and pensioners must only pay for the first two journeys they take in any one day, with any other travel being free.

Mr Strachan yesterday defended the existing system, saying he believed frequency and reliability of services were the most important issues for commuters.

He said customers would continue to have influence over future ticketing products, but the fare structure "must continue to deliver a program of more frequent and reliable services".

More than 1300 readers voted yesterday in a brisbanetimes.com.au poll about the southeast's public transport fares. Just one in 10 respondents thought the existing fares and incentives struck the right balance, while the rest believed prices were too high.

Ms Palaszczuk would not put a timeframe on potential fare structure improvements, saying the government's current focus was on the post-disaster reconstruction effort.

[somebody]

I think I've said this before, but I think continual moaning about fares is distracting from service improvements.  Doh!

[mufreight]

I think I've said this before, but I think continual moaning about fares is distracting from service improvements.  Doh!

Have to disagree once more Somebody.
It is becoming more obvious that there is a deliberate and considered intent by Senior Translink Management and one would also assume the Queensland Government to restrict the growth of commuter numbers by increasing fares beyond what is affordable or reasonable so that it is not necessicary to provide further services that require expendature on infrastructure and equipment to enable the provision of additional services.
Social engineering I believe it is called elsewhere, political suicide in Queensland
When some 90% of commuters are of the belief that the current fare structure is a rip off it is not moaning, and the service improvements that are referred to are minimal covering only a small portion of the system and fall far short of what was promised overall.

[somebody]

the service improvements that are referred to are minimal covering only a small portion of the system and fall far short of what was promised overall.

Exactly!  The service improvements are rubbish!

[colinw]

When some 90% of commuters are of the belief that the current fare structure is a rip off it is not moaning, and the service improvements that are referred to are minimal covering only a small portion of the system and fall far short of what was promised overall.

Exactly!

This isn't moaning, it is a consensus that an unreasonable fare is being charged for a substandard service.

There needs to be a meeting in the middle of improved service and more reasonable fare structure.  I don't think anyone will object to paying a reasonable fare if a decent service is provided, but to gouge 15% year after year while doing NOTHING for most services is unreasonable.

The only conclusion I can reach is that the Government is avoiding its responsibility for developing the system by actively suppressing demand.  Their actions show just what a sham Connecting SEQ 2031 really was - page after page of glossy promises with no follow through, while current actions deliberately suppress demand for the system and destroy the business case for the upgrades being promised.

This is hollow cynical politics at its worst.

Call me a moaner if you like, but as soon as I have my license I'll be waving to goodbye to Brisbane public transport as I drive away.  I quite simply refuse to pay to use a system this bad any more - this is not a one day boycott, I am deliberately choosing to turn my back on the TransLink system.  I am just plain over it.  

We are now starting to seriously consider leaving Brisbane and Queensland for a number of reasons, most of which can be traced back to the State Government's mismanagement and subsequent destruction of the advantages that Queensland once enjoyed.  I will undoubtedly return to public transport when we have moved to somewhere more sustainable.  At this stage the front runners are either the UK or Melbourne, because I can keep my current job and move to either.

[mufreight]

Totaly justifiable and understandable comment Colin W      

[Zoiks]

I dont know whether this has been mentioned. But why would we be forcing to buy a weekly/monthly etc product.

The system should be intellegent enough to cap itself.

IE.
Single trip = $1
As soon as you make 2 trips, next trip is half price and all the rest are free (daily) = $2.50
As soon as you make 10 trips over a 7 day period, the nextr trip will be half price all further trips will be free (weekly) = $10.50

So if you make 4 trips a day for 4 days you get charged 4x$2.50 = $10. On the fifth day, you start a trip, the system switches you to a weekly, you get charged $0.50 and all the rest of your trips within a 7 day period are free..

[colinw]

The ACT is rolling out its smartcard system on the ACTION bus network.

And guess what?  It has both daily and monthly capping.

"The requirement for people to tag on and off buses will not only provide important information on travel patterns but also ensure customers are charged the cheapest available fare, for instance journeys taken during off-peak periods will automatically be charged at off-peak rates.

