Fare evasion - articles discussion

[justanotheruser]

What extra skills do the rail cops even have?

Why not just scrape them all and pay for extra police that have guaranteed placement/service for/on public transport systems (bus/ferries/rail etc)? seems pointless to be paying different things and different training when all we want is the same single outcome from the groups.

I think they are required to have a security license and first aid qualifications. Other than that nothing. I may be wrong.

[p858snake]

What extra skills do the rail cops even have?

Why not just scrape them all and pay for extra police that have guaranteed placement/service for/on public transport systems (bus/ferries/rail etc)? seems pointless to be paying different things and different training when all we want is the same single outcome from the groups.

I think they are required to have a security license and first aid qualifications. Other than that nothing. I may be wrong.

[Uniform] Police already have the latter and normal police training should far exceed the requirements for the former....

I was thinking they might have extra training in regards to ticketing but that wouldn't be that hard to pass on to all of them anyway.

[longboi]

IIRC, Rail Squad just has the basic QR safety inductions for OHT awareness and basic safeworking/lookout duties.

They don't get ticketing training because they don't officially do revenue protection. Having said that they can issue notices for all the same infringements as TOs.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Logan, Caboolture commuters are worst fare evaders

Logan, Caboolture commuters are worst fare evaders
by Ursula Heger

COMMUTERS from Logan and Caboolture have been named as the worst offenders for fare evasion across the southeast's public transport network last year.

Figures released by TransLink show fare evasion is costing the state's taxpayers $18 million a year, or almost $50,000 a day in lost revenue.

Data shows in the 12 months to July this year, almost 18,300 commuters were handed fines for fare evasion on the southeast's buses, trains and ferries. Passengers from Caboolture and the surrounding suburbs received the highest number of fines for any region racking up 725 fines for the year, following by Logan's commuters with 707 fines.

Ipswich, in Transport Minister Rachel Nolan's electorate, recorded the third highest number of fare evaders with 622 fines handed to residents.

TransLink has also admitted it has little idea of how many commuters were still deliberately failing to touch-off their go cards correctly in order to achieve a cheaper rate. The Courier-Mail revealed in February this year that thousands of long-haul commuters, such as those from the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, were exploiting a loophole in the Go Card system, because the penalty for failing to touch off was less than the cost of the fare.

At the time, TransLink estimated about half of the penalties, know as fixed fares, which are set at $5 for trains and $3 for buses and ferries, recorded in between October and December last year were commuters who were deliberately not touching off in order to record a cheaper fare. The spokesman said while some commuters who consistently fail to touch off had been contacted, they were unsure how widespread the practice still was.

The TransLink spokesman said recent initiatives including closing off gates to paper ticket at inner-city train stations including Fortitude Valley, Roma Street and Central stations had an impact on the problem.

Commuter advocacy group Rail Back on Track said fare evasion was a major problem on the outer regions.

[ozbob]

From Albert & Logan News 29th September 2010 page 3

Fare lot of fines just the ticket

Fare lot of fines just the ticket

Public transport: Logan second-worst for fare evasion

LOGAN train and bus users raked up 707 fines for fare evasion in the 12 months to July, making this area the second-worst for passenger offences.

Those using the Caboolture line received the highest number of fines, recording 725 for the year.

The figures released by TransLink this week show fare evasion is costing the taxpayers $18 million a year in lost revenue.

Data shows in the 12 months to July this year almost 18,300 commuters were handed fines for fare evasion on the southeast's buses, trains and ferries, each resulting in a $200 fine.

Rail Back On Track spokesman Robert Dow said: "Fare evasion is a serious issue in the outer suburbs. As you travel further out the stations are open and there's the temptation not to have a ticket and not to touch on or off with a go card."

[Derwan]

From Queensland Times:

Train-stopper late for GP

A MAN jumped on to a railway track – forcing a train driver to slam on the brakes to avoid crashing into him – because he did not want to be late for a doctor's appointment.

Nathan John Graham, 21, hopped off one platform at the Bundamba station on October 18 and ran across the tracks in front of an Ipswich-bound train.

Ipswich Magistrates Court heard the train driver was forced to slam on the brakes – so hard it caused passengers to lurch forward – in order to avoid hitting Graham.

When police questioned Graham, who did not have a ticket, he said "he would have missed the train otherwise".

Graham said he "had to" jump in front of the oncoming train because he was late for a doctor's appointment.

Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin asked Graham if he understood the stupidity of his actions.

"You would've had an appointment with the undertaker if the train driver hadn't been able to stop," Mr McLaughlin said.

The court was told Graham had been convicted 12 times previously for fare evasion and was caught twice on October 13 "because he needed to visit his daughter".

