Misleading Translink Advertising that go-card is cheapest??

[ar_howard]

Does anyone else think that the recent Translink advertising in local papers telling parents to get a go-card is the cheapest way to get to school is wrong in many circumstances?

We have only recently become aware that since our child is travelling by train that utilising a school rail season ticket is 50% of the equivalent go-card rate.

Why is this information so hard to find?

Cheers,
Allan.

[ozbob]

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/School-transport/Assistance-schemes/School-Transport-Assistance-Scheme.aspx

The ad is comparing to paper single tickets, but I agree no attempt is made to alert to the STAS ....

Also --> http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/railservices/city/pages/schoolrailpasses.aspx

[ozbob]

This was the situation January 2011

Media Release 9 January 2011

SEQ:  Fare changes impact on school students

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 said school students and their parents need to carefully examine the options for ticketing for school travel in 2011 as most types of paper tickets are removed from sale with effect 17th January 2011 (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"According to the TransLink web site 'go card will replace all multi-trip paper tickets - including all daily, weekly, monthly and Queensland Rail one-third student paper tickets'.  This is confusing with respect to the information on the Transport and Main Roads web site which states 'All school students (except mature age, overseas, interstate and exchange students) attending approved primary or secondary schools are eligible for student discount fares on the CityTrain network. These discount fares are available for travel to and from school and are charged at a maximum rate of one-third of the adult fare (2)'.  The concession go card fares for students are 50% of the adult fare not 33%."

"Six and twelve month rail passes are still to be available according to the TransLink website (3).  Some parents may like to seek out this alternative rather than paying for 50% fares using the go card."

"The information presently on the TransLink website touting the benefits of go card does not explicitly inform that the fares using a concession go card will be at 50% of the adult fare, not 33% as was the case with the Queensland Rail one-third student paper tickets (3)."

"More information on school tickets and fares including the School Transport Assistance Scheme can be found on the TransLink web site (4)."

"Forewarned is forearmed!"


References:

1. http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/changes-to-fares-and-ticketing-in-2011

2. http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/26270488-6150-4eec-b936-d23ae39950d1/pdf_stas_policy.pdf  accessed 1915 hours 8 Jan 2011 page 12

3. http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/queensland-rail-one-third-student

4. http://www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/other-tickets/school-tickets-and-fares

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[#Metro]

Why can't they just issue a Go Card with the requisite amount in fares loaded on to it?

[somebody]

Don't these tickets create inequities between bus and rail school students?

NSW used to have free travel for school students so long as you lived more than 1.6km from the school IIRC.  What's the rule here?

[Fares_Fair]

Does anyone else think that the recent Translink advertising in local papers telling parents to get a go-card is the cheapest way to get to school is wrong in many circumstances?

We have only recently become aware that since our child is travelling by train that utilising a school rail season ticket is 50% of the equivalent go-card rate.

Why is this information so hard to find?

Cheers,
Allan.

The advertisement doesn't actually state that the go card is the cheapest option, it merely compares it to the paper tickets, artificially inflated 45% by TransLink, to make the go card 30% cheaper!!

Here's how it is done.

e.g. Start with Go card at $10, inflate this by 45% (which is what Translink did) and you get $14.50.
Subtract 30% from the $14.50 and your'e left with $10.15.
Voila.
For my next trick I need a rabbit and a large hat ...

I agree, it isn't the smartest option for kids, in fact they should repeat the class if their maths brings the go card out on top.
It's the world of State Government sponsored spin, my parents called it deception when I was at school.

Further, the actual cost of paper tickets to run and maintain would IMHO, be far cheaper than the computers, software, go card hardware and gates, etc. when directly compared.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[somebody]

Paper tickets really slow down buses.  Not so much for trains but I don't ever want to go back to that system.

[Fares_Fair]

Paper tickets really slow down buses.  Not so much for trains but I don't ever want to go back to that system.

I fully agree with you there Simon, Go card is much quicker for bus boardings - and hence very much worthwhile.

[somebody]

I'd have to challenge this also:

Further, the actual cost of paper tickets to run and maintain would IMHO, be far cheaper than the computers, software, go card hardware and gates, etc. when directly compared.

Go card hasn't been that expensive to introduce really.  It is less labour intensive than the paper ticket system and also less easy to fare evade with so I want to know what reason there is to say it has been a net cost.

[Fares_Fair]

I'd have to challenge this also:

Further, the actual cost of paper tickets to run and maintain would IMHO, be far cheaper than the computers, software, go card hardware and gates, etc. when directly compared.

Go card hasn't been that expensive to introduce really.  It is less labour intensive than the paper ticket system and also less easy to fare evade with so I want to know what reason there is to say it has been a net cost.

You are kidding?
All the computers, networks, hardware and software, rollouts, repairs, readers, gates installation and repairs etc.
It's a no brainer I would have thought.

That's not to say that it doesn't have advantages for data collection etc.


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[somebody]

My understanding is that they only spent $1xx mil on the go card.  Pretty good value as a capital item I would have thought.  Reduce staffing by about 200 and you're breaking even OTOH.