Ministerial Statement: Fare evasion blitz targets non-ticket holders

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
03/01/2008

Fare evasion blitz targets non-ticket holders

Failing to buy a ticket before boarding a QR Citytrain could result in a $150 fine as a fare evasion blitz continues across the network.

Minister for Transport John Mickel said today passengers should ensure they had enough time and spare change to buy a valid ticket before boarded their train.

From January 9, anyone travelling on Citytrain services who approaches the reverse ticket window without a valid reason for not buying a ticket could be hit with a $150 fine.

"The last thing people need over the holiday break is to spend $150 on a fare evasion fine," Mr Mickel said.

"Don't risk a fine - always buy your ticket before you travel."

Mr Mickel said passengers travelling from an unattended station where the ticket machine was not in use were still permitted to buy a ticket from the reverse ticket window at CBD Citytrain stations.

"Translink transit officers are notified immediately of any ticketing machines which are not in use across the Citytrain network, which helps them verify passengers' claims," he said.

QR Passenger Services Group General Manager Andy Taylor said pocket-sized pamphlets raising awareness about the crackdown had been issued to passengers since December 17 last year.

"Fare evasion is the same principle as being fined for a driving offence such as speeding - individuals are breaking the law and have to accept the consequences of their actions," Mr Taylor said.

He said QR was stepping up its passenger safety and security focus by increasing the number of patrols by Queensland Police Railway Squad officers, transit officers and private security guards on the network.


HOW TO AVOID FINES AND TRAVEL SAFE

Passengers travelling on the Citytrain and Translink networks must:

? Buy a ticket from their originating station;

? Clearly display the valid ticket to the transit officer at their destination with the valid date, time and zone/s travelled; and

? If requested by an authorised transit officer, supply your name, age and date of birth for further identification verification.

? While waiting for a train, use the Core Safety Zones marked with a blue and white stripped line on the majority of station platforms. These areas are covered by CCTV surveillance cameras, are well lit and have a help phone nearby.

?For additional security after dark, check the timetable for Guardian Train services. These services will have private security guards onboard.

For more information visit: www.qr.com.au

January 3, 2008

[ozbob]

People who fail to 'touch on' with the Go Card will no doubt be hit with a $150 fine too?

See http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/T/TranstOpPasTA94.pdf  page 107.

Yes failure to tag on with Smart card is specifically mentioned.

Welcome to the Smart State!

[ozbob]

Follow up story at Brisbanetimes  click here!

Fare evaders costing $10m a year

[Mozz]

The reverse ticekt situation is a tricky one.

On a  when trying to buy a weekly ticket from the Oxley train station I have had to wait 4-7 minutes in a queue before being able to buy my ticket. Most often the delays are created by those who don't understand the system and require advice and coaching, or people with a disability (who need higher levels of client service in order to try and meet their objectives), or people trying to claim concessions they might not be entitled to - as some examples.

I have seen lineups of 30+ people trying to use the one single ticket machine at Oxley station (no notes, just coins) when the ticket office is not open - although these have been when large demand such as sporting, or concert events.

I have missed trains while waiting in the queue.

The temptation just to jump on the train and buy the reverse ticket has been strong, but to date I have resisted. However I can see how many other regular commuters would be tempted just to hop on the incoming train.

As a measure to force commuters to obtain a gocard I can understand the crackdown on reverse tickets however the situation is not black and white as suggested above: fare machine operating = $150 fine.

[ozbob]

Yes Mozz, there are limited circumstances where commuters can travel with a view to buying a reverse ticket.  The powers to be don't accept lack of change, or queues as valid reasons.  Rather than just threaten commuters (and fail to mention the Go card slug as well) the Minister et al. might be better off ensuring stations are properly staffed, ticket vending machines are operable and can accept a wide range of notes as well as coins at all times. Not as is now.  I can see many people being fined for things largely out of their control.

From  http://qroti.com/travelinfo/qr/citytrain/reversesales/

The circumstances (ed. reverse sales) can be one of the following:

    * When a passenger has a current ticket, and wishes to upgrade to a season ticket or a new destination. To do this, present your ticket at the attended destination station on the same day of purchase. It will be credited to the cost of a new ticket from that date.

    * When a person boards at an unattended station, where Ticket Vending Machines were either not existent or broken.

    * When a person is unable to use a Ticket Vending Machine due to a physical or intellectual disability. A Health Benefit Card constitutes proof of this condition, and must be produced upon request by QR Citytrain authorised staff, wherever you be on a train or at a station.

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes  click here!

15% of rail commuters don't buy tickets on weekend

15% of rail commuters don't buy tickets on weekend

Tony Moore | January 4, 2008 - 4:07AM

Almost 15 per cent of people using the train on weekends do not bother to buy a ticket, Queensland Rail said yesterday.

And during the week, almost eight per cent of commuters using the train do not have a valid ticket, according to a survey of rail commuters completed in November 2007.

These were the surprise findings of the survey for Queensland Rail, as it attempts to slow the $10 million-a-year loss it suffers at the hands of fare cheats.

Transport Minister John Mickel yesterday announced that people without valid train tickets would be fined $150 from January 9.

But it is unclear whether any extra rail staff would be used as part of the crackdown.

Queensland Rail has been issuing gentle warnings for the past three weeks, encouraging people to buy tickets.