"A daily fare cap will be in place for both concession and adult ticket holders, while a monthly cap of 36 paid trips will also mean that any trips taken over the capped amount during the calendar month will be free if people tag on and off."

[ozbob]

We are a public transport ticketing backwater in south-east Queensland. Maybe for not much longer??

[somebody]

I dont know whether this has been mentioned. But why would we be forcing to buy a weekly/monthly etc product.

The system should be intellegent enough to cap itself.

If that were done, I'd be in favour of such a system.

EDIT: Oh, and I regret the word "moaning"

[ozbob]

I dont know whether this has been mentioned. But why would we be forcing to buy a weekly/monthly etc product.

The system should be intellegent enough to cap itself.

If that were done, I'd be in favour of such a system.

EDIT: Oh, and I regret the word "moaning"

No worries. Good point Zoiks,  seems the Canberra card - MyWay is doing just that ...   

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

SEQ the 'odd one out' on transport fares

SEQ the 'odd one out' on transport fares
Daniel Hurst
March 5, 2011

Southeast Queensland's Go Card system is the only public transport smartcard system in Australia not to offer daily fare capping.

A commuter lobby group last night warned the region was lagging behind the rest of the nation, with Canberra bus users also set to gain daily and monthly incentives when the Australian Capital Territory's new public transport smartcard launches this Monday.

Canberra's MyWay ticketing system will include a fare cap so the maximum an adult will spend in a day, regardless of how many trips they take, will be $7.60.

The system's previous weekly and monthly tickets will be replaced with an automatic monthly cap of 36 paid trips, with any further trips for the rest of that month coming for free.

Melbourne's Myki system and Perth's SmartRider system also provide fare capping.

Robert Dow, from Rail Back on Track, called on TransLink to follow the lead of interstate authorities by introducing daily and monthly fare caps for all Go Card users.

Mr Dow said such incentives were a smart way to encourage round-the-clock public transport use.

"What they're doing is encouraging people to use public transport more than the daily commute – to go out shopping, to go to the cinema and to use it on weekends," he said.

"Every smartcard system in Australia has daily capping. Southeast Queensland's the odd one out."

The comments came amid mounting commuter anger over existing Go Card fares following the recent 15 per cent price hike and removal of weekly, monthly and other periodical saver tickets.

The scrapping of the saver passes as part of the move to the electronic Go Card system means adult commuters pay for every single journey they make in a day.

Go Card users must rack up 10 journeys in a week before they gain access to half-price travel for subsequent journeys in that Monday-to-Sunday period.

In January, TransLink introduced a daily fare cap for seniors and pensioners but did not extend it to the general travelling public or other concession holders.

Seniors and pensioners travel free on their Go Card after their first two journeys in a day.

Rail Back on Track this week renewed its calls for daily fare capping to be extended to all users, with a price ceiling ideally encouraging people to make numerous journeys throughout the day.

The organisation also wants authorities to follow the lead of interstate rivals and bring in periodical savers options for Go Card users to replace the old weekly and monthly tickets.

For instance, Melbourne's Myki smart card system allows regular commuters to load up with "pass credit" that covers all travel in specified zones for seven days, four weeks, or one year.

Mr Dow said interstate authorities were playing a lead role when it came to smart card fare structures.

"We want people to use public transport particularly out of peak [times] and the current fare structure really is designed to support peak travel only," he said.

"They [TransLink] are not being proactive in getting people to use public transport around the city.

"It reinforces the community feedback that was generated on brisbanetimes.com.au during the week – people want an improved fare structure and they want it now. There's no reason why they can't do it."

More than 1500 people voted in a brisbanetimes.com.au poll this week on southeast Queensland transport fares, with nine in 10 respondents attacking the current prices and incentives.

The site was also flooded with comments from disgruntled commuters, after an opinion piece by TransLink chief executive officer Peter Strachan defending the existing system.

In the piece, Mr Strachan said frequency and reliability of services were the most important issues for commuters, but he also flagged plans to introduce "an expanded ticket range" in the future.

He said customers would continue to have influence over future ticketing products, but the fare structure "must continue to deliver a program of more frequent and reliable services".

