Proposed 1 Day Boycott of Rail Services (all Brisbane area lines) - 17 March

[Fares_Fair]

Thanks tt,

I'm not sure what I will do myself on the day yet, I don't want to take another annual leave day off work.
I have my meeting on Tuesday that week also.

It was suggested by the organiser that people download the flyer (from the top of this post)
and stick it on their bag, briefcase or backpack as a show of support - if they are unable to boycott the train.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

PS
Good idea though - what colour ribbon is there left to use ?
and we could sell them to raise money for Air Conditioning mechanics for the SMU's
or door mechanics for the ICE trains.  
or steam cleaners for the ICE seats ...

[HappyTrainGuy]

and we could sell them to raise money for Air Conditioning mechanics for the SMU's

You can't completely blame the mechanics that look after 150+ trains when the design boffins thought it would be a fantastic idea to only install one ac unit per carriage (Compared to the multiple ac units per carriage on EMU's, SMU200 and IMU100 classes).

[ozbob]

Media Release 15 March 2011

SEQ:  Disgruntled rail passengers go for a boycott on the 17th March 2011

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has highlighted the call for a boycott of rail services by disgruntled public transport commuters on the 17th March 2011 (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Many regular rail commuters used to use seasonal tickets, such as monthly, three monthly, six monthly and yearly tickets for not only their long haul rail commutes but for additional bonus journeys at weekends and after hours.  This was a great outcome for the broader community as it encouraged maximum public transport use and lead to broad economic benefits in terms of reduced environmental impacts, less congestion and reduced road trauma costs. Seasonal paper tickets were discontinued when the new fare structure was introduced on the 24th January this year."

"The go card fare structure has no periodical ticketing options, and no daily or weekly capping as is the case for most other smart card public transport tickets.  The cost impacts of the new fare structure for a Zone 16 commuter are as follows:

In 2009, an annual ticket to Zone 16 cost $3224.60.

In 2011, a go card to Zone 16 will cost $5803.20 for equivalent Monday to Friday commute, this is an 80% increase (over $2580 more).

In 2014 in line with the 15% per annum fare increases flagged, a go card to Zone 16 for the Monday to Friday commute will cost $8834.80. In other words, the 2014 fare is $5610.20 more than the 2009 fare - a 274% price increase of the original fare!

"It is little wonder that disgruntled commuters are calling for a boycott on the 17th March 2011 (2).

"This boycott call has sprung up spontaneously from  rail commuters as a sign of their frustration with the new fare structure and they are suggesting that commuters take a holiday, flex day, work from home, car-pool, or find some other transport to work on the 17th March."

"The commuters are  suggesting that TransLink's approach to managing public transport is driving people off the trains and back onto the roads!

"They say 'We are being trained to drive'."

"The rail commuters are making the following requests to TransLink and Government:

'We want to be eligible for Off Peak fares when we board our trains, from Zones 9-23 (e.g. Caboolture-Gympie North) before 7.00am.'

'We want the following situation to be redressed. We receive NO rebate on fares when the trains run late - we can lose a half-hour and more of paid work but we are still expected to pay full fare.'

'We want an improvement to the half price fares after 10 journeys in a week. The majority of weekday workers are ineligible for it.'

'We want periodic ticketing options, e.g. weekly, monthly, 3, 6 and 12 month tickets (like we used to have) included with the go card.
e.g. 12 month ticket, we want TRANSLink to introduce a system which discounts your fare by an additional percentage after every, say 40 or 50 journeys - down to a set limit - but in place for the whole year. This would encourage people to actually touch on and off to get a real discount and reduce fare evasion.'

"We live in a democracy and we support the rail commuters in their call for an improved fare structure for the go card! The train frequency generally on the south-east Queensland network is very poor.  Perth can manage 15 minutes on most lines most of the time.  'Rotten apples' at a high price are not popular!"

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5472.0

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5604.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

[#Metro]

Seems like something you could pin to your chest.