But Mr Mickel conceded that the $10 million loss was the major factor behind the latest in a series of "crackdowns" on fare evaders.

"This is one way of ensuring that that $10 million is spent on services," Mr Mickel said.

Queensland Rail earns about $120 million each year from fares.

The November survey revealed that almost 70 per cent (69.5%) of rail commuters were adults, 20.6 per cent were concession fares, 9.2 per cent students, with children making up just 0.7 per cent of the fares.

The level of fare evasion is highest (13 per cent) among young children, although very few (23) were surveyed.

The highest "meaningful" level of fare cheats were adults, where 7.6 per cent of the 2368 questioned did not have a ticket, while 5.4 per cent of the 313 school students did not have tickets.

Just 0.7 per cent of the 678 concession card holders did not have a ticket.

Fare evasion is highest on the Beenleigh (14.5%) and Nambour (11.9%) lines, and lowest on the Rosewood (3.1%) and Brisbane Airport (3.2%) lines.

The State Government belatedly introduces its smart card system later this month which will require commuters to "touch on" and "touch off" their computerised smart cards on electronic sensors at rail stations.

Mr Mickel said he was not anticipating the same level of fare evasion on the electronic system as with the existing paper tickets.

He said rail employees would be checking people had tickets, but it is unclear whether the extra staff would be enlisted as part of the blitz.

Queensland Rail now has 82 Translink officers patrolling trains and is training 30 additional employees.

"What we are doing is focusing on this activity at the major CBD stations where 80 per cent of the public come through," the minister said.

Queensland Rail's Citytrain services suffer substantial losses and are heavily subsidised by the State Government through taxpayers, Mr Mickel said.

"For every one dollar that the passenger spends on a ticket, the rest of the taxpayers spend $3 subsiding passenger transport in South-East Queensland," he said.

[ozbob]

From Courier Mail Jan 5 click here!


Train fare theft costing big bucks

Train fare theft costing big bucks
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Patrick Lion

January 04, 2008 11:00pm

TRAIN fare evaders are stealing $10 million a year from taxpayers as the State Government struggles to stop crucial public transport funding bleeding from its coffers.

Transport Minister John Mickel has unveiled the latest crackdown after a Queensland Rail survey found 8 per cent of CityTrain commuters were travelling for free.

The move comes after the failure of another "crack team" of TransLink officers to stop the fare evasion problem less than a year ago when a different survey uncovered eerily similar results.

The State Government is racing to plug the revenue hole and its team of 83 TransLink officers is to be boosted eventually with another 33 who are being trained.

Mr Mickel said the immediate crackdown would not include extra TransLink officers but the present team would instead be "ramping up a campaign" by being stricter from Wednesday.

"Fare evasion robs not just the taxpayer but robs us of the ability to provide extra passenger services on our transport network throughout southeast Queensland," Mr Mickel said.

TransLink's enforcement team will target the 80 per cent of commuters who use Central and Roma Street stations ? the same issue identified last March in previous minister Paul Lucas's study that found losses of $1 million a month at those stations.

The new study, conducted in September, found evasion was higher on weekends while overall fare-dodging was worst on the Beenleigh line, at 14.5 per cent.

Children were the worst offenders, followed by adults, school children and then concession card holders.

The result is a $9.6 million loss from TransLink's $120 million annual revenue from ticket sales.

Opposition transport spokesman Tim Nicholls blamed increasing train cancellations and continued bungles with the introduction of smartcard technology for passengers skipping fares.

"If you have a system that works well, people aren't going to evade paying for it often," Mr Nicholls said. "And why is the Government suddenly doing something about this now? What have these officers been doing in the meantime? They have been caught with their pants down."

The campaign comes as Mr Mickel refused to reveal a timetable to finally complete the long-awaited roll-out of the GO Card across the southeast.

The Sunshine Coast and Brisbane's north will start using the technology in coming weeks - five years after the whole southeast corner was promised it.

Denying that he was reluctant to give a date after repeated broken promises from his predecessors, Mr Mickel refused to say when the hi-tech ticketing project would be completed.

"I want a system that is convenient to the public and not one that is inconvenient," he said.

[ozbob]

This is my comment on the blog to the above article here!

-->

I don't support fare evasion.  However commuters have a reasonable expectation that they can purchase tickets. Stations properly staffed, ticketing vending machines functioning and able to take notes and give change at all times.

Don't be hoodwinked fellow commuters, there are occasions when reverse ticketing (buying a ticket at the completion is allowed). For example

    * When a passenger has a current ticket, and wishes to upgrade to a season ticket or a new destination. To do this, present your ticket at the attended destination station on the same day of purchase. It will be credited to the cost of a new ticket from that date.

    * When a person boards at an unattended station, where Ticket Vending Machines were either not existent or broken.

    * When a person is unable to use a Ticket Vending Machine due to a physical or intellectual disability. A Health Benefit Card constitutes proof of this condition, and must be produced upon request by QR Citytrain authorised staff, wherever you be on a train or at a station.

Note long queues and a lack of change are not accepted as an excuse.  This whole beatup is to disguise the shambles with the Go Card.  This Government wastes $100 million dollars on failed IT projects and doesn't care a damn, but is all out to harass commuters.

