2013 Fares

[Fares_Fair]

Public transport in 'death spiral' in SEQ, says advocate
APN Newsdesk |
13th May 2013 11:50 AM

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/public-transport-death-spiral-seq-says-advocate/1865275/

PUBLIC transport is in a 'death spiral in south-east Queensland because of rising fares which have resulted in the worst quarter for patronage in five years.

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org), a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers, says Queensland is in an affordability crisis.

"We have just had the worst quarter this year for public transport patronage for over 5 years,'' spokesman Robert Dow said.

"The inefficient network design and refusal to make proper changes to the bus network have caused a cost explosion at Brisbane Transport.

"This pushes up fares across all modes because TransLink must charge uniform prices across all modes of travel.

"Trains are worst affected because not only are buses competing with trains for passengers, but the low frequency of trains means cost increases have an even greater impact on passengers to leave the system."

"Even Brisbane's Lord Mayor says the situation now is 'not sustainable'."

"Embarrassingly, Perth trains now carry more passengers than Queensland Rail does.

"Their trains are cheaper and twice as frequent as those in South East Queensland. Ironically, they run identical trains to those used by QR. TransPerth's cost recovery is also better."

"The BCC Bus Review refuses to address any of the major systemic issues with the BT bus network.

"Indeed, their latest review proposes international worst practice such as non-clockface, impossible-to-remember 50 minute timetables on some routes.''

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/5/14/train-ontime-highs-remain

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Train on-time highs remain

Train on-time running across south east Queensland has maintained high levels in 2013.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said 94.08 per cent of trains ran on time in January to March 2013.

"It's a credit to Queensland Rail that they've maintained high levels in the mid-90s across more than 240 morning and afternoon peak trains for two straight quarters," Mr Emerson said.

"While reliability continues to improve under the Newman Government, our free-travel-after-nine-weekly-journeys incentive has also been a roaring success.

"The free travel is providing fare relief for frequent passengers with seven million free trips saving almost $19 million since it was introduced in June last year.

"On average this means 61,300 passengers take more than 160,000 free trips each week.

"This is almost double the number of passengers who benefited under the former Labor government's scheme."

The additional free travel was an LNP election promise, costing $39 million over four years.

Train on-time running
Force majeure applied Actual

Jan-Mar 2012
90.01% 86.20%

Apr-Jun 2012
92.43% 89.37%

Jul-Sep 2012
93.98% 89.68%

Oct-Dec 2012
96.75%94.58%

Jan-Mar 2013
96.83%94.08%

Benchmark in Queensland is within 3.59 mins of the timetable (5.59mins for Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast services).

[ENDS] 14 May 2013

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 14th May 2013 page 2

Free trips worth $19m

[ozbob]

" roaring success " ....  LOL

Discrepancy between the statement and the mX article ... 450, 000 or 160, 000 trips per week.

It is a major failure!



Patronage down, affordability has never been worse ...

Farcical to say the least ...

[#Metro]

There's no such thing as a free ride.

Fares are some of the highest in the world to pay for this 'free' trip, and also the highest subsidies as well. Just because you pay through the back door (via state revenue) doesn't mean that you don't pay.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th May 2013

Re: SEQ: Transport Cost of Living Affordability Bombshell

Greetings,

In the Brisbane mX the Transport Minister Emerson is quoted as saying the free after nine fare is a  " roaring success " ...

We disagree, the free after 10, and nine is a ' roaring failure '.

Patronage is at the worst levels for 5 years, affordability index lowest level ever.

This is because the base fares are amongst the worlds most expensive  which for the majority is increasingly making public transport unaffordable.

In a statement by the Minister it is indicated that there are 160, 000 free trips a week ( http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/5/14/train-ontime-highs-remain ).
There are around 3.3 million trips per week so only about 5% of trips are free, which is hardly a ' roaring success '.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Sent to all outlets:

12th May 2013

Public transport failure in SEQ continues ...

Greetings,

Fare affordability is at rock bottom  ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9292.msg125413#msg125413 ).  Clearly the 5 year fare strategy has been a major failure, patronage has not kept pace with service improvements.  Many people simply can no longer afford to use public transport in south-east Queensland.  This is having serious consequences for the wider community, road congestion and mayhem is worsening to an alarming degree.  The road toll, in terms of deaths and injuries is rapidly worsening as well ( https://www.webcrash.transport.qld.gov.au/webcrash2/external/daupage/weekly/roadsense.pdf ).  Community health and well being is being further impacted by a loss of social mobility for many.

