Qconnect - a better service for Cairns transport
Published Thursday, 20 December, 2007 at 11:00 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Standardised fares based on transport zones, more services and a more user-friendly transport system, called qconnect, will kick off in Cairns on January 21 and then roll out across regional Queensland.
Qconnect was launched in Cairns today by Transport Minister John Mickel.
He said qconnect will deliver to regional cities the kind of benefits South East Queenslanders enjoy from TransLink.
"For Cairns, it means that from January 21 bus fares will be charged according to a new system of zones, which is easier to understand for passengers," Mr Mickel said.
"Some 84 percent of Cairns bus passengers will pay less or the same for their normal trip under qconnect. For example, the fare from Palm Cove to Cairns City will fall from $6.80 to $4.60.
"In the relatively few cases where an increase does occur, it will be minimal and far outweighed by the fare cuts in other areas," he said.
Mr Mickel said qconnect fare and ticketing changes would provide:
• Fares charged according to the number of zones used rather than distance travelled
• Single, daily, monthly and off peak discount tickets
• Passenger categories include adult, pensioner and student
• Integrated fares so only one ticket is needed to move from one service to another within the number of zones purchased.
The Minister said the zonal fare system was only one aspect of the qconnect transport revolution that begins in Cairns.
qconnect will also:
• fund more bus services provided by modern air-conditioned buses that are disability friendly
• signage and timetables will be updated and simplified
• bus stops will be modernised and made disability friendly – the first has already been completed in Sheridan Street
• bus services will be redesigned to ensure better connections with each other and with rail services
• long distance air and coach services will be better co-ordinated with local transport
• wheelchair compliant taxis are being provided to small communities throughout Queensland under qconnect.
The Minister said qconnect fulfilled the Government's election commitment to standardise fares and improve public transport services in regional and rural Queensland.
"The Government has recently provided major service improvements for bus passengers in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Wide Bay.
"qconnect will continue this work and expand it – the government is determined to ensure that adequate public transport services are available to all Queenslanders, no matter where they live," Mr Mickel said.
"Through qconnect, the State Government is working with local transport operators to make services more in tune with the needs of local communities and make public transport more attractive to users.
"We want people to leave their cars at home and choose a public transport option instead. Fewer cars on our roads means less congestion and less exhaust fumes," Mr Mickel said.
"The introduction of standardised fares and integrated ticketing through TransLink in SEQ increased patronage by an enormous 30 percent in three years. We expect qconnect to have a similar impact in regional centres.
"The government will ensure that qconnect monitors and meets demand increases," he said.
"The qconnect treatment will be rolled out by mid-2008 to include regional bus, air, ferry and taxi services and to link with QR CountryLink rail services," Mr Mickel said.
He said the distinctive qconnect signage would be rolled out on bus stops, buses, ferries and subsidised air services across rural and regional Queensland over the next few months.
"The qconnect name will be on Government supported public transport services, including local and long-distance bus networks, infrastructure, timetables and the rural and remote regulated aviation network, in regional Queensland.
"Where you see that logo, it means the Government is working with operators to ensure affordable, efficient and accessible transport services for the community," he said.
Mr Mickel said Cairns residents would soon receive detailed information packs in their letter boxes including new timetables, fare and travel zone information.
Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
December 20, 2007
Qconnect was launched in Cairns today by Transport Minister John Mickel.
He said qconnect will deliver to regional cities the kind of benefits South East Queenslanders enjoy from TransLink.
"For Cairns, it means that from January 21 bus fares will be charged according to a new system of zones, which is easier to understand for passengers," Mr Mickel said.
"Some 84 percent of Cairns bus passengers will pay less or the same for their normal trip under qconnect. For example, the fare from Palm Cove to Cairns City will fall from $6.80 to $4.60.
"In the relatively few cases where an increase does occur, it will be minimal and far outweighed by the fare cuts in other areas," he said.
Mr Mickel said qconnect fare and ticketing changes would provide:
• Fares charged according to the number of zones used rather than distance travelled
• Single, daily, monthly and off peak discount tickets
• Passenger categories include adult, pensioner and student
• Integrated fares so only one ticket is needed to move from one service to another within the number of zones purchased.
The Minister said the zonal fare system was only one aspect of the qconnect transport revolution that begins in Cairns.
qconnect will also:
• fund more bus services provided by modern air-conditioned buses that are disability friendly
• signage and timetables will be updated and simplified
• bus stops will be modernised and made disability friendly – the first has already been completed in Sheridan Street
• bus services will be redesigned to ensure better connections with each other and with rail services
• long distance air and coach services will be better co-ordinated with local transport
• wheelchair compliant taxis are being provided to small communities throughout Queensland under qconnect.
The Minister said qconnect fulfilled the Government's election commitment to standardise fares and improve public transport services in regional and rural Queensland.
"The Government has recently provided major service improvements for bus passengers in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Wide Bay.
"qconnect will continue this work and expand it – the government is determined to ensure that adequate public transport services are available to all Queenslanders, no matter where they live," Mr Mickel said.
"Through qconnect, the State Government is working with local transport operators to make services more in tune with the needs of local communities and make public transport more attractive to users.
"We want people to leave their cars at home and choose a public transport option instead. Fewer cars on our roads means less congestion and less exhaust fumes," Mr Mickel said.
"The introduction of standardised fares and integrated ticketing through TransLink in SEQ increased patronage by an enormous 30 percent in three years. We expect qconnect to have a similar impact in regional centres.
"The government will ensure that qconnect monitors and meets demand increases," he said.
"The qconnect treatment will be rolled out by mid-2008 to include regional bus, air, ferry and taxi services and to link with QR CountryLink rail services," Mr Mickel said.
He said the distinctive qconnect signage would be rolled out on bus stops, buses, ferries and subsidised air services across rural and regional Queensland over the next few months.
"The qconnect name will be on Government supported public transport services, including local and long-distance bus networks, infrastructure, timetables and the rural and remote regulated aviation network, in regional Queensland.
"Where you see that logo, it means the Government is working with operators to ensure affordable, efficient and accessible transport services for the community," he said.
Mr Mickel said Cairns residents would soon receive detailed information packs in their letter boxes including new timetables, fare and travel zone information.
Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
December 20, 2007