The 2011 TransLink cash grab

UQ

Lets take a look at how much fares could go up in 2011 for a student mixing study and work. This example assumes a student making a return journey to university in the morning, and a return journey to work in the evening. The journeys are 2 zone, and prices are for concession tickets. 
2010 go card fare: $5.14
2010 paper daily ticket: $3.90
2011 go card fare: $5.78
So for a student having to make 4 journeys a day, the removal of the paper daily ticket in 2011 will result in an effective fare increase of a whopping 48%. To inflict such a huge fare increase on students is an absolute disgrace. Ms Nolan and TransLink should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.


What about tourists, who contribute rather a lot of money towards the Queensland economy? This scenario is based on the actual travel pattern of some of BrizCommuter's relatives who came to visit last year. The scenario has three 2 zone off-peak journeys, and one 2 zone peak journey. Modes travelled were rail, bus, and ferry. 
2010 go card fare: $9.99
2010 paper daily ticket: $7.80
2011 go card fare: $11.06
So for a tourist having to make 4 journeys a day, the removal of the paper daily ticket in 2011 will result in an effective fare increase of 42%. So after tourists arriving in Brisbane discover the backwards lack of trains from the airport after 8pm, they will then have a mighty shock in store when they try to use public transport extensively the following day. 


It seems that frequent users of public transport will be hit very hard by the 2011 fare increase. If the Queensland Government and TransLink are trying to encourage people to use public transport more often, then they are going about it the wrong way!