[Stillwater]

The Sunshine Coast Daily has put the following story up on its news website:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/03/15/coast-commuters-join-rail-strike/

It would be helpful if some of the comments made in this forum were made in the comments area at the bottom of the SCD story -- spread the word and issues to a wider audience.

[#Metro]

"Railcott"

[ButFli]

Clinton, at the going rate, it would be about $70 from Nembour to Brisbane, plus $28 for parking the car in the city for the day (early bird rates), then $70 back home again.

What de f**** sort of car you driving? $140 for 200km or so? I know that is what you might get paid as an allowance if you need to drive for business purposes, but it greatly exceeds the marginal cost of driving that distance over leaving the car in the shed all day. Not $140 a day. Maybe $140 a week or something.

[Stillwater]

The figures were based on the rate paid to a district nurse for use of her own vehicle to attend to patients on rural properties; so a commercial rate, yes.  It takes account of not just wear and tear, petrol etc, but also depreciation.

[#Metro]

Only consider the marginal cost. That's what drivers do.

Once you own the car, unless you sell it (more money spent) you can't retrieve the value. Using your car less will have no impact on registration fees and hardly any impact on depreciation.

The cost to do 200km in a Holden Commodore for a 200km round trip would be about $30.6 for the day. Parking in the CBD is expensive, however on the CBD frame, it is much cheaper or even free in parts. If you have an employer provided parking space (and many do because they are legislated into the building design and planning codes) then the cost might be zero.

Car parking might be $21 within the CBD.

So all up about $50 per day. This might sound expensive but if the average wage is 50 000 per year and they work 52 x 5 days x $50 = $13 000 per year. That's 26% of a single persons wages... in a couple that's maybe 13%. I suspect that if people are driving to the CBD that they have a higher paying job as well, probably above average wage. So transport costs are around 10% or so and might even be faster too. It might be interesting to see someone do a timing test to see how fast car is in the am peak.

[ButFli]

The figures were based on the rate paid to a district nurse for use of her own vehicle to attend to patients on rural properties; so a commercial rate, yes.  It takes account of not just wear and tear, petrol etc, but also depreciation.

As tramtrain kinda points out, this is not the marginal cost.

Most people own a car. If they use public transport to get to work the car stays at home unused. The cost of purchase, registration and insurance is the same no matter how much the car is driven. The cost of driving to work instead of taking public transport is only the additional costs it causes - fuel, wear on the tyres, increased maintenance costs, parking etc. I suppose you could add a certain amount of depreciation in there because the extra kilometers on the odometer will decrease the value of the car. But it ain't coming close to $70 per 100km. Depending on the car, I would say around half that is more accurate.

It's cool to argue for the benefits of public transport but don't make up bullsh%t to do it. It just makes us all look bad.

[#Metro]

The problem with the 'calculations' governments do when comparing cars vs public transport is purely monetary.
What about waiting time costs? In all their engineering and feasibility studies they apply a value of time. This is never printed on the ticket.

If we were to believe the government marketing material - TransLink had such a brochure in 2009 or 2010- we would conclude that people are economically irrational beings who do not value time or cost. The fact that in the real world 80% or so of travel in Brisbane (all day I assume) is done by car in the face of public transport being unequivocally "cheaper" in $$ by a large margin should send alarm bells ringing. Such claims do not make real-world sense.

If I sell rotten apples for free versus toffee apples at $2.99, which 'product' do you think will sell out first? The one that will make you sick and your life hard or the one that is good quality?
Same problem with public transport. Oh, and this isn't even a proper comparison- the rotten apples are actually $4.60

[Stillwater]

I have taken to watching the older (not school kids) students and 20-somethings go past the go-card readers.  They fumble in their bags as they pass through, others swipe a wallet, but it doesn't register (or doesn't have a card in it).  Clearly, they travel from central or Brisbane suburbs to Nambour or Landsborough and have figured that the fine for not logging off is cheaper than the fare.  They're not paying $5000 a year!  Watch out if you are in Melbourne.  There the fine for not swiping off is the fare to the end of the line!  Ouch!

