Ministerial Statement: Go card to break the 100 million trip barrier

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
28/04/2010

Go card to break the 100 million trip barrier

Go card will be used for the 100 millionth time by a TransLink bus, train or ferry customer this morning.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the significant milestone comes less than two years after the roll out of the system was completed in mid 2008.

"In July 2008 there were less than 200,000 go card trips a week, now more than 2.27 million trips a week are taken using a go card across the TransLink network," Ms Nolan said.

"This included 1.51 million trips on buses, 700,000 trips on trains and 60,000 trips on ferries.

"The latest data shows the go card is now used on more than 60 per cent of all public transport trips in South East Queensland.

"That's a saving of 3300 hours a week in bus boarding times compared to the all-paper ticket system which operated prior to 2008, leading to a more efficient network."

Go card usage in the three months to December 2009 was 33.1 per cent and has been steadily rising during January, February and March.

"Almost 40 per cent of go card users took advantage of the 10 per cent off-peak discount, further reducing the load pressure on peak services during the busiest periods," Ms Nolan said.

"Likewise, more than 24,000 customers are using their go card more than 10 times a week, taking advantage of the frequent user discount of 50 per cent on every additional go card trip.

"Frontline staff on buses,at train stations and on board ferries have been working with customers to continue to make the transition to go card as smooth as possible."

The Government has also held more than 200 go card information sessions for seniors and 10,000 go cards have been provided to seniors during the Go Ready campaign which started in February.

"Even the Opposition has been spruiking the benefits of go card with Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson recently hosting a seniors go card information session in her electorate," Ms Nolan said.

Ms Nolan said she expected the level of go card use to continue to rise with go card sales remaining strong.

"TransLink is still issuing more than 10,000 go cards a week through more than 400 retail outlets, or by calling 13 12 30 or via www.translink.com.au. "

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[ozbob]

Rather sad this, it could have been > 200,000,000 trips by now.  Only 60% of trips on Go Card?  And that considering the huge paper penalty.  24,000 users accessing the 50% discount  for > 10 journeys?  There are around 900,000 cards have been issued, not a high strike rate is it, viz. 24,000/900,000?

I was talking to some pax at Central today, they were complaining bitterly about the state of go equipment on their stations (western line).  Promises of fixes are just not delivered.  Common across the network.  Bus equipment is still temperamental.

Fare strategy needs radical improvement.  Lessons from London are just not heeded.

My local newsagent has a petition going in an attempt to get top-up facilities for the go card.  Brick wall at you know where. They are tired of the abuse from customers.

Yeah, happy 100,000,000 millionth trip Go card!

[ozbob]

The other burning question is:  The much touted gains in efficiency have not been reflected in service or fare improvements .... certainly not in line with the promises spun to support the fare increases last October ...

Why not?  

That is a very fair question ...

[somebody]

The other burning question is:  The much touted gains in efficiency have not been reflected in service or fare improvements .... certainly not in line with the promises spun to support the fare increases last October ...

Why not?  

That is a very fair question ...

I agree.  Sigh.

[dwb]

Trips yeah? But how many journeys cos that's what they're really the idea they're trying to communicate.

[somebody]

Trips yeah? But how many journeys cos that's what they're really the idea they're trying to communicate.

What's the difference?  My reading of trip, is that a 2 bus journey made as a connection is 1 trip.

[dwb]

What's the difference?  My reading of trip, is that a 2 bus journey made as a connection is 1 trip.

I believe it is actually the reverse... ie two trips, or three involving transfers = one journey.

I'm just trying to say, that when they're promoting how many trips have been taken, I would think people would tend to imagine from where they begin to where they end, and not consider a transfer to work involving 2 modes/buses/whatever as 2 trips. Therefore there is an overreporting of trips made by Go card through fudged use of terminology.

Assuming half of the journeys out there had 1 transfer, and then say 20% had 2, then they're no where near the 100 million.  I'm just questioning the rhetoric is all.... especially when they then come out and say the average cost per trip.... do they really mean trip or did they say journey and then have the marketing dept overturn their use of the word 'journey'.

[mufreight]

The spin doctors strike again.

[somebody]

Ozbob, sounds like this is a point requiring clarification.  I didn't see a definition in the Tracker.