Bus operator tells what really happened to service
Friday, 10 July 2009 10:03
With all due respect to the minister, it is ridiculous to quote patronage figures from a two day observation of our service that was already winding down! Even more disappointing is that she refers to TRANSLink patronage data which indicates better use of the TRANSLink funded services operating in the less populated Samford Valley and Hinterland regions. She is not comparing apples with apples! Those patrons [in Samford Valley and Sunshine Coast Hinterland] can use their tickets to transfer onto connecting trains and buses without having to pay for each sector. They can travel free to major events! Our Patrons did not have that luxury; they had to pay another fare when transferring onto connecting services. If residents of our region were afforded the same cost benefits the patronage would have increased two fold and more! For example, an adult passenger boarding the Samford Valley service from Samford Village travelling to Brisbane would pay $4.30 for the entire journey. An adult passenger boarding our service at Karana Downs to Brisbane would have to pay $3.80 on our service and transfer at Indooroopilly onto a connecting bus or train and pay another $2.90! A total of $6.70 being $2.40 MORE than the Samford Valley resident! And there were no Free Rides for them to major events!
So Minister, please compare apples with apples when you decide where our community’s tax dollars are spent.
Frank Oliveri