[marki]

The problem with the 'calculations' governments do when comparing cars vs public transport is purely monetary.
What about waiting time costs? In all their engineering and feasibility studies they apply a value of time. This is never printed on the ticket.

This is quite true. In the Gold or Sunshine Coast, in the time that you find yourself still waiting at a bus stop, you'll already have reached your destination if you drive.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 15th March 2011 page 2

Rail user protest on track

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Rail boycott planned

Rail boycott planned

Mark Bode | 16th March 2011

IN what is being billed as an unprecedented action, hundreds of rail commuters are expected to boycott Sunshine Coast to Brisbane services over fare increases.

Commuter Jeff Addison will boycott Translink's Sunshine Coast to Brisbane service.He said his yearly ticketing costs had increased by 80%.
Jason Dougherty

IN what is being billed as an unprecedented action, hundreds of rail commuters are expected to boycott Sunshine Coast to Brisbane services tomorrow over massive fare increases.

Boycott organisers estimate about 2000 people use peak-hour services between the Coast and Brisbane each day, and they hope more than 50% will participate in the action.

While fare increases under the full introduction of Translink's controversial Go Card at the start of the year is driving tomorrow's planned boycott, passenger discontent over expected timetable changes has further fuelled commuter outrage.

Palmwoods resident Jeff Addison, who travels to Brisbane on the train five days a week and is one of the organisers of the boycott, yesterday accused Translink of a flagrant rip-off.

He also said the State Government agency was driving people away from public transport and back on to roads.

"And they'll say with a straight face that they're trying to encourage public transport," he said. "It's just oxymoronic. It really is."

Mr Addison, who plans to work from home on Thursday instead of travelling to Brisbane, said monthly and yearly deals were no longer available under the Go Card, resulting in a huge price spike.

He said a 12-month ticket cost him $3224 in 2009, while he now paid $5803 a year under the Go Card system – an 80% increase.

And it is only going to get worse, according to the senior structural draftsman, with fares set to increase 15% annually until 2014.

In 2014, Mr Addison said his yearly travel bill would be a whopping $8040.

Only one-way paper tickets were now available, he said, and were 30% more expensive than the Go Card.

"The only people who don't (use the Go Card) is the poor old tourist, who are going to be ripped off," he said.

Member for Glass House Andrew Powell said he wanted a return to greater fare flexibility and discounts.

"Word is a lot of commuters will either take the day off work or carpool down to Brisbane," he said.

A Translink spokesman said additional revenue from fare changes would be used to meet growing demand, with 305,000 additional weekly seats to be added across South-East Queensland.

He said that included the additional weekly bus seats added to the Coast in December and the extra train services that would be added to the Sunshine Coast line as part of the new train timetable.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Commuters gear up for rail boycott

Commuters gear up for rail boycott
Daniel Hurst
March 16, 2011 - 4:44PM

Disgruntled commuters are encouraging travellers to bypass rail services in protest at steep fare increases and the loss of seasonal saver tickets.

Backers of tomorrow's planned rail boycott in southeast Queensland have urged commuters not to simply switch to cars and make road congestion worse.

A group of disgruntled commuters has been handing out leaflets encouraging travellers to bypass rail services on March 17 in protest at a number of grievances, including steep fare increases and the loss of seasonal saver tickets.

Motoring group RACQ has warned drivers to allow a bit more time to get to work tomorrow in case the boycott leads to more traffic on the roads.

However, boycott supporter Jeff Addison, who travels from Palmwoods to Central station each day, said he hoped participants would not add to problems on already-congested roads.

"I wouldn't want to inconvenience other motorists myself in an already congested state because we want to protest over rail fare increases," he said.

"We're encouraging people to take a flexi-day and work from home or car pool if they can."

RACQ executive manager of traffic and safety John Wikman said it was unclear how many people would switch from trains to cars.

"Depending on that, we'd be saying to people who are the motoring public, allow yourselves some extra time because you may be sharing the road with other people," he said.

He said motorists already experienced congestion along the Bruce Highway and Gympie Road.

"If people want to protest and get off the train into their cars, it's going to be worse, it's going to be chaos out there basically," he said.

