[ABC NEWS] Half-price trips for western Sydney

funloving266 · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:49 pm

jaseee · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:14 pm

Also see
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/cheaper-train-tickets-for-offpeak-travel/2008/07/23/1216492505699.html

jaseee · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:15 pm

Does this mean people have to buy single train tickets for each trip? That would be a bit of a hassle and is one of the advantages of having a weekly ticket...

funloving266 · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:29 pm

jaseee · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:19 pm

Well just make sure the ticket gates only validate between those hours, where possible. Other than that, police it the same way as normal tickets (ie. transits). There's nothing stopping people buying concession and pensioner tickets at anytime from the ticket machines, so it's not like it makes much of a difference to people.

hurstville1 · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:42 pm

The only off peak ticket you can get is an off peak return

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Somebody in the WWW · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:25 pm

Blackadder · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:45 pm

Can see what they are trying to achieve, just some possible problems with the plan as I see it.

Cheaper Prices will result in more people travelling by train, esp if petrol prices remain high placing more stress on a already stretched system.

Tickets are only vaild on return after a certain time, so therefore will booking office staff have to ask what time people are going to return from the city, and would people know what time they are returning?

Is it only valid on service to city destinations?? If not someone travelling for example Emu Plains to Parramatta would pay more than someone travelling Emu Plains to the City. Try explaining that to a passenger.

Here or there

albert3801 · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:06 pm

Inspector · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 6:34 pm

Hmmm - I tend to agree with Albert3801 that this hasn't really been well thought-out. Indeed, this has the potential to cause all manner of problems. Using Berowra as an example (yes, I know Berowra's not in the trial area, but given the experience of the fortnightly ticket, they'll just extend it to the entire system at a moment's notice after about a week or so), peak hour return to the City is $11.20, while off-peak return is $7.60. The SmartSaver return fare will be $5.60 (same as Student/Apprentice discount). It won't take long for for people who are travelling early in the morning (who currently tend to get weeklies) to figure out that getting a SmartSaver City return each weekday is going to be much cheaper than a weekly ($28.00, as opposed to $41.00). Also, they'll consider that queuing up for a SmartSaver return every day, Monday to Friday, will be worth the extra few minutes.

The result? Kill Me

(a) queues will blow out once more (albeit at earlier times than before);

(b) overcrowding will simply shift from some peak services (generally, using Berowra/Hornsby as an example, from 7.00am onwards) to other services (c. 6.00am);

(c) passengers travelling to destinations short of the City will derive no benefit, ditto for those travelling outside the SmartSaver "windows" (which will cause massive resentment); Evil or Very Mad

(d) yet another fare variation is added to the mix, when the recommendation from various transport studies has been to simplify the fare structure (apart from the discounted return fares, this creates - in effect - peak and off-peak singles at certain times (who's going to want to buy a single to the City when they can get a return for the same price?)). Also, station staff are going to have to ask just about every customer "when are you coming back?", as well as dealing an increased throughput at the window (not to mention more cancelled tickets at the end of the shift); Whip

(e) the new fortnightly ticket, which was intended to ease queues, is immediately rendered obsolete (using the Berowra example, a SmartSaver return every weekday for two weeks will come to $56.00, as opposed to $82.00 - it's a no-brainer, when you have a large number of commuters seeking to economise); & -

(f) station staff will be left to bear the brunt of queues, overcrowding and abuse - particularly when the TVM's start to increasingly break down/fill up/run out of tickets and/or change, as a result of escalating usage. Mad

One can only conclude that this has been dreamed up by some Ministerial spin-doctor who hasn't travelled by train (or any form of public transport, for that matter) for the last 15 years. Bang Head

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greenkayaker · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:40 am

Just found this thread.

Since I work in the trial area, I know whats going on, if anyone still cares.

Trial area is for the selling of tickets. Auburn to Emu and branchlines. Smartsaver Tickets can only be bought from these stations. Destination does not matter. If you want a half fare return ticket to Goulburn, knock yourself out and go buy a ticket. Destination must be a CityRail one, so Moore Park and Bondi and link tickets no. Airport is OK.

The whole point of the trial is to shift some of the pasenger loading from the peak trains to the shoulder trains. They are seeing if the traveling public can / will change their travel for a financial incentive. If all the trial does is increase passenger numbers, the trial will be cancelled.

This is not going to make them money, its going to lose money, but is being done to see if habits can be changed. It is also going to increase queues as people have to buy a ticket each day.

The catch is the times... As said, you have to be at Central before 0715 or between 0915 and 1015 for the half fare.. Return trip you cannot return from Central between 1600 and 1830.

Tickets are Single and Return only. And Smartsaver Singles are only available in the mornings and from the trial stations. The City won't be selling the singles in the PM. If people buy a return and then have to come back between 1600 and 1830, they will have to buy a full single. It will still work out to be 3/4 of the cost of a full fare return.

If all that happens with this trial is an increase in patronage (which it will) then it will get canned quick.

I agree with a lot of the problems people can see happening, in fact I could state many many more that haven't been listed. Whoever thought this up may not have any rail experience, but because Premier Dilemma and the guv'mint have annouced it, we run with it.

While it may work, it's more likely to fail. And the best way to find out is for all the staff to sell it and make it work, because that's the only way to prove it cannot.

And then?????? Mwa ha ha ha!

thadocta · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 4:09 pm

greenkayaker · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 5:07 pm

Same questions we have asked. They have allowed for a small increase in users, but given the current climate and costs, some people will come to use the trains because its cheaper. The trial is still just a trial, it will end in October regardless. What will happen to those who have changed their working hours or habits? They will have to either stay on the earlier trains and pay what they used to, or find another way to get to work.

What they want to know is if a financial incentive will get people to change their habits.... Shocked

Why they need a trial to find that one out no one can figure.

As I was told when I joined the railways by an old hand, "Son, you need to remember 3 things to survive in this job. There is the Right way, the wrong way and the Railway. Never forget that son and you will go far...."

And then?????? Mwa ha ha ha!

awsgc24 · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 5:25 pm

Speed · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:07 pm