Correspondence sent to all Queensland Members of Parliament : Go Card Concerns

[ozbob]

19 Feb 2008

Dear Honourable Members,

As you are no doubt aware the Go Card is presently being rolled out in SE Queensland.
The present fare scheme on the Go Card is not an incentive for uptake of the smart card ticket.

The cost of travel with the Go Card is significantly more expensive compared to the present paper integrated ticketing for the majority of commuters.

The only fare structure announced, the frequent user scheme, is causing much concern to public transport users who face significant fare increases relative to the present integrated paper ticketing should they use the card. 

I note that paper ticketing will be maintained for a period following card roll-out but surely the whole point of investing $134 million dollars or so will be to eventually replace the present system, otherwise we will just have two expensive duplicate ticketing systems?

A failure to secure a high uptake of the Go Card will render useless the massive expenditure of tax payer funds and lead to a sad loss of the improved outcomes for public transport that would otherwise be possible.

The Queensland Government and Translink obstinately refuse to acknowledge the true facts. Spin, blunder and bluster is simply not good enough.

Why is the Queensland Government subjecting citizens to significant cost increases for public transport at a time when they are suffering huge cost of living increases and mortgage rate hikes? It is nonsense to say that commuters have a choice between the present integrated paper ticketing and the Go Card. 

Why spend $134 million dollars on an electronic ticketing system if it is not going to be used widely by the community?  Why discriminate against less affluent public transport commuters?  Surely they are entitled to the benefits of Go Card ticketing too?

Concerned commuters have been  invited to check out the Fair Fares campaign for the Go Card at RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org).

I invite you all to check out the true facts at --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?board=27.0

Best wishes.

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track