Mr Addison, who has been handing out flyers promoting the one-day boycott, said there was strong interest in the action from commuters who travelled longer distances to get to work.

He said the loss of saver tickets like monthly and yearly passes had hurt long-haul commuters the most, in addition to the 15 per cent journey fare hike in January.

"I previously used a 12-month ticket and that cost $3224.60," he said.

"With a Go Card it's going to cost $5803 – that's just 10 trips a week for 52 weeks. That's an increase of almost 80 per cent.

"Driving is certainly looking a lot cheaper even in spite of the increases in petrol prices."

Mr Addison said the existing Go Card incentives for discount travel after 10 journeys in a week were inadequate for most commuters.

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said commuters were angry that the Go Card fare structure had no periodical ticketing options, and no daily or weekly capping in contrast to most other smart card public transport tickets.

"This boycott call has sprung up spontaneously from rail commuters as a sign of their frustration with the new fare structure and they are suggesting that commuters take a holiday, flex day, work from home, car-pool, or find some other transport to work [tomorrow]," he said.

Go Card users must rack up 10 journeys in a week before they gain access to half-price travel for subsequent journeys in that Monday-to-Sunday period.

In January, TransLink introduced a daily fare cap for seniors and pensioners but did not extend it to the general travelling public or other concession holders.

Rail Back on Track this month renewed its calls for daily fare capping to be extended to all users, with a price ceiling ideally encouraging people to make numerous journeys throughout the day.

The organisation also wants authorities to follow the lead of interstate rivals and bring in periodical savers options for Go Card users to replace the old weekly and monthly tickets.

More than 1500 people voted in a brisbanetimes.com.au poll earlier this month on southeast Queensland transport fares, with nine in 10 respondents attacking the current prices and incentives.

The site was also flooded with comments from disgruntled commuters, after an opinion piece by TransLink CEO Peter Strachan defending the existing system.

In the piece, Mr Strachan said frequency and reliability of services were the most important issues for commuters, but he also flagged plans to introduce "an expanded ticket range" in the future.

He said customers would continue to have influence over future ticketing products, but the fare structure "must continue to deliver a program of more frequent and reliable services".

Queensland's new transport minister, Annastacia Palaszczuk, signalled she would look at ways to improve the fare structure.

"If there are ways to enhance Go Card without cutting back on vital transport infrastructure projects like bringing forward the Springfield rail line extension and station by two years, then we'll explore those options," she told brisbanetimes.com.au earlier this month.

Ms Palaszczuk sang the praises of the Go Card system but said authorities should not be "self-satisfied" about the current arrangements.

Opposition public transport spokeswoman Tracy Davis said at the time the Liberal National Party was developing its policies but recognised that people wanted periodical incentives.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Drive, Kelly Higgins-Devine had an interview with a Sunshine Coast commuter  who did a great job in highlighting the issues.

Well done!!

[ozbob]

4BC also just did an interview with a Sunshine Coast commuter too!

[HappyTrainGuy]

Does anyone know if the station to station hard card is still available seperatly from Queensland Rail?

[ozbob]

No, all season tickets ended with the new fare structure from January 2011.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Commuters threaten boycott over rising go card prices

Commuters threaten boycott over rising go card prices

   * Robyn Ironside and Peter Hall
   * From: The Courier-Mail
   * March 17, 2011 12:00AM

FEWER than one in 10 go card users are qualifying for a weekly frequent-user discount introduced by TransLink in the place of seasonal train and bus tickets.

The loss of the monthly and annual tickets has angered commuters to the point where hundreds are today expected to join a boycott of public transport to protest fare hikes.

People travelling into Brisbane from the Sunshine Coast have seen their annual transport bill jump from $3224.60 based on a 12-month ticket to $5803.20 this year. By 2014, they will be paying $8834.80 a year to commute from zone 16 representing a 274 per cent increase on five years earlier.

Draftsman Jeff Addison, who commutes from Palmwoods to Brisbane City, is among those planning to car-pool or work from home today in an effort to send a message to TransLink.

