| TransLink Transit Authority | |
|---|---|
| Motto | Integrated public transport for South East Queensland |
| Formation | TransInfo: August 1993 TransLink: June 2003 Authority: July 2008 |
| Type | Authority |
| Purpose/focus | Coordinate and integrate public transport services |
| Headquarters | Brisbane, Australia |
| Membership | Brisbane Transport Brisbane Ferries Queensland Rail (other operators) |
| CEO | Peter Strachan |
| Website | translink.com.au |
The TransLink Transit Authority (known as TransLink) is the authority introduced by the Queensland Government in June 2003 as a section of Queensland Transport to coordinate and integrate rail, bus and ferry services. TransLink works with Airtrain, Brisbane Transport, Brisbane Ferries, QR Citytrain and 17 other operators to provide these services in South East Queensland. TransLink runs an integrated ticketing system and a smartcard system (known as go card) to allow the use of one ticket on multiple services, provided that in the case of paper tickets it covers the appropriate zones.
TransLink started life as TransInfo, a phone support service within Queensland Transport to provide people with timetable information and pass on feedback to providers. In June 2003, TransInfo was re-branded as TransLink and tasked with the job to introduce common ticketing and to start introducing a smartcard system from mid-2004.[1][2] TransLink was separated from the department of Queensland Transport and became a standalone Transit Authority in July 2008 to take full responsibility for public transport in South East Queensland. The Authority became the face of public transport.[3]
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TransInfo was a phone inquiry and timetable service established in August 1993 by Queensland Transport. It was found to be a very successful service, and in a 1997 research study 99% of surveyed transport users were either very or fairly satisfied with the service.[4] After the success of TransInfo, TransLink was introduced by the Queensland Government in June 2003 as an agency within Queensland Transport replacing the former TransInfo service. With a $21.4 million budget TransLink was tasked with the job to introduce common fares, zones, concessions, ticket types and to start introducing a smartcard system from mid-2004. Prior to the TransLink's introduction, combined patronage for public transport services was only around 112 million trips per year.[1][2]
TransLink delivered the new integrated ticketing system in July 2004, to help with the change over one hundred TransLink assistants were out throughout the South East Queensland. In addition, the daily ticket was introduced which with only one ticket allowed unlimited travel on public transport within the zones on the ticket and for the first time students and veterans throughout South East Queensland received a 50% discount on fares.[5] In October 2004, TransLink ended the amnesty on passengers not holding a valid ticket on services, passengers faced fines of up to $150 if travelling without a valid ticket. On TransLink's services passengers may be asked by Transit Officers to show their ticket to verify they are holding a valid ticket. These Transit Officers have the authority to inspect tickets, and in addition issue on the spot fines, request passenger information, and if necessary remove passengers from services. In just two months an extra 2.3 million passengers traveled on services and ticket sales increased by 11%.[5] Since TransLink's introduction, passenger numbers has grown faster than ever before, in 2005, TransLink's passenger numbers increased by 9.5%. In 2005, TransLink saw almost a 20% increase in passenger numbers.[6][7]
The go card was rolled out throughout Brisbane in February 2008, the go card was available at almost 100 go card retailers, selected Queensland Rail stations, over the phone or online. TransLink had staff on hand at rail stations and major bus interchanges to talk to passengers about go card and answer questions.[8] TransLink was replaced by a Transit Authority in July 2008 by the Queensland Government. This new Authority took responsibility for public transport in South East Queensland. The Authority became the face of public transport in South East Queensland, and at the same time a 24 hours a day, seven days a week customer information and support phone number was introduced.[3][9]
In November 2009, TransLink started cashless services during peak times, only accepting go cards for ticket payment or prepaid paper tickets, in an effort to improve service efficiency. In late 2009, Translink announced scrapping of monthly and weekly paper tickets and plans to phase out paper tickets by the end of 2010.[10][11] On January 4 2010, to encourage the use of the go cards off-peak discounts and a direct debit top-up option was introduced. At the same time TransLink increased fares and also announced fares will be increased by a further 45% over the following 3 years.[10]
TransLink uses Zones to charge the correct fare no matter what service a passenger uses. Zones radiate out in concentric rings from the centre of Brisbane which are used to determine ticket prices for passengers. There are a total of 23 zones stretching from Gympie (170 km north of Brisbane) to Coolangatta (100 km south of Brisbane). The zones stretch as far west as Helidon (80 km west of Brisbane) and as far east as the bayside suburbs of Brisbane. The borders between zones are called zone boundaries, and some areas on the zone boundaries are designated as precincts. A precinct carries two zones, those of both zones it sits on the boundary of. When traveling to or from a precinct the cost of the fare will be the lower cost possible. For example, if a passenger travelled from Zone 3 to Zone 5 they would buy a ticket from Zone 3 to 5. If their travel was from a precinct at the boundaries of Zone 3 & Zone 4 they would purchase a Zone3/4 - Zone 5 ticket, and they would be charged as though beginning in Zone 4, despite actually starting their journey from within the boundary of Zone 3. This ensures passengers are not charged extra for a zone they did not travel through in their journey, but barely started or finished their trip in. Precincts do not line the boundaries of every zone, rather they surround areas with high patronage running both directions such as shopping centres.
TransLink offers a contactless fare payment card called go card requiring the passenger to touch on and off at a card reader at the start and end of each journey, and when transferring between services. The fare is automatically calculated based on the zones travelled and deducted from a pre-paid balance.
The following types of go card are available:
A single-fare paper ticket is also available for infrequent travellers and visitors.[12]
Prior to 22 January 2011 the following tickets were also available:[14]
TransLink is divided into eleven different operating regions. The regions are largely based on the councils boundaries.[15] These regions are operated by operators which partnered with TransLink to provide services.[16] The Brisbane region is serviced by Brisbane Transport, TransdevTSL Brisbane Ferries, Airtrain and Brisbane Bus Lines. The Northern region is located just North from Brisbane, and is serviced by Bribie Island Coaches, Caboolture Bus Lines, Hornibrook Bus Lines, Kangaroo Bus Lines and Thompson Bus Services. The Southern region is located just South from Brisbane, and is serviced by Logan City Bus Service, Park Ridge Transit and Surfside Buslines. The Eastern region is just South-East from Brisbane, this region covers Capalaba, Cleveland, Redland Bay and Victoria Point, and is serviced by Mt Gravatt Bus Service and Veolia Transport. The Western region is just South-West from Brisbane, this region covers Goodna, Springfield, Ripley, Ipswich and Rosewood, and is serviced by Bus Queensland Lockyer Valley, Southern Cross Transit and Westside Bus Company. The Sunshine Coast region is North of Brisbane. This region covers the coastal towns of Caloundra, Kawana, Maroochydore and Noosa, and is serviced by Buslink and Sunbus Sunshine Coast. The Gold Coast region is located South-East from Brisbane just past the Southern region, this region covers the Gold Coast, and is serviced by Surfside Buslines. Gold Coast Rapid Transit will soon provide light rail services in the Gold Coast. Queensland Rail provides train services across South East Queensland.
All TransLink services will be managed with the use of HASTUS 2010 integrated scheduling software which is developed by a Canadian firm, called GIRO.[17] HASTUS will also be utilised for the production of timetables and network planning.
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