The other thing the Minister has not mentioned is that if you fail to tag on with the smart card you will also be eventually liable for $150.  Don't believe me?  See See Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 Fare Evasion and other Offences --> http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/T/TranstOpPasTA94.pdf  page 107.

Smart state?  Control state more like it.

[ozbob]

Media Release 5 January 2008

SEQ:  Fare Evasion Blitz - Another example of failed transport policy

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport does not support fare evasion on public transport.  However, Transport Minister Mickel?s statement of the 3rd January concerning a blitz on fare evasion in SEQ has failed to acknowledge the systemic ticketing problems on SEQ public transport, and those occasions when rail commuters in particular may legally travel without a valid ticket.  The statement also fails to highlight that failing to tag on with a smart card is also an offence and will eventually be subject to a $150 fine.

?Many commuters have given feedback on the difficulty of purchasing tickets at understaffed railway stations and continuing problems with Ticket Vending Machines that cannot provide adequate change, or in some cases accept notes.?

?There are a number of situations that may cause a citizen to board a train without a valid ticket, but with the intention of purchasing a ticket at major stations during or on completion of journey, so called reverse ticketing.?

?These situations are: when a person has a valid ticket but wishes to upgrade to a weekly or monthly ticket or a new destination; when a person boards at an unattended station, where Ticket Vending Machines are not available or functioning properly; and for some people who are unable to use a Ticket Vending Machine due to physical or intellectual disabilities. These people may need to show their health care card.?

?It is interesting to note that the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 Fare Evasion and other Offences --> http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/T/TranstOpPasTA94.pdf  page 107 specifically mentions that a failure to tag on or early tag off with a smart card is fare evasion.  What happens if the GoCard tag on devices are not functioning??

?To think that the GoCard will be a ticketing panacea is flawed thinking.  There is an urgent need for fair fare pricing to be introduced on the GoCard otherwise fare evasion will be an ongoing issue. Railway stations need to be properly staffed and Ticket Vending Machines maintained in full operational capacity,? said Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

Contact:

Robert  Dow

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

[ozbob]

Reports of very long queues at the reverse ticket windows at Central up to 50 metres long this morning (7th Jan)

Seems problems somewhere in the system.  And this with the background of a looming blitz!

[ozbob]

The long queues at the reverse ticket windows would be many people buying weekly tickets etc. who are coming in from unattended stations.  Some folks may have had problems with ticket machines, some people may have lost patience standing in queues and didn't want to miss their train.  Be warned that long queues at the station commuters get on, or a lack of change will not be accepted as a reasonable excuse and would place that person in the firing line for a $150 fine.  People who are buying tickets (albeit reverse tickets) are not fare evading in an absolute sense, expect some fireworks later this week.

Brisbane mX 7 Jan 2008  page 5

Blitz still on cards for trains

Blitz still on cards for trains

Anna Edwards

A crackdown on train fare evaders has been criticised for failing to address widespread ticketing problems and staff shortages within Queensland's public transport system. From Wednesday, commuters caught travelling on the Citytrain network without a valid ticket will be slapped with a $150 fine.
Transport Minister John Mickel said the blitz was a response to government data that revealed 8 per cent of Citytrain commuters travelled for free, costing taxpayers $10 million a year.
But Robert Dow, spokesman, for commuter group Rail Back on Track, said the crackdown failed to acknowledge "systemic ticketing problems" on southeast Queensland public transport. "There are a number of situations that may cause a citizen to board a train without a valid ticket, but with the intention of purchasing a ticket at major stations during or on completion of journey, so-called reverse ticketing," Dow said.
He said many commuters had difficulty buying tickets at understaffed railway stations and many ticket machines continually short-changed commuters or didn't accept notes. But Mickel said the onus-was on passengers to ensure they had enough time and spare change to buy a valid ticket before they boarded their train. He said passengers travelling from an unattended station where the ticket machine was not in use were permitted to buy a ticket from the reverse ticket window at CBD stations. The blitz would focus on commuters who used Central and Roma Street stations. No extra staff have been recruited for the blitz but 33 TransLink staff are being trained and will eventually join the existing 82 transit officers.

[ozbob]

To avoid the queues I usually purchase weekly tickets at approx 5am in the morning.  I go for a morning walk and usually arrive at Oxley station about 5.05am just before the first down service (5.12am).  Not everyone can do this (or would want too  ).

On Friday 21st December last, my daughter and I caught the 6.54am service to the City with a change to airtrain.  As luck would have it, the booking office at Oxley was closed but I had $36 in coins in my emergency reserve.  Farcical isn't it?  5am to buy weekly tickets and carry around $50 dollars of coins 'just in case'.

No wonder the reverse ticket queue at Central is often 50 metres or longer.  One person I know who has to buy a single from the TVM at Dakabin (unattended station) and then approach the reverse ticket window at Central to get a weekly has waited up to 30 minutes to do just that.  Rather than ramping up the Transit officers more frontline ticket staff would go a long way.

The GoCard promises some relief but at the moment I will be sticking with weekly tickets due to the poor fare structure of the card, as will many commuters.

[Mozz]

Today's experience - Monday 7 January 2008 - probably the first day back for many office workers and the need to purchase weekly tickets was high. Arrived at around 6.35 to catch the 6.44 to Central. Only around 5 people waiting in front of the single ticket window that was open. This quickly grew to 10 - 15 people while we realised the single QR employee was trying to help fix a problem with either a person or the actual single (coin only) ticket machine.