"We want a fair fare structure for the go card, equal to weekly, monthly, six-month or 12-month season ticket caps," he said. "We want rolling discounts and off-peak fares for pre-7am boarders."

The only discount currently available to full-fare commuters is for "frequent-users" who make more than 10 journeys a week using their go card.

After 10 trips, they pay half-price fares but currently only 35,000 of the 410,000 weekly go card users are qualifying.

Robert Dow, of commuter advocacy group Back on Track, supported the calls for the return of seasonal tickets.

"Many regular rail commuters used to use monthly, three-monthly, six-monthly and yearly tickets not only for their long haul rail commutes but for additional bonus journeys at weekends and after hours," he said. "This boycott call has sprung up spontaneously from rail commuters as a sign of their frustration with the new fare structure.

"The commuters are suggesting that TransLink's approach to managing public transport is driving people off the trains and back on to the roads."

Sunshine Coast retiree Peter Sim said the frequent user discount was being falsely promoted to commuters who made two journeys each day involving mutliple transfers.

"In the morning I usually catch a bus then a train from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane, then on the way home I get a bus, then a train then another bus," Mr Sim said.

"Although I'm touching on and touching off for each trip, I've been informed TransLink considers a single trip from point A to point B regardless of how many services you use to get there."

TransLink spokesman Andrew Berkman confirmed the discount policy required customers to take "10 journeys" in a week before the 50 per cent discount fares took effect.

"Customers should note that a journey may consist up to three transfers," he said.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th March 2011

Now is hour ...

Greetings,

Today 17th March 2011 many frustrated public transport users in south-east Queensland are demonstrating their frustration with the poor fare structure for the go card by boycotting the actual services or alternatively showing a protest flyer in their workplace etc. (Flyer available here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5604.0

As a commuter advocacy group, we have for over three years now, challenged constantly the failure to implement a fare structure that truly drives public transport uptake and maximises the fare box.  A list of our media releases on the go card over the years is here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=429.0

We have always supported the go card, but we have constantly challenged the fare structure.  The projected fare increases (15% per annum till 2014 on top of the increases already) are simply not sustainable  with the present fare structure and are already generating an enormous public backlash.  How much more it will be unless there are further fare enhancements?

There needs to be an urgent review and implementation of a fare structure that is in line with other public transport jurisdictions, capping and periodical options are what the commuters want.  Increases of  270% over five years in the cost of their commute is simply unacceptable by any standard.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[rob2144]

I have a few uni friends that are boycotting all Transcrap services, with one who walking 90 mins to his destination!

[ozbob]

Media interest in the boycott today is intense:

Mentions/interviews so far 612 ABC Brisbane, 4BC, Austereo News, NOVA 106.9, Channel 10, Brisbanetimes, 96.5 FM Family,4ZZZ, Courier Mail, mX, Sunshine Coast Daily ..

I know that there are some activities planned by media on the Sunshine Coast as well.

Blanket media coverage, a good result all.  Thanks to the media for highlighting the fundamental issue, the fare structure.

Thanks to our Sunny Coast members for stepping up to the media up there as well.

[ozbob]

Just heard on the Minister for Transport on the ABC Radio News stating that a review committee will be set up and she acknowledged particularly options for 6 month and yearly tickets.

I say a bit of win folks ..

[Jonno]

Well done everyone. Capping should be on an accumulative basis not upfront.  Spend so much a day a cap kicks on, a week another cap kicks in, a month a further cap kicks in, in 6 months a half yearly cap kicks in and finally a yearly cap.  The more you use the bigger the eventual saving will be.   Easy logic to program as well.

[longboi]

Interesting. That's all I can say.

It still perplexes me that people who live 80-100km from their destination believe they should pay fares similar to those living much closer to the city (i.e. Outer Brisbane suburbs).

[Fares_Fair]

It made the 7:45am ABC National news as well ...

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[somebody]

Does anyone know if the station to station hard card is still available seperatly from Queensland Rail?

Pretty sure last sales of this were in December 2009.