When he was on his way home and caught evading the fare again, Graham waved his "notice to appear" in court and told police "you've already got me for today".

Mr McLaughlin asked Graham why he could not save up to buy a $1.80 train ticket.

"Do you think you're a special person who doesn't have to pay for trains and everyone else does?" he asked.

Graham said he had since bought a Go Card because he was "sick of getting fines".

He pleaded guilty to three charges of evading a fare and one of going on to railway tracks.

Graham was fined $600 with convictions recorded.

Prosecutor Acting Senior Constable Jo Colston applied for an order banning Graham from catching a train for two years.

But Graham said he needed to catch the train to visit his daughter, to do the shopping for his mother and to make doctor's appointments as he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer and epilepsy.

The application was adjourned until November 1.

IMHO the bit I put in bold should happen more often!

[longboi]

It happens so often but thankfully most cross BEHIND the train, not in front  The excuses are always the same, too - Going to miss the train, can't afford a ticket etc.

IIRC, part of the new legislation which brought about the SNOs was supposed to have something about giving TL the power to issue travel bans without having to go through the courts.

[justanotheruser]

Having previously lived at bundamba I would say graham was one of the unlucky ones in that he got caught! The number of times people went across the track was staggering. Sometimes it was the same person going to the toilet then the vending machine. While the staff at the station are pretty good they can't always be watching due to other tasks they must do.

I think the fact that it is so easy to get down and back up from the tracks tempts people. I do realise it is too late to design a network with taller platforms.

[mufreight]

I think the fact that it is so easy to get down and back up from the tracks tempts people. I do realise it is too late to design a network with taller platforms.

Perhaps if the platforms were raised to carriage floor height it might deter some of these less than intelligent people as for Graham being one of the unlucky ones because he got caught he only got what he deserved and he can count himself amongst the lucky one because he did not get hit which would have served him right but would have been even harder on the train driver.

[justanotheruser]

I think the fact that it is so easy to get down and back up from the tracks tempts people. I do realise it is too late to design a network with taller platforms.

Perhaps if the platforms were raised to carriage floor height it might deter some of these less than intelligent people as for Graham being one of the unlucky ones because he got caught he only got what he deserved and he can count himself amongst the lucky one because he did not get hit which would have served him right but would have been even harder on the train driver.

I do realise he got what he deserved and that he is lucky that he wasn't seriously injured or killed. I was just trying to make the point that so many people cross the tracks at bundamba and get away with it.

[mufreight]

I think the fact that it is so easy to get down and back up from the tracks tempts people. I do realise it is too late to design a network with taller platforms.

Perhaps if the platforms were raised to carriage floor height it might deter some of these less than intelligent people as for Graham being one of the unlucky ones because he got caught he only got what he deserved and he can count himself amongst the lucky one because he did not get hit which would have served him right but would have been even harder on the train driver.

I do realise he got what he deserved and that he is lucky that he wasn't seriously injured or killed. I was just trying to make the point that so many people cross the tracks at bundamba and get away with it.

Unfortunately the way your point came across could be seen as diminishing the seriousness of this practice but then I would very much doubt that you have witnessed such a practice from a drivers seat or the effects of those who have.  Drink drivers also frequently get away with it and complain loudly about their bad luck when they get caught, but better they get caught than kill themselves or some other uninvolved bystander.

[justanotheruser]

I think the fact that it is so easy to get down and back up from the tracks tempts people. I do realise it is too late to design a network with taller platforms.

Perhaps if the platforms were raised to carriage floor height it might deter some of these less than intelligent people as for Graham being one of the unlucky ones because he got caught he only got what he deserved and he can count himself amongst the lucky one because he did not get hit which would have served him right but would have been even harder on the train driver.

I do realise he got what he deserved and that he is lucky that he wasn't seriously injured or killed. I was just trying to make the point that so many people cross the tracks at bundamba and get away with it.

Unfortunately the way your point came across could be seen as diminishing the seriousness of this practice but then I would very much doubt that you have witnessed such a practice from a drivers seat or the effects of those who have.  Drink drivers also frequently get away with it and complain loudly about their bad luck when they get caught, but better they get caught than kill themselves or some other uninvolved bystander.

I am aware that I phrase things poorly. Thats just part of my disability. I haven't witnessed it from a drivers perspective but then again that is not the only perspective to witness it from.

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Lockdown to catch rail cheats

Lockdown to catch rail cheats

Andrew Korner | 17th November 2010

THE Department of Transport is threatening a crackdown on people who dodge train fares, with the gates at Ipswich station to be set in a locked position from November 29.

The change means that anyone trying to pass through the Go-Card gates at the station will now have to swipe their cards or show a valid paper ticket before being allowed to move.