Of course in the back of my mind here I was predicting a possible another ten minute wait until 6.54 for the next train - given the well publicised QR blitzkreig on those commuters who dare to actually catch a train because they are unable to buy a ticket.

However fortune favoured myself and many of my fellow commuters, as the single QR employee was able to resolve the ticket machine issue and continue to attend to the ever growing lineup of staff.

[ozbob]

Blitzing and harassing commuters buying reverse tickets at Central and Roma St (who are arguably not fare evading at all) will only increase the frustration of many.  They are simply reflecting the systemic ticketing problems across the network.

The real fare evasion is going on external to the CBD axes, this is where attention should be directed.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
08/01/2008

Blitz on Citytrain fare evaders starts tomorrow

Queensland Rail Citytrain passengers who try to catch a free ride on the network will be hit with $150 penalty notices when a fare evasion blitz starts tomorrow.

The crackdown comes after a Translink survey conducted in November last year revealed fare evaders were costing the system around $10 million a year.

Minister for Transport John Mickel said passengers should ensure they had enough time and spare change to buy a valid ticket before boarding trains.

"Failing to buy a ticket is theft. A majority of people do the right thing but a small percentage evade fares and this ultimately prevents more services being offered,'' he said.

Mr Mickel said passengers who approach the reverse ticket window without a valid reason for not buying a ticket would be hit with the $150 penalty.

Those travelling from an unattended station where ticket machines were not in use would be permitted to buy a ticket from the reverse ticket window at CBD Citytrain stations.

"Translink transit officers are notified immediately of any ticketing machines which are not in use across the Citytrain network, which helps them verify passengers' claims," he said.

For more information visit: www.qr.com.au

January 8, 2008

==============================================================

[ozbob]

Ensuring all TVMs are operable and ticketing offices open and properly staffed should be a priority.

Well commuters, you know where you stand.

[Mozz]

"Failing to buy a ticket is theft. A majority of people do the right thing but a small percentage evade fares and this ultimately prevents more services being offered,'' he said.

Mr Mickel said passengers who approach the reverse ticket window without a valid reason for not buying a ticket would be hit with the $150 penalty.

Those travelling from an unattended station where ticket machines were not in use would be permitted to buy a ticket from the reverse ticket window at CBD Citytrain stations.

"Translink transit officers are notified immediately of any ticketing machines which are not in use across the Citytrain network, which helps them verify passengers' claims," he said.

Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear - many would say advice provided to those responsible for public transport here in SEQ may well be in need of a degree of modification to include advice which is appropriate/legal/commonsense/insertanotherdescriptorhere. Keeping on this line of spin to divert the attention away from the fact the smartcard is somewhere between 2 and 5 years late is inappropriate and reeks of a lack of understanding of the challenges faced by the population of SEQ who use/want_to_use public transport here in SEQ.

There is the concept of "valid reason" raised in the release, however following detail, combined with other information coming from the Ministers office or translink promote that only if the ticket machine was inoperable (and registered as such by translink officers) and the station was "unattended"

The media release quoted above suggests that while it is not possible to get the smartcard operating for the intended audience (all commuters on public transport in SEQ) but somehow each and every translink transit officers are immediately able to detect each and every instance of a ticketing machines which aren't in use. If this technology exists I would suggest that it actually be harnessed and this innovation and effectiveness be directed towards the yet to be anyway near implemented smart/go/weareallstillwaiting card.

Then there is the casual and quite inappropriate usage of legal terminology such as "theft" - a quick check of the Qld Criminal Code or any other codified or other legal frameworks in Australia would see that something which is not tangible e.g. "travel on public transport without prior payment before the journey commences" cannot in anyway be called theft/stealing.

From a dictionary definition: Theft: 1. the act of stealing; the wrongful taking and carrying away of the personal goods or property of another; larceny.

Then we come to the concept of "onus of proof" - the legal frameworks we utilise here in Australia are reasonably consistent from state to state/territory - the onus of proof rests with the prosecution - not with the individual/defendant. (yes there are a few, and very few instances where there is a reversal e.g. the charge of possession of property suspected of being stolen or unlawfully obtained - the onus falls on the defendant to prove that the subject property was lawfully obtained).

According to the release above and previous correspondence released on this matter, only in those instances where the ticket machines are registered as inoperable by translink and such station was unattended are acceptable to receive exception from a $150 fine.


I suppose I would ask, what is the definition of "unattended"? Is a station unattended when the single operator has to take a "nature" break and visit the toilet for 10 or so minutes, thus depriving commuters of the option of purchasing a ticket and potentially having to wait another 30 or 60 minutes for the next train.

I also understand that only a few stations have ticket machines capable of taking notes. If someone presents to one of these lucky stations which is "unattended" and the machine doesn't accept the note/s (note damage/inadvertent error) does this mean that the translink officers will be immediately advised that this occurred and be aware of this matter so as not to sting affected commuters with a $150 fine.

I can't say that I have researched this topic, but does Translink have an easy way of commuters knowing which railway stations have ticket machines which take notes and those which only take coins, or for that matter which stations have only one ticket machine or those which have multiple (or is this left up to the commuter, particularly those casual commuters, to work out for themselves).