[somebody]

Just heard on the Minister for Transport on the ABC Radio News stating that a review committee will be set up and she acknowledged particularly options for 6 month and yearly tickets.

So long as they don't bring back the un-integrated tickets which previously applied to QR services.

Interesting. That's all I can say.

It still perplexes me that people who live 80-100km from their destination believe they should pay fares similar to those living much closer to the city (i.e. Outer Brisbane suburbs).

I agree.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Commuters ignore rail boycott

Commuters ignore rail boycott
Marissa Calligeros
March 17, 2011 - 3:00AM

The organisers of today's rail boycott admit few, if any, commuters participated this morning.

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said despite weak support, publicity surrounding the protest had successfully highlighted excessive rail fare increases.

''We did have some support on the Cleveland line and the Sunshine Coast line,'' he said.

''We never expected a massive boycott, but the campaign has been extremely successful in drawing attention to future fare increases, in addition to the 15 per cent journey fare hike in January.

''We are certain the message is resonating with commuters.''

TransLink cannot yet confirm the number of commuters on trains this morning but according to the Australian Traffic Network, main roads into Brisbane CBD were no more congested during peak hour than usual, indicating few people ditched the train for the car.

''The major [roads] have all been generally slow, but were no more or less congested than usual,'' traffic network spokeswoman Amelia Oberhardt said.

The one-day boycott was designed to pressure the state government to introduce daily or monthly capped ticket prices on Go Cards.

Mr Dow said commuters were angry that the Go Card fare structure had no periodical ticketing options, and no daily or weekly capping in contrast to most other smart card public transport tickets.

"This boycott call has sprung up spontaneously from rail commuters as a sign of their frustration with the new fare structure," he said.

Go Card users must rack up 10 journeys in a week before they gain access to half-price travel for subsequent journeys in that Monday-to-Sunday period.

In January, TransLink introduced a daily fare cap for seniors and pensioners but did not extend it to the general travelling public or other concession holders.

Rail Back on Track this month renewed its calls for daily fare capping to be extended to all users, with a price ceiling ideally encouraging people to make numerous journeys throughout the day.

The organisation also wants authorities to follow the lead of interstate rivals and bring in periodical savers options for Go Card users to replace the old weekly and monthly tickets.

More than 1500 people voted in a brisbanetimes.com.au poll earlier this month on southeast Queensland transport fares, with nine in 10 respondents attacking the current prices and incentives.

The site was also flooded with comments from disgruntled commuters, after an opinion piece by TransLink CEO Peter Strachan defending the existing system.

In the piece, Mr Strachan said frequency and reliability of services were the most important issues for commuters, but he also flagged plans to introduce "an expanded ticket range" in the future.

He said customers would continue to have influence over future ticketing products, but the fare structure "must continue to deliver a program of more frequent and reliable services".

Queensland's new transport minister, Annastacia Palaszczuk, signalled she would look at ways to improve the fare structure.

"If there are ways to enhance Go Card without cutting back on vital transport infrastructure projects like bringing forward the Springfield rail line extension and station by two years, then we'll explore those options," she told brisbanetimes.com.au earlier this month.

Ms Palaszczuk sang the praises of the Go Card system but said authorities should not be "self-satisfied" about the current arrangements.

Opposition public transport spokeswoman Tracy Davis said at the time the Liberal National Party was developing its policies but recognised that people wanted periodical incentives.

- with Daniel Hurst

The campaign has been an overwhelming spectacular success in highlighting the issues.  A mass boycott was never going to occur, but the hook has worked brilliantly.  Well done those commuters who fired it off!

[#Metro]

It is not unprecedented:

Just hope the Courier-Mail doesn't start something like this just before the elections!

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/hundreds-plead-fix-it-pat/story-e6freo8c-1111114783245
http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=26826&view=next

[ozbob]

From the Courier click here!  Blog comments are interesting!   

Updated ...

