2014 fare reduction - fares still too high?

Still far too expensive!

From Monday 3rd November 2014, public transport fares in SE Queensland will be reduced by 5% due to the "carbon tax rebate" charade. Does this make Brisbane's expensive public transport system any more affordable? BrizCommuter takes a look at Brisbane's new reduced fares vs selected other cities.

Costs are for the cheapest available, adult single 5km train or bus fare from the CBD to inner-suburbs during the peak period. Exchange rates are as on 28/10/2014.

Stockholm - $5.53
Oslo - $5.13
London - $5.11 Tube / $4.01 National Rail / $2.65 Bus or Tram
Brisbane - $3.93
Berlin - $3.73
Melbourne - $3.58
Sydney - $3.50 Bus / $3.30 Train
Adelaide - $3.39
Vienna - $3.16
New York - $3.11
Seattle - $2.83
Townsville - $2.80 (Bus)
Vancouver - $2.78
Paris - $2.44
Perth - $2.18
Los Angeles - $1.98
Tokyo - $1.73 (Metro)
Hong Kong - $0.90 (MTR)
Singapore - $0.77 (MRT)

As expected, despite the 5% fare reduction, Brisbane still has the world's highest public transport fares outside of Northern Europe. Brisbane still has the most expensive public transport system in Australia, and is still far more expensive than all of the world's most liveable cities.

Given how expensive Brisbane's fares have been for the past few years, a measly 5% fare cut has made no dent into reducing the un-affordability of Brisbane's public transport system. During the LNPs reign, and taking into account the 5% fare decrease, public transport fares have still increased by 10%. This is above CPI, and most workers pay increases (except for politicians of course). Campbell Newman's bid to decrease the cost of living has seriously failed when it comes to public transport (and we won't even mention electricity cost increases)! During the LNPs tenure, there also been few improvements to public transport services aside from the sector 2 train timetables which were planned before the LNP came to power anyway). We have also seen the bus network redesign shambles, which resulted in cuts rather than TransLink's planned improvements, and an inefficient bus network. No wonder Brisbane's public transport users have continued to run screaming back to their cars.

It is clear that rather than a pathetic 5% fare cut in the lead to an election, Brisbane needs a major fare system revamp. Why is it that cities like Perth can have fares approximately 40% cheaper than Brisbane? Why is it that cities such as London can have sensible daily and zone based fare capping, whilst Brisbane has the rortable 9 then free weekly cap? Why do cities with a very high cost of living such as Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, and Tokyo have fares a fraction of those in Brisbane? It's time that both side of Queensland politics wake up to affordable and sustainable transport!