A 'behind the doors' fare review is being undertaken.  The basic problem with the fares in south-east Queensland is the base fare price and the free travel after nine journeys.  This was a poorly thought out move by the LNP Government, it just continues the mediocre free after 10 journeys introduced by the former ALP Government.  This free after nine continues to force up the base fares and leads to rorting.  Fare evasion is out of control as many see the journey cap rorting as fair game which sets up a culture of evasion, and many because of the high fare costs see frank evasion as their only option.  What sad outcomes.

Most of the community is excluded from the free after nine journey cap, they continue to pay very high upfront fares which means public transport is the last option for many.

The base fare price needs reduction.  Perth's public transport authority, Transperth has a much more balanced fare system ( http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares/SmartRider/SmartRiderFaresandRules.aspx ) for their go card equivalent - SmartRider.  This is the way we should be heading, this is a fare system that encourages all the community onto public transport.

Public transport in south-east Queensland is a major mess at present.  A bus review process compromised by political weakness.  The BCC Bus review is a charade.  A fare system driving people off public transport.
Promised timetable improvements for rail years late.

It is time that the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, and the Assistant Minister for Public Transport acted to decisively sort out the mess.

Political rhetoric no longer (if it ever did) resonates.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Media release 15th May 2013



SEQ: So, what is next?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said despite the Governments rhetoric of focus on improvements to  frequency, affordability and reliability, public transport patronage and fare affordability continues to worsen.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Public transport must be fast, direct, accessible and frequent. It must also be affordable."

"Over the past year the bus system has become even more unreliable (1). CBD chronic bus congestion, road congestion generally and a lack of bus priority on key arterial roads has now made delays commonplace. Coupled with some of the worlds highest price fares it is little wonder that there has been relative patronage decreases. The BCC Bus Review does very little to reduce these trends and delays. The bus review failure is going to further drive more passengers back to the roads."

"Rail peak on time performance has improved (2), the focus on catching up with the infrastructure maintenance deficit is also the correct thing to do.  Sector 2 timetable improvements long promised are nowhere to be seen though. Why are not the full 24 hour on time performance profiles for all lines published?  Other jurisdictions can what is so special about Queensland?  Where are the bus on time performance figures?  These have been not published now for some time because previously they were nonsense and false."

"The increase in interpeak train service frequency on the Ferny Grove line is being hampered by a lack of proper feeder bus support, as is the rail network generally.  Parking issues are going to further compound to unmanageable levels. The BCC Bus Review again fails to address the need to have a proper integrated connected network."

"Fares are amongst the worlds most expensive in south east Queensland (3), for what is a poorly constructed and under-performing public transport network.  TransLink are to be congratulated for attempting to start to move south-east Queensland forward with a frequent, connected, affordable, integrated public transport network.  BCC do not properly understand that real change is needed. The so called BCC Bus Review is essentially minor changes that do not constitute a major review.  It is a con to suggest it is a major review, it is just more of the same failure."

"What is the progress of the Early Capacity Works of the Brisbane Inner Rail Solution (4)?  Cross River Rail is not funded and there seems to be little chance of that now. Crunch time looms."

"What is happening with the fares? (3)  Is the fare review going to be compromised now by the bus review failures?"

"What is the progress with enabling automatic train protection and improved signalling on the suburban rail network? (5)"

"Claims that things are a ' roaring success ' when failure and gridlock is the reality is treating the public with contempt (6).  It is time a new broom was put through transport in Queensland."


References:

1. Bus Delays http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2695.msg124540#msg124540

2. On Time Performance data - rail  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=73.0

3. Fare Review for TransLink South-East Queensland now! - Petition http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9120.0

4. Brisbane Inner Rail Solution http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/C/Cross-River-Rail/Brisbane-Inner-Rail-Solution.aspx

5. 9 Apr 2013: SEQ: Suburban rail network needs Automatic Train Protection too! http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9832.0

6.  Brisbane mX ' Free trips worth $19m ' 14th May 2013 page 5

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[somebody]

From the Brisbane mX 14th May 2013 page 2

Free trips worth $19m

That's very disappointing.  Sounds like they are committed to keeping the 9 then free.  As for on time running, the bar has been lowered enormously by the IPS-CAB timetable.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 14th May 2013 page 2

Free trips worth $19m

That's very disappointing.  Sounds like they are committed to keeping the 9 then free.  As for on time running, the bar has been lowered enormously by the IPS-CAB timetable.