Where does the commuter who arrives at an "unattended" station with a coin only ticket machine, only to find they don't have enough coins, but plenty of notes (which are legal tender here in Australia). What if this commuter was a woman by herself at night - options? Catch the train and risk a $150 fine (with an additional 43 translink officers, more than likely) or does she talk a walk around the dark surrounds of a train station, looking for an open retail premises where she might be able to acquire enough coins to meet the fare price in coins rather than notes?

I live at Oxley, after 7.30pm generally the only retail premises open is the BP on Oxley Road - some 600metres east of the train/bus station (which only has a single, coin only ticket machine which I understand from other commuters regularly fails)

Anyway, just a few thoughts of my own, others feel free to provide their perspective

[ozbob]

Well said Mozz.

Fining passengers who are buying reverse tickets at CBD stations is just punishing people for system wide problems of not providing proper ticketing resources. Another letter to the editor by a frustrated commuter in today's (9 Jan) Courier Mail further highlights these issues.

The real fare evaders are riding outer suburban services regularly, and often buy 1 zone tickets within the inner city to traverse the Transit Officer gauntlet, and then travel system wide for free.  Rather than fining people who are not arguably fare evading, catching the real cheats should be the priority.  Shambles!!

[ozbob]

Just listened to Minister Mickel interviewed by Anne O'Keefe on 612 ABC Brisbane.

Good work Minister and  ABC, helping to inform commuters.
Still think that reverse ticket buyers are not really fare evading in many cases.

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Blitz on fare evaders begins

Blitz on fare evaders begins
Julian Murphy | January 9, 2008 - 8:17AM

A crackdown on fare evaders on Brisbane's rail system began this morning, with people to receive $150 fines for travelling without valid tickets.

Minister for Transport John Mickel said figures showed about 8 per cent of people who travelled on trains each day did not have the correct ticket.

This costs Queensland Rail about $10 million in lost revenue each year.

"Failing to buy a ticket is theft," the minister said.

"A majority of people do the right thing but a small percentage evade fares and this ultimately prevents more services being offered."

Mr Mickel said the blitz would not include extra officers but the present team would instead be "ramping up a campaign".

Queensland Rail is training 33 additional employees to join the 83 TransLink officers.

Staff will target Central and Roma Street stations, which are used by about 80 per cent of commuters.

A study released last March revealed losses of $1 million a month at those stations.

Fare evasion is highest on the Beenleigh and Nambour lines, according to a Queensland Rail survey.

Blog on this article click here!

My comment:

No one condones fare evasion. Fining passengers who are buying reverse tickets at CBD stations is just punishing people for system wide problems of not providing proper ticketing resources.
The real fare evaders are riding outer suburban services regularly, and often buy 1 zone tickets within the inner city to traverse the Transit Officer gauntlet, and then travel system wide for free. Rather than fining people who are not arguably fare evading, catching the real cheats should be the the priority. Reverse ticket buyers are soft targets, and they are not guilty of theft. They have every intention of paying their fare, just have problems with the mediocre ticket machines and poor staffing at stations.

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Rail fine blitz gets mixed response

Rail fine blitz gets mixed response
Tony Moore | January 9, 2008 - 1:16PM

Train travellers had a mixed response to a new fine blitz for fare evaders which started this morning on Brisbane's Citytrain network.

Major delays experienced on the Cleveland line also gave an opportunity for the State Opposition to question the Government's priorities.

Commuters raised issues of free public transport for students and the unemployed, and questioned whether people actually had the money to pay for tickets in the first place.

One person said he was aware of friends from the Gold Coast who deliberately avoided paying the fare for as long as possible, because it was cheaper than paying a $150 fine when they were caught.

Fare evasion means Queensland Rail misses out $10 million a year in revenue from rail commuters, a sum which Transport Minister John Mickel said could go back into rail services.

Kaye Ormsby from Auchenflower said the fine was enough to encourage her to pay the fare.

"Absolutely. I would much rather pay a $2 fare than pay a fine of $150," she said.

"Sometimes if the train is there at the platform and you haven't had time to buy a ticket you jump on, then you can get one at the (ticket) office," she said.

Glenn Mitchell, from Nundah, said he knew people who avoided paying the train tickets and wanted the fines enforced.

Sean O'Leary, visiting from Melbourne, said the $150 was too much and said public transport should be free for students and pensioners.

"I think $150 is quite a large sum of money and some people might not be able to come up with the money for a ticket," Mr O'Leary said.

Peter Cain, from the Tweed Valley caught the train for the first time this morning after losing his driver's licence.

"I really think a fine of $150 is about right," Mr Cain said.

However, Josh O'Hare from Stafford disagreed , saying it was too much.

"It's such a small offence," he said.

Meanwhile, the State Opposition said the state government should focus on providing a reliable public transportation service rather than cracking down on ticket evasion.

Shadow Minister for Transport and Traffic Management Tim Nicholls said he had no problem with cracking down on fare evasion so long as commuters were getting the public transport system they were paying for.

"Minister Mickel's priorities are all wrong," Mr Nicholls said.

"Instead of trying to protect government revenues he should be focussing on improving the vast deficiencies in the system."

He said 350 train services were cancelled each month in Queensland.

"Surely it would be better for the minister to be focussing his efforts on making sure the trains actually run before he starts cracking down on fare evasion."

