Report

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Contributions to group report on 'future-proofing' Australian transport. May 2016.​

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8. Improving Ticketing Systems

 

The dramatic growth expected in Australia’s population, particularly within peri-urban locations, is likely to increase long-distance journeys to work. It is important to reconsider public transport ticketing to ensure it is fit for this purpose in terms of its efficiency, user-friendliness and affordability for its customers.

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Fully embracing the technology of electronic ticketing is a key way to improve efficiency. Smartcards reduce queues and travel time (Tourism & Transport Forum, 2010, p.2). For example, Brisbane’s Go card cuts a passenger’s boarding time from 11 seconds to three, saving seven minutes on an average bus service (Tourism & Transport Forum, 2010, p.4). Furthermore, the data collected about commuter habits assists in improving services (Tourism & Transport Forum, 2010, p.2).

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All states and territories already have some form of smartcard in place, but these only exist within capital cities and selected surrounding areas and every state has a completely separate system. The lack of co-ordination between different transport operators negatively impacts upon employment patterns, the environment and the welfare of peri-urban residents (Evans et al., 2015, p.536). In order to create ‘seamless’ travel, ticketing systems should be expanded into fully multi-modal, multi-operator services, which can function across regions and inter-state, as has been achieved with road tolls (Evans et al., 2015, p.546).

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The needs of public transport users must be kept at the forefront of these developments. Commuters require clear and convenient ways to top-up their travel cards; such as machines at all stations and online facilities. It is also important that these improvements in efficiency are not taken as justification for reducing staffing levels. Public transport users’ perceptions of safety, particularly women’s, are directly related to the presence of staff (Gekoski et al., 2015, p.31).

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Affordability of public transport is also an important concern with increasing peri-urban journey-to-work commuting. In general Australia has well-priced tickets, although the varying state systems makes it difficult to form a single assessment. There is particular concern about the dramatically disproportionate increase in Brisbane’s ticket prices as to inflation (Queensland Council of Social Service, 2013, p.5). Consumer costs must continue to be carefully monitored to ensure they remain affordable for all.

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The increased use of ‘pay as you go’ smartcards can reduce costs for consumers who pay for their exact journeys (Tourism & Transport Forum, 2010, p.3). Different providers have introduced cost-saving measures, such as Melbourne’s Myki offering discounts for season tickets and Queensland’s Go providing free travel for the rest of the week after nine journeys (Public Transport Victoria; Translink). However, significantly, these systems to do not benefit part-time workers with low incomes (Queensland Council of Social Service, 2013, p. 9). This group should be considered in order to ensure their commuting is feasible. Sydney’s Opal system with its daily caps may be more suitable for this (NSW Government Opal).

 

Recommendations:

- Expansion of multi-modal, multi-operator electronic ticketing which allows for seamless travel across regions and state boundaries.

- Careful monitoring of ticket costs and consideration of part-time workers in cost-saving initiatives.

 

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Conclusion

The dramatic population growth expected within Australian cities and peri-urban areas presents a formidable challenge to public transport planning. This report has studied how the purposes of public transport—such as optimal ‘city-shaping,’ environmental sustainability and social cohesion—may be maintained through these strains.

 

Public transport should be expanded into a hub and spoke network structure that allows convenient transfers, increasing the practicality of door-to-door public transport journeys. Bringing all public transport in Australia under the central governance of state administration, as well as a federal agency would make these seamless journeys possible. The government and relevant stakeholders should continue research into optimal network solutions, such as level-crossing removal. Looking into imposing realistic road-use pricing is also advised, as this would push consumers towards the more sustainable solution of public transport and release funds for its improvement.

 

The needs of all public transport users should be considered a priority. As such, regional services should be improved as a public good and special measures should be considered to safeguard access for disabled and elderly passengers. Clear and consistent customer information should always be available. Fully embracing smart-ticketing technologies would create a more efficient system, crossing the boundaries of different modes and operators. However ticket prices should be carefully monitored to ensure their affordability for all.

 

By considering these propositions relating to the purpose, accessibility and affordability of public transport, government agencies and other stakeholders can work towards ‘future-proofing’ the valuable asset of Australia’s public transport networks.

 

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References:

 

Evans, G., Guo, A. W., Blythe, P. & Burden, M. (2015). Integrated smartcard solutions: do

people want one card for all their services? Transportation Planning and Technology, 38, 534-551. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03081060.2015.1039233

 

Gekoski, A., Gray, J. M., Horvath, M. A. H., Edwards, S., Emirali, A. & Adler, J. R. (2015).

‘What works’ in reducing sexual harassment and sexual offences on public transport nationally and internationally: A rapid evidence assessment. London: British Transport Police and Department for Transport.

 

NSW Government Opal. (n.d.). What are the benefits of an Opal card? Retrieved from:

https://www.opal.com.au/en/about-opal/benefits-of-travelling-with-opal-card/

 

Public Transport Victoria. (n.d.). Myki pass. Retrieved from:

http://ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/myki-pass/

 

Queensland Council of Social Service. (2013). Submission to the Queensland Government:

Review of public transport fares for the TransLink public transport network in South East Queensland. Retrieved from: https://www.qcoss.org.au/sites/default/files/Fare%20Review%20-%20final.pdf

 

Tourism & Transport Forum. (2010). Position Paper: Smartcard ticketing on public transport.

Retrieved from: http://www.ttf.org.au/Content/smartcardticketingjuly2010.aspx

 

Translink. (n.d.). Make 9 journeys then travel free. Retrieved from:

https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/go-frequently-then-go-for-free

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