Integration and savings as TransLink goes statewide

Published Friday, 02 November, 2012 at 05:34 AM

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

The Newman Government has ended the duplication in Queensland public transport with the restructure of TransLink.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson said the bill passed by the Queensland Parliament last night was great news for all Queensland public transport users.

“The new structure is now in place to deliver the reforms and savings to get Queensland back on track,” Mr Emerson said.

“For the first time, all Queensland Government transport services will be under the TransLink banner.

“TransLink will no longer operate as a statutory authority confined to the state’s south east.

“This more efficient and streamlined structure will save Queensland taxpayers around $12.1 million which can be reinvested back into improving the reliability, frequency and affordability of the public transport network.

“I also look forward to better integration of services across Queensland – including existing TransLink services, qconnect bus services, TravelTrain services and school bus services, along with subsidised regional airline, coach and ferry services.

“Under Labor there were two separate government agencies doing the same task in different areas of the state which created additional costs which were  passed on to passengers in the form of three consecutive 15 per cent fare increases in South East Queensland.

“This new bill will put an end to this duplication which has enabled us to halve Labor’s planned fare hikes in January 2013 and January 2014.

“We’ve already delivered free travel after nine journeys improving affordability for passengers leading to an increase in the number of people getting back onto public transport.

“From July to September there were more than 600,000 extra trips taken compared to the same period in 2011, a promising start to reversing the four years of patronage decline we saw under Labor.

“Customer satisfaction for affordability has also improved on trains and buses since the LNP’s fare policy announcement.”

[ENDS] 2 November 2012
 

Media contact: Andrew Berkman 0429 128 637