History
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. 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.
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. 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%. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
Read more about this topic: Trans Link (South East Queensland)
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