Transport Minister and Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan said fare evasion was a serious problem that cost taxpayers an estimated $18 million a year.

"All six Ipswich Go-Card gates which were previously set in an open position will now be set in a closed position," Ms Nolan said.

"This means that customers have to touch their Go-Cards or show valid paper tickets to station staff who will touch on and let them through the gates."

Ms Nolan promised that staff at the Ipswich station would be available to help commuters through the gates as the changes were being phased in.

She said the fare gate lockdowns were a necessary measure and part of a larger plan to ensure every person paid their fair share for the state's excellent public transport system.

"Fare evasion is a serious problem that the Bligh Government, along with TransLink and its operators, are serious about tackling head-on," she said.

"Similar lockdowns have been successful at Central train station since July and at Roma Street and Fortitude Valley stations in September.

"People with a valid ticket go card or paper ticket have nothing to worry about regarding this change at Ipswich.

"People who run the gauntlet by not paying the fare should be worried."

[Mozz]

But the gates are regularly broken and stuck in the open position - at least at Roma street they are.

[justanotheruser]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Lockdown to catch rail cheats

Lockdown to catch rail cheats

Andrew Korner | 17th November 2010

THE Department of Transport is threatening a crackdown on people who dodge train fares, with the gates at Ipswich station to be set in a locked position from November 29.

The change means that anyone trying to pass through the Go-Card gates at the station will now have to swipe their cards or show a valid paper ticket before being allowed to move.

Transport Minister and Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan said fare evasion was a serious problem that cost taxpayers an estimated $18 million a year.

"All six Ipswich Go-Card gates which were previously set in an open position will now be set in a closed position," Ms Nolan said.

"This means that customers have to touch their Go-Cards or show valid paper tickets to station staff who will touch on and let them through the gates."

Ms Nolan promised that staff at the Ipswich station would be available to help commuters through the gates as the changes were being phased in.

She said the fare gate lockdowns were a necessary measure and part of a larger plan to ensure every person paid their fair share for the state's excellent public transport system.

"Fare evasion is a serious problem that the Bligh Government, along with TransLink and its operators, are serious about tackling head-on," she said.

"Similar lockdowns have been successful at Central train station since July and at Roma Street and Fortitude Valley stations in September.

"People with a valid ticket go card or paper ticket have nothing to worry about regarding this change at Ipswich.

"People who run the gauntlet by not paying the fare should be worried."

So if the station staff don't care about checking tickets now which is the case now how will this help? Surely the staff will just swipe the gates open.  I used to walk through the gates at ipswich all the time and never bothered getting my weekly out as the staff didn't look (often talking to a guard or driver- anywhere but at people walking through). Unless staff are prepared to check tickets and QR and Translink are prepared to properly back up staff we can not expect much to change.

[Golliwog]

When I was at the FG consultation yesterday I had a bit of a talk with the TL rep. about the gate lockdowns reducing fare evasion. She said since they started with Central, Roma St and Fortitude Valley TL had recorded either 50,000 extra passengers or had taken an extra $50,000 in revenue. I missed exactly which but either way, thats a good thing.

[Fares_Fair]

I'm all for stopping fare evasion as it costs the honest commuter more in the long run.

The single biggest area of fare evasion I have witnessed in my 10 years on the Rail network is with commuters travelling for only a couple of stops at intermediate or small stations, and particularly where there are no stations, e.g Mooloolah.

Maybe these just aren't worth the cost to try and recover - but if they had ticketies standing on all intermediate platforms for a day it'd be interesting to see how much could be saved.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Emmie]

The single biggest area of fare evasion I have witnessed in my 10 years on the Rail network is with commuters travelling for only a couple of stops at intermediate or small stations, and particularly where there are no stations, e.g Mooloolah.

Maybe these just aren't worth the cost to try and recover...

Interesting, FF.  It's probably NOT worth recovering the money, but it would be very helpful to have accurate figures for pax at small stations. Every time these idiots fail to buy tickets, they make it more likely TL will decide to abandon small stations and/or reduce services because of low patronage.

[justanotheruser]

So if the station staff don't care about checking tickets now which is the case now how will this help? Surely the staff will just swipe the gates open.  I used to walk through the gates at ipswich all the time and never bothered getting my weekly out as the staff didn't look (often talking to a guard or driver- anywhere but at people walking through). Unless staff are prepared to check tickets and QR and Translink are prepared to properly back up staff we can not expect much to change.

As predicted nothing much has changed. Yes people need to show a paper ticket to get out but the staff at ipswich still do not check the ticket is valid. So the whole closing the gates has done very little to prevent fare evasion.  The problem is either the staff don't care or more likely in my opinion is they do not get the needed back up to do anything about it.