Media Releases: Students back to school

[ozbob]

Media Release

http://www.translink.com.au/mediarelease.php?id=95

Students get going back to school - Thursday 21 January 2010

TransLink's go card means peace of mind for parents with children going back to school next week.

TransLink CEO Peter Strachan said parents would no longer need to worry about their children spending their fare at the tuckshop or searching for loose change.

"TransLink's go card makes travelling to and from school quicker, smoother and easier," Mr Strachan said.

"go card technology is a real bonus for parents, as if a registered go card is lost or stolen, your balance is protected from the moment the card is reported missing.

"To register your go card, call 13 12 30, 24 hours a day seven days a week.

"Automatic top-up is now also available for go card, meaning children can always have enough credit to get home."

Mr Strachan said TransLink helping hands staff would be out in force in the lead up to the new school year, assisting students at major bus stations and interchanges with any questions they may have about go card.

"With a 50 per cent discount available to students on a concession or child go card, getting to and from school or university on public transport offers real value for money for full-time students and their parents," Mr Strachan said.

"Last year, more than 40 per cent of all trips made using a go card were made using child and student concession go cards.

"TransLink has launched an advertising campaign to remind students to get their go cards in time for school.

"go cards are now available from 360 outlets, including all attended train stations across the TransLink train network.

"Seventeen new generation ticketing machines are currently being installed at busway stations and major bus interchanges across the network.

"go card usage reached record levels of almost 1.3 million trips last week, more than 90 per cent higher than the same week in January 2009.

"If someone has difficulty accessing a retailer in person they can visit www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30 to order one.

"A full list of retailers and top-up options is available at www.translink.com.au or by calling 13 12 30, 24 hours a day seven days a week."

Queensland full-time primary and secondary school students are eligible for a child go card up to and including their 15th birthday.

Secondary students who are 15 years or over should purchase a concession go card, as should all other eligible full-time university, TAFE or other approved post-secondary institution students.

For more information on go card concession eligibility or how to get to your school or university campus using public transport visit www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30.

[ozbob]

Media Release

Fiona Simpson MP
Shadow Minister for Transport and Main Roads
Member for Maroochydore

25 January 2010

School commute chaos with go card scheme

Parents unable to get a go card for their children face steep increases in school travel costs, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Transport Fiona Simpson said while a year 11 student travelling two zones to school each day on a go card would spend $13 a week in travel, a friend using paper tickets would pay $6.50 more - a whopping 50 per cent hike.

"In most cases the Bligh Labor Government's public transport fare increases have made the go card the cheapest option for students travelling to school.

"The big problem is getting your hands on a student concession go card.

"There are 525 go card retailers across South East Queensland, but only 207 - less than half of all the retailers - have the licence rights to sell Concession go cards.

"Where are students going to buy their go cards?

"To be eligible to purchase a Concession go card, a teenager over the age of 15 must have a valid student card.

"How many students will be forced to use paper tickets until their school has issued ID cards for 2010?"

"The Bligh Labor Government jumped the gun when they introduce higher fares with a half-baked system.

"Queensland Mums and Dads will be paying the price for this system which the Minister is still scrambling to roll out."

Ms Simpson said students aged 14 and under were eligible to use a Child go card, which can be bought at 385 go card retailers across South East Queensland.

"However, parents of students in year 10 should be aware that Child go cards expire on the child's 15th birthday — and they will have to be replaced with a Concession go card."

[Derwan]

Here we go again.  Parents have had plenty of time to prepare - including purchasing Go Cards online or over the phone.  Time to focus on the important issues Ms Simpson.

[p858snake]

Here we go again.  Parents have had plenty of time to prepare - including purchasing Go Cards online or over the phone.  Time to focus on the important issues Ms Simpson.

You need proof of ID for student concession cards which in most cases is the student ID card which in most cases won't be issued till the second week back (and that is if the school is organised).

I know for TAFE students you need the card, and you can't use the paper work showing that you have (re)enrolled for another year.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 25th January 2010 page 1

It's all go for school

[Derwan]

How is this any different to the past?  Students have always required a student ID in order to receive a concession.

If there are issues with schools/colleges issuing ID's, it has nothing to do with the Go Card.

[O_128]

How is this any different to the past?  Students have always required a student ID in order to receive a concession.

If there are issues with schools/colleges issuing ID's, it has nothing to do with the Go Card.

Student cards usually expire at the end of march for this reason

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

As school resumes, Opposition flags new go card problem

As school resumes, Opposition flags new go card problem
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Ursula Heger

January 25, 2010 11:00pm

THOUSANDS of schoolchildren could be forced to buy expensive paper tickets because of a shortage of go card retail outlets offering concession cards.
Opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said there were not enough places to buy the limited-life concession go cards, forcing thousands of school children returning to classes this week to purchase paper tickets.

"Going back to school is complex enough without another go card debacle," she said

"You can't get these concession cards everywhere and a lot of students over the age of 15 are in for a shock if they don't already have their go card concession card."

She said the lack of concession go card retailers could force students to purchase paper tickets - recently hiked up to 40 per cent.

It comes as TransLink launches an amnesty for school students, allowing them to buy concession go cards without identification cards until February 28.

Normally students without an active school identification would be refused a concession go card but yesterday TransLink chief executive Peter Strachan said students would be provided an amnesty until February 28.

"Student id cards normally expire on March 31, so they can use effectively last years id card to get a concession card now," he said.

"If somebody is new to the system, have moved schools or lost their student card we have put an amnesty in place that means you can buy and travel up until February 28."

"We have got that amnesty in until February 28, which should give people plenty of time to get a new or replaced student ID cards."

Mr Strachan denied there were not enough retail outlets selling concession cards, saying the cards were able to be bought at 297 outlets across the southeast.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

26th January 2010

Greetings,

I note the 'amnesty' given for school children chasing go cards  --> http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26634156-3102,00.html )

How about an 'amnesty' for our  seniors struggling to use the go card, let alone obtain one?

Give seniors free public transport till the end of February.  This would allow time for user education and distribution of go cards.  It would turn a negative situation into a positive one.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org