Commuters stage boycott over rising go card prices, say it's a success

Commuters stage boycott over rising go card prices, say it's a success

   * Robyn Ironside and Peter Hall
   * From: The Courier-Mail
   * March 17, 2011 8:53AM


A commuter advocacy group behind a public transport boycott today has declared it a success despite Translink reporting no discernible differences in patronage.

Back on Track along with Sunshine Coast commuters organised the boycott to protest soaring train, bus and ferry fares as a result of consecutive 15 per cent annual increases.

The protestors are also demanding the return of seasonal tickets – such as monthly, three-monthly and annual tickets – to reward regular and frequent users of public transport.

Translink now offers a "frequent user" discount of half-price trips after every ten journeys a week, but has admitted less than 9 per cent of commuters benefit from the offer each week.

Back on Track's Robert Dow said he was encouraged by an undertaking from Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk to set up a ministerial review committee which would look at re-introducing six-monthly and annual tickets.

Ms Palaszczuk caught the train to work today and tweeted: "On train to city - lots of people on the train this morning which is good to see"

Ms Palaszczuk is establishing the committee to get advice on public transport operations with representatives drawn from a cross-section of the community including people with disabilities and ethnic groups.

Mr Dow said he considered the minister's undertaking to review the need for seasonal tickets a "bit of a win".

"There needs to be an urgent review and implementation of a fare structure that is in line with other public transport jurisdictions, capping and periodical options are what the commuters want," Mr Dow said.

"Increases of 270 per cent over five years in the cost of their commute is simply unacceptable by any standard."

He said people had chosen to car-pool, work from home or take a flexi-day to support the public transport boycott.

The loss of the monthly and annual tickets has angered commuters to the point where hundreds are today expected to join a boycott of public transport to protest fare hikes.

People travelling into Brisbane from the Sunshine Coast have seen their annual transport bill jump from $3224.60 based on a 12-month ticket to $5803.20 this year. By 2014, they will be paying $8834.80 a year to commute from zone 16 representing a 274 per cent increase on five years earlier.

Draftsman Jeff Addison, who commutes from Palmwoods to Brisbane City, is among those planning to car-pool or work from home today in an effort to send a message to TransLink.

"We want a fair fare structure for the go card, equal to weekly, monthly, six-month or 12-month season ticket caps," he said. "We want rolling discounts and off-peak fares for pre-7am boarders."

The only discount currently available to full-fare commuters is for "frequent-users" who make more than 10 journeys a week using their go card.

After 10 trips, they pay half-price fares but currently only 35,000 of the 410,000 weekly go card users are qualifying.

Mr Dow supported the calls for the return of seasonal tickets.

"Many regular rail commuters used to use monthly, three-monthly, six-monthly and yearly tickets not only for their long haul rail commutes but for additional bonus journeys at weekends and after hours," he said.

"This boycott call has sprung up spontaneously from rail commuters as a sign of their frustration with the new fare structure.

"The commuters are suggesting that TransLink's approach to managing public transport is driving people off the trains and back on to the roads."

Sunshine Coast retiree Peter Sim said the frequent user discount was being falsely promoted to commuters who made two journeys each day involving mutliple transfers.

"In the morning I usually catch a bus then a train from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane, then on the way home I get a bus, then a train then another bus," Mr Sim said.

"Although I'm touching on and touching off for each trip, I've been informed TransLink considers a single trip from point A to point B regardless of how many services you use to get there."

TransLink spokesman Andrew Berkman confirmed the discount policy required customers to take "10 journeys" in a week before the 50 per cent discount fares took effect.

"Customers should note that a journey may consist up to three transfers," he said.

- with Peter Hall

[ozbob]

From the ABC News click here!

Opposition urges train boycott over rising Go-Card fares

Opposition urges train boycott over rising Go-Card fares

By Chris O'Brien

The Queensland Opposition says commuters in the south-east are increasingly angry about Go-Card fares.

Some regular public transport passengers have called for a train boycott today, protesting against fare rises and the lack of multi-trip options.

Opposition public transport spokeswoman Tracy Davis says there should be better savings for weekly or monthly or yearly Go-Card users.

"There's no flexibility in terms of periodical fare options and that's what today's boycott is all about," she said.

But Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk says Go-Card use is rising and it is cheaper than paper tickets.

"All the money that people pay for public transport goes back into improving our network," she said.

"What I'm saying to people today is I'm setting up a committee and we'll be looking at some of the issues raised in particular people are saying to me the six-monthly and yearly ticket."

[Golliwog]

That's all the opposition had to say?  

[ozbob]

Media interest in the boycott today is intense:

Mentions/interviews so far 612 ABC Brisbane, 4BC, Austereo News, NOVA 106.9, Channel 10, Brisbanetimes, 96.5 FM Family,4ZZZ, Courier Mail, mX, Sunshine Coast Daily ..

I know that there are some activities planned by media on the Sunshine Coast as well.

Blanket media coverage, a good result all.  Thanks to the media for highlighting the fundamental issue, the fare structure.

Thanks to our Sunny Coast members for stepping up to the media up there as well.

This is the strongest media response I have ever experienced on a public transport issue.   They must be getting a lot of supportive feedback.

[ozbob]

That's all the opposition had to say?  

I am very disappointed too ..  would have liked to see a media statement or something.  Maybe they did just not available to us.

[ozbob]

Hypocritical?

Minister Finn has a season ticket for football.  A season ticket for public transport?  Not an option at present  ... lol

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

Government Services, Building Industry and ICT
The Honourable Simon Finn
17/03/2011

Gold Coast on track for world class stadium as works at Carrara near completion

Government Services and Building Industry Minister Simon Finn today visited Metricon Stadium at Carrara, where finishing touches are being added to the $144.2 million facility.

Mr Finn - a Gold Coast Suns season ticket-holder - said construction works are on track to deliver a fully revamped stadium in time for the Suns' first home game in May.

"The new Carrara Stadium will be the perfect home for the Gold Coast Suns, the AFL's newest team," he said.

"As a season ticket-holder, I can't wait to see the Suns clash with the Geelong Cats here on May 28 at their first home game at Metricon.

"After inspecting works here today, it's clear Metricon Stadium is going to be a world class sporting venue for players and spectators alike.

"The turf has now been laid, delivering a lush green playing surface, and the red seating has been installed."

Mr Finn said it was all systems go with the player facilities, corporate facilities and the back-of-house areas also completed.

"The patron facilities include covered east and west stands, catering concessions, merchandising outlets, 'kids zones', and barbeque decks," he said.

"I think players, Gold Coast sports fans and visitors alike will be impressed with the facilities here when the on field action gets underway in May."

Mr Finn said the playing surface wasn't the only thing 'green' about the venue, with the stadium's 450 metres of solar panelling now online and producing power.

"The stadium's solar paneling will generate approximately 275,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year -more than 20 per cent of the stadium's total electricity needs," Mr Finn said.

Mr Finn said the State Government was delivering the project in partnership with the Federal Government, Gold Coast City Council and AFL.

The Department of Public Works is the Construction Authority and is providing project management.

[Stillwater]

At  Nambour station today there was a noticeable absence of the normal 'office worker types' catching the train, and that seemed the case up and down the line on the Sunny Coast.

Those who caught the train seemed to be the elderly, students (including a goodly contingent of what seemed to be international students), a primary school excursion group, uniformed students and a mix of what seemed to be tourists and people with suitcases heading maybe to the airport.  While numbers were uncertain, there seemed to be fewer people on the train than normal.

So I'd say that among the commuters that mattered, the five day a week city worker, a significant proportion did boycott services.

On the coast, media interviews were conducted outside the Landsborough Station and there were crosses to people at the stations.  Yesterday's media coverage included crosses to people as they travelled on the train.

Clearly, there is a lot of genuine concern in this issue.

Obviously, people have travelled and have seen how ticket systems work elsewhere in Australia.  One or two phoned into radio stations to talk about 'all day rover fares' and other discounts applying in other major cities.

The government is spending a small fortune after the floods convincing international tourists to come and holiday here, yet the tourists are in for a rude shock if the only public transport option available to them is costly one-way paper tickets.