[ozbob]

Tim Nicholls MP
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
Shadow Minister for Transport and Traffic Management Trade, Employment
and Industrial Relations Member for Clayfield

9 January, 2008

Mickel's priorities on transport all wrong

The State Labor Government should be more focussed on providing a
reliable public transportation service rather than focusing in on
crackdown on ticket evasion, the Queensland Coalition said today.

Shadow Minister for Transport and Traffic Management Tim Nicholls said
he had no problem with cracking down on fare evasion so long as
commuters were getting the public transport system they were paying for.


"Minister Mickel's priorities are all wrong.  Instead of trying to
protect government revenues he should be focussing on improving the vast
deficiencies in the system," said Mr Nicholls.

"There are currently 350 cancellations per month in Queensland.  Surely
it would be better for the minister to be focussing his efforts on
making sure the trains actually run before he starts cracking down on
fare evasion.

"According to Queensland Rail's own website only this morning commuters
faced delays on both the Cleveland and airport lines.

"This morning on the Cleveland line, there were no trains running at all
and while QR was providing a bus service public transport users were
still facing delays up to an hour.

"How many people were late to work this morning because of these delays?

"Also, on the airport line, commuters faced delays up to 30 min."

Mr Nicholls also said he believed the unreliability in service being
offered by the State Government was part of the problem with fare
evasion.

"If you have a system which works well, people aren't going to evade
paying for it," said Mr Nicholls. 

[ozbob]

Report page 5 Brisbane mX Jan 9, Anger at evader campaign.

Anger at evader campaign

Anna Edwards

Commuters at Central Station were left angry this morning on the first day of the State Governments blitz on fare evaders.

From today, anyone caught travelling on the Citytrain without a valid ticket will be slapped with a $150 fine and commuters can longer board a train with the intention of buying their ticket from the reverse ticket window in city stations.

Scores of commuters clogged the pathway out of Central Station in peak hour this morning lining up to buy their tickets following their train journey.

They were met by at least a dozen transit officers who issued fines and warnings to those without a valid reason for not having a ticket.

Regular commuter Karl was slapped with an infringement warning notice.

"My usual weekly ticket has expired and I didn't have any cash on me this morning so I caught the train with the intention of getting cash out and buying my ticket when I got here," he said.

"I'm no ticket dodger, I just wanted to get money so I could buy my ticket," he said.

Commuter Kirsten Penny, who travels every day from Strathpine to Central Station, said a $150 fine was too large.

"I think it is a good idea (to stop fare evaders), but you should still be able to get your ticket once you get to the station," she said.

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor

Published Courier Mail January 10

Fining passengers who are buying tickets at the end of their journey at CBD stations (instead of buying tickets at the start of the trip) is just punishing people for system-wide problems with ticketing resources.

The fact they are standing in line to buy tickets indicates they are not thieves at all. They have every intention of paying their fare - they just have problems with the mediocre ticket machines and poor staffing at stations.

The real fare evaders are riding outer suburban services regularly, and often buy one-zone tickets within the inner city to traverse the transit officer gauntlet, and then travel system-wide for free.

Rather than fining people who are arguably not evading fares, the priority should be catching the real cheats.

[Derwan]

I agree with what others are saying.  The TransLink Officers hassling people in reverse-ticket queues should be on the trains catching the real fare evaders.

HOWEVER, if an officer on a train was to come across someone without a ticket claiming they were going to buy one at their destination, they should be warned/fined.  Otherwise anyone could use that excuse - including those intending to evade the fare.

[ozbob]

Yes, hear you Derwan.  One warning then fine.  That is reasonable IMHO too, particularly in view of the long culture here in Brisbane of reverse ticketing.  It is a hangover of the days when we had ticket sellers on the trains.  It will take time for all the genuine 'reverse ticketers' to hear the message.

I spoke with media today and stressed that where there is a reasonable doubt the commuter should be given the benefit of doubt.  For example, you go to a station, TVM is off, station office open but the station staff member has wandered off on a long cleaning task or long break etc.  The person arrives 10 minutes before their train, no sign of the station staff, train arrives.  Under this circumstance I think the commuter should be given the benefit of the doubt when they reverse ticket.

Also another situation.  The ticket office is advertised as being open from 5am to 7pm daily at a station.  A person arrives to catch the 6.12am train.  They have $5 note to pay for their ticket.  On arrival the booking office is closed (staff illness), the TVM is on but because it doesn't take notes they are not able to buy a ticket.  Clearly under this circumstance the commuter should be permitted to reverse ticket, for them to be hit with a $150 fine is grossly unjust.

The Go Card has the potential to minimise ticketing window queues etc. providing it gets sorted and fully operational.  But might be a few queues at the tag on/tag off devices 

Cheers
Ozbob

[ozbob]

Perspective piece in the Courier Mail  January 11 by Terry Sweetman

Transport twaddle

click here!

There are reasons why people may have to reverse ticket, and simply labelling them as fare evaders and 'thieves' is not just.  Sweetman makes this point and many others.  I personally do not support fare evasion in any shape or form, but will continue to make the point that not all reverse ticket buyers are fare evaders.

