Free public transport travel for Victorian Seniors Festival 7-14 October 2012

[ozbob]

Free public transport travel for Victorian Seniors Festival Sunday 7 – Sunday 14 October.

--> http://ptv.vic.gov.au/news/news-promotions/free-public-transport-travel-for-victorian-seniors-festival-2#promo

[Gazza]

Gimmick.

It would make more sense to have a week of free travel around Easter, or Christmas to New Years.

A week of free travel at some random part of the year only really benefits a few people who had things to do at that time.

[ozbob]

There are a lot of activities put on for Seniors during the week.  It allows them to access these events at no transport cost.

Seniors I know in Victoria look forward to this week and do use the free travel.

[Gazza]

I think its safe to say the amount of travel to the seniors events during October would be less than general travel by the same group at Easter/Christmas...
And it would have more of an impact at those holiday times, when lots of cars are on the road, and the road toll is high.

[ozbob]

http://www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/Home/Festival-and-Awards/Victorian-Seniors-Festival/2012-Festival-Calendar.aspx

Seniors have free travel on weekends/holidays and the free rail passes as well.

The free travel for Seniors week is a great community initiative.   Sort of thing Victoria does well.

[Gazza]

Another take on the free seniors week by someone who worked for V/Line. Agree 100% 
http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11372446.htm

The problem I have with the three free periods of travel we have are that it screws over the person who legitimately wants to travel.

When I was doing tickets sales, I'd guarantee that all long-distance trains, especially on Christmas Day allowing for a day return will be booked solid by early December. First class goes first, then economy.

Seniors Week, where oldies get free V/Line travel in September - all the trains will be booked solid. All in blocks of four or more by tight-fisted cheapskates who will ask where the furthest they can go is. My understanding is that the unreserved bus to Cowes is almost a fight to get on (Zimmer-frames at 10 paces) and most of the off-peak trains are standing room only on Seniors Week.

Then people who genuinely need to go to say Warrnambool, or Albury, or Swan Hill can't because Mr. and Mrs. Retentive and their extended family want something free. More than a few times did people miss out on family events due to this.

Screw the people who pay - even at the ludicrously subsidised rates that surely can't be sustained if the economy goes a little bit tits-up - Gwendoline and Mervyn McTightwad wanna go to Bairnsdale...

[ozbob]

Easily sorted by doing what they have done here  in Qld on Travel Train, restrict the numbers.  Not in early either pay or don't go.