SMBI touches on with TransLink

At 4.20am this morning the first go card customer ‘touched on’ at Russell Island as the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI) ferry services moves onto the TransLink network.

Assistant Minister for Public Transport Steve Minnikin and Member for Redlands Peter Dowling said from today anyone travelling to the Bay Islands can use their go card.

“To celebrate this exciting milestone, myself and the Member for Redlands will be among the first to travel across to Russell Island using our go card today,” Mr Minnikin said.

“Moving SMBI onto the TransLink network means better coordination with other bus and train services in Redlands.

“It is also the first major extension of the integrated transport network since it was formed in 2004.

“From today Island residents will be able to use their new go card to transfer between the four southern Moreton Bay islands for free.

“Each year more than one million passenger trips are taken in SMBI and now you can travel seamlessly across all modes with one ticket – the go card­.

“I would like to pay tribute to Redland City Council Mayor Karen Williams, Member for Redlands Peter Dowling and the TransLink team for their tireless work on getting this partnership up and running.”

Mr Dowling said this was a historic day and would see a more affordable transport network for the Bay Islands.

“I have been strongly advocating for ferry services to be a part of the network for a long time and it is so exciting to finally see it happen under an LNP government,” Mr Dowling said.

“I believe that this is the most significant outcome ever delivered by any government in the history of the bay islands and will see major savings for residents.

“Customers who travel from Russell Island to Weinam Creek by ferry will pay $6.55 or $5.24 off-peak using go card, rather than the current $8.80.

“Visitors and residents can also take advantage of go card discounts, including free travel after nine weekly journeys.”

The Southern Moreton Bay Islands – consisting of Lamb, Karragarra, Russell and Macleay islands – are home to more than 4500 residents and are located about 50 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD.

[ENDS] 1 July 2013       
                 
Media contact: Stephanie Shield 0418 186 625