[ozbob]

Submitted to Courier Mail January 11th

With respect to Bruce Mackie's letter (C-M, Jan 11) following up on my letter of the 10th.  I strongly support the union's members in their strong stance against fare evasion. I stated this position in my original letter to the editor on the January 7. I am simply making the point that not all reverse ticket buyers (buying ticket at completion of journey) are fare evaders. There is a long culture in Brisbane of reverse ticketing.  It is perhaps a hangover of the days when we had ticket sellers on the trains.  It will take time for all the genuine 'reverse ticketers' to hear the message. One warning then fine is reasonable.

I think that where there is a reasonable doubt though the commuter should be given the benefit of that doubt.  For example, you go to a station, ticket machine is off, station office open but the station staff member has wandered off on a long cleaning task or long break etc.  The person arrives 10 minutes before their train, no sign of the station staff, train arrives.  Under this circumstance I think the commuter should be given the benefit of the doubt when they reverse ticket.

Also another situation.  The ticket office is advertised as being open from 5am to 7pm daily at a station.  A person arrives to catch the 6.12am train.  They have $5 note to pay for their ticket.  On arrival the booking office is closed (staff illness), the ticket machine is on but because it doesn't take notes they are not able to buy a ticket.  Clearly under this circumstance the commuter should be permitted to reverse ticket, for them to be hit with a $150 fine is grossly unjust.

The Go Card has the potential to minimise ticketing window queues etc. providing it gets sorted and fully operational.

[ozbob]

A commuter has posted on blog at http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/comments/0,,23033123-27197,00.html  detailing exactly what I am attempting to highlight in the midst of this blitz ...  at least he was allowed to buy the reverse ticket.  Lets hope that folks who may be caught up in similar scenarios are also managed empathetically. 

[extract] ... This morning at approx 7.20am I attempted to purchase a ticket from the Translink machine with a $5 note. The machine displayed full service. I placed the $5.00 note several times into the machine but was rejected all times. I boarded the 7.30 am train and when I got off at Roma Street and went to the ticket window to purchase my ticket I was asked by an inspector why I was trying to buy a ticket. I explained the above to him and he conferred with another inspector who stated words to the effect that there can be problems with Clayfield. The inspector stated he would give me the "benefit of the doubt" and allowed me to purchase the $2.70. fare rather than receiving a fine. There was no benefit of the doubt at all.  ...

[ozbob]

Passing through Roma St station this morning I noticed the reverse ticket buyers where under the hammer ...

[ozbob]

Reports of a number (at least 20) TVMs (new ones) not operating around the system this morning (January 16).

Commuters are reminded that under those circumstances it would be reasonable to reverse ticket if necessary.  QR have announced (ABC Radio News) that they will relax the 'blitz' for those affected.

[Mozz]

CourierMail reports the blitz has been cancelled - but I tend to believe it has been "relaxed"

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23060504-3102,00.html

[ozbob]

Thanks Mozz for the link.

There have been reports before of problems with the new TVMs and problems with the system on buses.

Looks like a while to go yet ...


See Courier Mail further update  click here!

Brisbanetimes story click here!

[Derwan]

Until recently, I agreed with others that TransLink Officers shouldn't be targeting those purchasing reverse tickets - as these people aren't really fare evaders.

HOWEVER, reading something yesterday made me have a rethink.  What's to stop someone catching the train from say Ipswich or the Gold Coast and claiming that they travelled only a short distance (e.g. from Auchenflower) when they purchase their ticket?  They're not "evading" the fare, but they aren't paying for the entire trip.  Perhaps QR staff should be asking for proof of residency.

Planning to purchase reverse tickets has been "an offence" for over 2 years.  How long do people need to get used to this?

Provided there are no issues with ticket machines or staff at stations, there should be no excuse and yes, people in reverse line queues should be fined because they have committed an offence. 

But despite this, I still think there should be more officers out in the suburbs.

[ozbob]

There is a need for more active ticket checking in the outer regions of the network I agree.

Reserve ticketing is allowed under some circumstances (see previous).  In general you need a valid ticket to travel and that is fair.  One warning then fine (warnings are recorded on database, TOs do check it when they find someone without a valid ticket).  There has been a long history of reverse and in transit ticketing on Citytrain so allowing a warning is reasonable.

I think people are getting the message. 

The question is will a failure to tag on with the Go Card be equivalent to travelling without a valid ticket?  (In reality it is IMHO) Under the act it makes no differentiation, failure to tag on is clearly defined as fare evasion.
So having a small fine ($5) for a failure to tag on, and not having a paper ticket ($150) is very inequitable and perhaps not in line with the legislation.

?

[Derwan]

The $5 "fine" is for when you fail to touch OFF (i.e. the system knows you're travelling somewhere, but does not know the destination, so a flat fee is applied).  This is NOT fare evasion.

Failure to touch ON (or purchase a ticket) before your trip would result in a warning/$150 fine.  This IS fare evasion.

[ozbob]

The Go Card user guide makes no differentiation between failure to tag on or tag off.  Failure to tag on is clearly fare evasion but only has a token fine compared to no other valid ticket.

See page 7 Go Card User Guide

I agree failure to not tag off is not fare evasion but tagging off early is and that is again mentioned in the legislation.

[ozbob]

Very interesting perspective ...  timely in view of the blitz!

Connex doesn't like passengers, and it shows

From Melbourne Age click here!