Yes spot on Simon. 

Sadly, I think the best people can expect is a reduction in the planned 7.5% increase for 2014.  Which is not addressing the systemic failings with the fare system. Just more mediocrity ...

[somebody]

Sadly, I think the best people can expect is a reduction in the planned 7.5% increase for 2014.  Which is not addressing the systemic failings with the fare system. Just more mediocrity ...

Perhaps a bigger off peak discount.

[ozbob]

Acknowledgement by Scott Emerson that fares are shot in this piece ...

From the Couriermail click here!

Budget puts federal projects closer to the too-hard basket

Budget puts federal projects closer to the too-hard basket

    by: Scott Emerson
    From: The Courier-Mail
    May 20, 2013 12:00AM

CHANGES to the normal state-federal funding formula have put future federal transport infrastructure projects at risk.

Hidden in the detail of last week's federal Budget are new arrangements that require hundreds of million of dollars in extra state funding to get federal projects off the ground.

Under the changes worthy projects on the Gateway Motorway, Ipswich Motorway, Warrego Highway and Cross River Rail won't get off the ground.

Upgrading federal roads will become a 50-50 state-federal split and urban rail projects a 75-25 split.

This is a significant shift from the historical split where the Federal Government funded its own infrastructure at least 80-20.

The change has taken place without consultation with the State Government, which means the time is coming to make some tough decisions.

If the Queensland Government is going to live within its means, we won't be signing on to any deal that is going to place further burden on future generations of taxpayers.

Reckless spending from the State Government is not the answer.

As a Queensland Government minister it is my job to fight for Queensland and get the best deal possible to ensure the future of crucial transport projects.

We can't afford to stand by and let the Federal Government handball responsibility to the State Government.

The federal Budget transport announcements were filled with these 50-50 potholes on the Warrego Highway ($317.5 million), Ipswich Motorway ($279 million) and Gateway Motorway ($718 million).

Likewise Cross River Rail (in the Budget at $715 million) will receive only 25 per cent federal funding because the State Government would need to hand over half that amount in GST revenue to plug the hole.

We are prepared to go 50-50 on Cross River Rail, however the sleight of hand deal means it's not a genuine partnership and therefore not affordable.

The repayment on Canberra's offer would put upward pressure on fares, taking southeast Queensland passengers back to the dark days of fare increases in the order of 15 per cent.

That's unacceptable. Ongoing 15 per cent increases put in place by the previous Labor government have already priced many people out of public transport.

And what good is new infrastructure if no one can afford to use it?

We also can't keep deferring the bill to future generations of Queenslanders.

The Federal Government didn't use the latest Budget to make announcements on what it could deliver.

Instead it announced what it wanted the state to try to fund.

While it gave Wayne Swan a good Budget-night sweetener, the reality is that it won't deliver projects in his home state.

Queensland's top three transport infrastructure projects, sitting with Infrastructure Australia, are the Bruce Highway, Cross River Rail and Toowoomba Second Range Crossing.

Through its Budget, the Federal Government managed to get halfway for its share of the Bruce Highway and Cross River Rail, while Toowoomba Second Range Crossing didn't get a mention.

As important as these projects are, a responsible government needs to see through the smoke and mirrors and accept that signing up to desperate short-term announcements can lead to long-term pain.

Our efforts to secure these projects will continue by lobbying both the federal Coalition and Federal Government to get them underway.

We'll continue to aim for a genuine partnership that gets these crucial projects delivered, not an attempt to short-change Queenslanders.

Scott Emerson is the Minister for Transport and Main Roads in the Queensland Government.

" ... The repayment on Canberra's offer would put upward pressure on fares, taking southeast Queensland passengers back to the dark days of fare increases in the order of 15 per cent.

That's unacceptable. Ongoing 15 per cent increases put in place by the previous Labor government have already priced many people out of public transport.

And what good is new infrastructure if no one can afford to use it? ... "

[#Metro]

Upgrading federal roads will become a 50-50 state-federal split and urban rail projects a 75-25 split.

What an outrage!

[somebody]

I consider Emerson an ally.

[ozbob]

Yes Simon, could be a turning point.  Acknowledgement re the fares crystal clear.

Lets hope they go for a new fare system.  The old model is flawed. 

[somebody]

I've always considered it thus.  Not your view I know.

