Frequent Train Traveller's Points

Rob · Posted: Fri May 16, 2003 2:39 pm

I mentioned this topic in a letter I wrote to Railway Digest a while back.

For those that use long distance trains, Countrylink, GSR, QR Traveltrain etc, there should be a system of "Frequent flyer points" similar to the airlines. A great reward (and increased business) if you could use points earned going Gold Kangaroo Sydney-Perth for or towards an XPL trip to Armidale, as an example.

All we need is a willing entrepeneur to get the ball rolling and get the operators on board!

Maybe you could even pick up a meagre handful of points for suburban travel, as a bit of an incentive to use public transport.

Thomas the tank engine · Posted: Fri May 16, 2003 7:14 pm

We've discussed this already. Here is what Aussie Cow came up with....

Thomas the tank engine wrote:
How about a frequent riders program, just like the frequent flyer program? This might just attract more passengers, especially on short routes such as Sydney-Canberra!

Aussie Cow wrote:
The thing is, the frequent flyer programme is a sham, yes, it does let you get free flights, but damn those flights are whenever the airline wants you to fly, not when you want to fly. So a frequent rider programme would have to be somewhat different if it was to even 'get on the tracks'.

Frequent Riders Programme - VFT Sydney to Canberra:
As I've said before, for a Sydney - Canberra VFT to become viable, there would need to a major increase in Sydney - Canberra travel demand, because at the moment, there is very little demand for Sydney - Canberra travel. I myself (a resident of New South Wales) have only been to the nation's capital once, and only been inside the ACT a couple of times more. Anyway, back to the subject, at the moment a Sydney - Canberra VFT isn't viable so a Sydney - Canberra VFT frequent riders programme is for sure not viable.

Frequent Riders Programme - Normal rail, Sydney to Canberra:
CountryLink operates three trains Sydney to Canberra and three trains Canberra to Sydney daily. So over the course of a year, they operate 2,190* trains along the Sydney - Canberra route. Say for example you comuted from Sydney to Canberra (and back) twice a week, this would mean you would make 208 trips (a trip being one way) per year, or ride roughly 10% off all trips. This would cost you $19,676.80 travelling economy class or $27,913.60 travelling 1st class per year. Each trip will take about 4 hours and 10 minutes. Acording to the Qantas site, it would cost $34,444.80 per year to do the same thing by air booked one way, travelling economy class. Each trip would take roughly 50 minutes.
Along the Sydney - Canberra corridor rail has a price advantage, but air has a time advantage.
So yes, a frequent rider programme should be introduced, or at least some form of yearly ticket or something for regular CountryLink users, so as to encourage more people onto trains.
However, there is the issue of time spent travelling, using rail you'll spend 52,000 minutes (866 hours and 40 minutes, or 36 days, 2 hours and 40 minutes) travelling, using air you'll spend 10,400 minutes (173 hours and 20 minutes, or 7 days, 5 hours and 20 minutes) travelling.
So, if CountryLink could get more people on trains, they could up their income, and pump some of the money back into improving travel times along their routes, which will in turn offer quicker comute times and in theory get more people using rail.

*= this figure does not allow for public holidays and closure of the line between Sydney and Canberra

Last edited by Aussie Cow on Mon Mar 31, 2003 3:34 pm, edited 1 time in total

mjja · Posted: Fri May 16, 2003 9:10 pm

The trouble is Syd-Can is so short as to be worth just going by car instead of changing mode onto a train or plane. Syd-Mel and Syd-Bris are much too slow with all the steam age curves and grades, so frequent flyer stuff wouldn't be enough to increase the patronage. It all comes back to improving the track between Melb and Bris.

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)