Queensland's new transport minister, Annastacia Palaszczuk, signalled she was happy to look at ways to improve the fare structure.

"If there are ways to enhance Go Card without cutting back on vital transport infrastructure projects like bringing forward the Springfield rail line extension and station by two years, then we'll explore those options," she told brisbanetimes.com.au.

Ms Palaszczuk sang the praises of the Go Card system but said authorities should not be "self-satisfied" about the current arrangements.

Opposition public transport spokeswoman Tracy Davis said the Liberal National Party was developing its policies but recognised that people wanted periodical incentives.

The latest debate over fares comes ahead of a planned boycott of rail services on March 17 by a group of frustrated commuters complaining about the loss of monthly and yearly saver tickets.

[#Metro]

OMG Even HOBART!
HOBART of all places also has a cap... 

Greencard automatically caps urban fares at a maximum daily rate. This means that once the daily cap amount is reached during the course of a day's travel, you will pay no more for any further travel during that day.

Two daily cap levels apply, dependent upon the time of your first boarding.

If the first urban boarding is before 9.00am then the before 9.00am daily cap will apply.
If the first urban boarding is after 9.00am then the after 9.00am daily cap will apply.

A Greencard will not deduct further urban fares once a daily cap is reached.

http://www.metrotas.com.au/tickets-and-fares

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

5th March 2011

Greetings,

What is impressive about Canberra's MyWay is the auto application of the capping.  An excellent way of encouraging public transport use.

Brisbanetimes has today again highlighted the poor fare approach in south-east Queensland on the go card.

--> http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/seq-the-odd-one-out-on-transport-fares-20110304-1bi3h.html

Feedback from public transport commuters has been overwhelming on the fare issue, not only the sheer cost but the failure to provide ticketing products that are in line with the rest of the public transport world is the big concern.

Time to take off the 'blinkers' and look at the benefits in a macro-economic sense of a ticketing policy that encourages round the clock public transport use - reduced congestion costs, lessened environmental impacts and reduced road trauma costs.  There are also considerable social benefits and business multiplier effects of a community that is truly mobile in a safe way.  Road trauma is breaking the nation --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=3

An improved fare structure for the go card is  a 'no-brainer' ...

Best wishes
Robert

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[justanotheruser]

OMG Even HOBART!
HOBART of all places also has a cap...  

and this atitude is the major cause of problems in queensland. Queenslanders like to think they are better than everyone else and therefore they must have the best system and others who do it differently are stupid.

[#Metro]

World Class Hobart.

[somebody]

and this atitude is the major cause of problems in queensland. Queenslanders like to think they are better than everyone else and therefore they must have the best system and others who do it differently are stupid.

They're a lot like Americans.

[Fares_Fair]

When I came up to Queensland from Collaroy, Sydney in 1977, at school they would say
"the only good thing about NSW is that it separates Queensland from Victoria"  
After 34 years however I now consider myself to be a Queenslander.

Regards,
Fares_Fair

[mufreight]

Well a little prophesy (possibly tongue in cheek) here.
Now that it is becoming abundently clear that dictatorial arrogance and intransigence will not quell the dissent by the public regarding public transport generally and the fare structure and increases more specificaly, the government in fear of it's existence in a last minute attempt to retain power will initiate the we will look into it phase.
Then when the government realises that the mirror, mirror on the wall approach has failed and the government fear level increases then will we get the next stage, the promises phase with nothing either done nor intended to be done.
Then when the government goes into panic stage a few weeks prior to the elections they will announce that they have fast-tracked and implemented a restructure of the fare structure.
Fear is a great motivator and the current government is in fear of its future existence, just watch this space.

[justanotheruser]

When I came up to Queensland from Collaroy, Sydney in 1977, at school they would say
"the only good thing about NSW is that it separates Queensland from Victoria"  
After 34 years however I now consider myself to be a Queenslander.

Regards,
Fares_Fair

yep and nothing has changed

[colinw]

The only place for "Queenslander", "New South Welshman", etc., is on the SPORTS FIELD.

I am Australian.

[Fares_Fair]

... who is talking of leaving for the UK  


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[colinw]

... or Melbourne.