Connex doesn't like passengers, and it shows

Christopher Scanlon
January 23, 2008

Our transport companies could learn a lot from the Japanese.

OF ALL the wonders of the Tokyo subway and train network, by far the greatest are the ticket machines. The Shinkansen, or bullet train, the labyrinth that is the Tokyo subway system and the punctuality of the trains are all amazing feats of human ingenuity, design and organisation. Next to the ticket machines, though, they pale by comparison.

The machines I have in mind aren't technically ticket machines at all, since they don't even dispense tickets. Rather, they enable travellers to add value to their tickets. They're called "fare-adjustment" machines and they're located just inside the barrier gates of almost every station. You enter your ticket into the machine and it tells you how much credit you need to add to go through the station exit barriers.

The genius of the fare adjustment machine doesn't lie in the technology itself. No doubt manufacturers of ticket machines could knock one together in an afternoon.

Rather, the genius of the fare-adjustment machine is the culture of which it is a product. The lowly fare adjustment machine is a concrete expression of a culture that is determined to serve customers and help them to do the right thing.

The fare-adjustment machine doesn't make any presumptions about why

you didn't purchase the correct ticket in the first place. You could be trying to cheat the system or you could be a clueless tourist who's struggling with the sensory overload of Tokyo and innocently bought the wrong ticket.

The fare-adjustment machines don't care and the message they send is that as far as the transport authorities are concerned, a commuters' intentions are none of their business. The authorities simply want you to do the right thing, and have set up a system that is flexible enough to help you do so.

The difference between this service-oriented culture and Melbourne's public transport is striking. In Melbourne, the prevailing attitude of public transport operators is one of barely concealed contempt. Commuters seem to be regarded as enemies who are presumed guilty until proven innocent. The public transport operators are beset by a fearful siege mentality: one that presumes that customers are sneaks, frauds and cheats, and constitutionally incapable of doing the right thing even if they tried.

Of course, that's not to say that all commuters are angels. Many are serial fare evaders either because they have never accepted the privatisation of the public transport system and are unwilling to support the private operators or because they simply don't want to pay. Figures published on the Connex website estimate that fare evasion costs the public transport system $30 million to $50 million each year.

Melbourne's public transport operators appear to have very little interest in changing this situation. The contempt they have for commuters has conferred a kind of anti-hero status on fare evaders. Even people, such as me, who dutifully buy tickets cheer when hearing of the exploits of serial fare evaders who proudly claim not to have bought a ticket in months.

Changing this situation requires a change to the culture of how commuters are treated. In this regard, Melbourne could learn a thing or two from the Tokyo public transport authorities. This doesn't mean installing fare-adjustment machines at every train station. The costs of doing so would be prohibitive. It would require the installation of exit barriers and considerable redesign of almost every station.

Rather, Melbourne's public transport authorities could learn from the service culture that the fare-adjustment machine embodies.

One simple suggestion is to change how inspectors deal with suspected fare evaders. Rather than fining those without a ticket, ticket inspectors should be given the authority and the means to sell fare evaders a ticket. This would recognise that people have many reasons for not having a ticket. They might be serial fare evaders, or they might not have had the right money.

If potential fare evaders do not have the money to buy a ticket, then fair enough, book them. They're fair game. It's clear that they never intended to buy a ticket. If they can buy a ticket, but didn't have the right change for the machine, as is often the case, then they would have an opportunity to do the right thing without further questioning.

While those with the siege mentality probably have a long list of why this can't be done, it's unlikely that any barrier is insurmountable. After all, Melbourne's public transport system had something like this for years. They were called "conductors" and many people miss them.

Over the long term, this simple change could produce savings on the administrative costs of cracking down on fare evaders. More importantly though, this small step would show that Melbourne's public transport operators are interested in serving, rather than punishing, their customers. Who knows? It might be the start of winning back the hearts and minds of Melbourne's jaded public transport users.

Christopher Scanlon is a lecturer in the media studies program at La Trobe University and a co-editor of Arena Magazine.

[Derwan]

Rather than fining those without a ticket, ticket inspectors should be given the authority and the means to sell fare evaders a ticket.

This has to be the dumbest statement in this whole article.  Selling fare evaders tickets?

"Please do not fare evade.  If you do, we will make you PAY...... for a ticket."

If all people had to do was pay for the ticket if they got caught, more people would jump on trains without paying for a ticket.  Most of the time they'd get away with it (if they weren't travelling to/from the city).  The worst that could happen is that they'd have to pay for the ticket.

[kwv]

Tim Nicholls MP
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
Shadow Minister for Transport and Traffic Management Trade, Employment
and Industrial Relations Member for Clayfield

9 January, 2008

Mickel's priorities on transport all wrong

Shadow Minister for Transport and Traffic Management Tim Nicholls said
he had no problem with cracking down on fare evasion so long as
commuters were getting the public transport system they were paying for.

"This morning on the Cleveland line, there were no trains running at all
and while QR was providing a bus service public transport users were
still facing delays up to an hour.

Sorry if this is not railway related, but when Tim was Councillor for the Hamilton Ward in the Brisbane City Council for six years.

Did The Community get the public transport, they were paying for?

Especially when the Council buses were always late, crowded, old etc etc, because councillors from both sides decided to waste billions on one tunnel, instead of spending it on buses.