[ozbob]

You have no idea what my views are Simon, and it is rather gratuitous that you think you do.

The fact is that we lobby, and lobby hard for change to get improvments.  If you don't agree with that what are you doing here?

[somebody]

What am I doing here?  Exploring my interesting in public transport based solutions.  How's that for a pat answer?

[ozbob]

Good for you then ...

[BrizCommuter]

This is what happens when there is a fare rise in Brazil:
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/what-happens-when-fares-rise-in-sao.html

[BrizCommuter]

The Brazilian riots alluded to in the last post resulted in a fare rise backtrack!

In the mean time, in apathetic Australia...

[ozbob]

The Brazilian riots alluded to in the last post resulted in a fare rise backtrack!

In the mean time, in apathetic Australia...

Twitter

Market Urbanism ‏@MarketUrbanism 48m

Brazilian Pres. Dilma Rousseff proposes $22bn worth of transit in response to protests, which started over high fares http://nyti.ms/1aJgzpp

[BrizCommuter]

The Brazilian riots alluded to in the last post resulted in a fare rise backtrack!

In the mean time, in apathetic Australia...

Twitter

Market Urbanism ‏@MarketUrbanism 48m

Brazilian Pres. Dilma Rousseff proposes $22bn worth of transit in response to protests, which started over high fares http://nyti.ms/1aJgzpp

And it isn't as if public transport infrastructure isn't already lacking in funding already, with huge projects underway in most major Brazilian cities ahead of the Football World Cup and Olympics.

[minbrisbane]

And yet for Cth. Games, we can't even have Light Rail or Heavy Rail completed to Coolangatta...

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

26th June 2013

Seniors fares around the capitals - more evidence of the fare fail in SEQ

Greetings,

Despite Premier Newman's committment to a new fare structure in the six month action plan it appears from the state budget that no move is planned to sort out the fare fail.

What we are seeing is more and more people being unable to afford to get onto public transport, whilst cashed up working commuters rort the 9 and free cap to enjoy free travel for most of the week!  This in turn continues to force up base fares and worsens the downward spiral of falling patronage, unaffordability and yet more service cuts.  The bus review failures have further worsened the downwards spiral.

Falling patronage, affordability at rock bottom levels and still the failure is allowed to continue.  Did we elect a new Government to continue the failures?

Here is a quick scan of pensioner fares in the capitals (below).  The two journey cap applicable in SEQ is actually very costly for many Seniors as they are not able to access to short zone journeys to manipulate the cap.

As can be noted, most jurisdictions simply have a daily cap or free travel.  Not in Queensland, gouge gouge gouge ...  This means that many Seniors are simply housebound and lose social mobility.  This adds costs to the health sector.  Most enlightened jurisdictions understand that there are benefits in encouraging people onto public transport.  Not in Queensland apparently.

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

Perth

Seniors SmartRider

WA Seniors are entitled to travel for free on all Transperth services between 9.00am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday, as well as public holidays.

http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/TicketsandFares/SmartRider/BuyingSmartRider/SeniorsSmartRiders.aspx


Adelaide

Travel with your Seniors card and you'll travel free on all Adelaide Metro public transport services:   

9.01am to 3pm weekdays
All day on weekends and public holidays.

http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/Tickets/Seniors


Melbourne

Seniors Daily cap and free weekend travel - Seniors myki cardholders never pay more than $3.80 on weekdays for unlimited travel in Zones 1 and 2 ($3.50 on public holidays). They also receive free travel on Saturdays and Sundays in metropolitan Melbourne (Zones 1 + 2) and on regional town bus services where myki is operating.

http://ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/metropolitan-myki-fares/


Sydney

Pensioner Excursion

Eligible concession holders can purchase unlimited travel, all day for just $2.50 with our Pensioner Excursion Ticket.

http://www.131500.com.au/tickets/explore/pensioner-excursion


Hobart

Day Tripper: unlimited urban travel after 9.00am. $2.90

http://www.metrotas.com.au/tickets-and-fares


Brisbane

Seniors Card +go, senior go card or green pensioner concession go card holders who use go card for two paid journeys in one day travel free for the rest of the day.

http://translink.com.au/resources/tickets-and-fares/concessions/2013-seniors.pdf

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

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Off-peak fares kick in 30 minutes earlier after commuters not satisfied with affordability

Changing off peak from 9am to 8.30am ... January 2014, fares still projected to increase 7.5% ....

[ozbob]

2014 fares thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.0