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Earlybirds lured to defer

Early-morning commuters will be enticed to go to work later, with new off-peak fare times

June 27, 2013

The Queensland Government will attempt to get peak-fare-paying commuters travelling in the busiest early-morning periods to
go to work later.

The Government this week announced it will do this by starting the 20 percent discount for off-peak travel at 8.30am instead of 9am.

The change is hoped to entice commuters boarding public transport before 8.30am to slightly delay their travel arrangements to receive off-peak fares.

With most full-time jobs starting before 9am, it has been impractical for work commuters to wait until after 9am to receive the off-peak fare.

Queensland Transport Minister Scott Emerson says the trial is intended to provide more peak capacity for the public transport network.

“This will give passengers the option to move their trip a few minutes later, out of the busy core peak period and save 20 percent off their fare,” Emerson says.

According to Emerson, 2012 figures show about 8,000 passengers a day, travelling between 8.30am and 9am will receive off-peak discounts under the trial and up to 16,000 passengers, who travel between 8am and 8.30am will have the option travel outside the peak period.

The incentive is expected to encourage 2,000 to 3,000 people a day to travel after 8.30am.

The travel period is calculated from the time a passenger touches on their
Go card at a train station, or on board a ferry or bus.

The change to the off-peak time is the result of a public transport fare path review.

“The option to extend off-peak was a recommendation to increase capacity on the train network, delivered by a panel of experts as part of the Brisbane Inner Rail Solution report,” Emerson says.

“While this recommendation was proposed for rail, the trial will apply to all modes across the Translink network.”

The 12-month trial will begin in January 2014.

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