Union fears in fares rise

UNION officials claim Queensland Rail’s passenger fares will continue to rise this year to make up for the revenue it will lose after its coal and freight operations are privatised.
Electrical Trades Union state secretary Peter Simpson said in the wake of recent fare increases, which had paper tickets increase by 40 per cent and go cards by 20 per cent, ticket prices would continue to rise.
“It is exactly the same as what occurred in the retail electricity market. Since it was privatised electricity prices have escalated dramatically, now rail fares are doing the same thing,” Mr Simpson said.
“With cross-subsidisation going, commuters have to pick up the slack through increased fares or the State Government faces a big subsidy bill each year for passenger services.
“Commuters have seen which option the State Government has chosen and it is going to slug commuters.”
The claims were strongly denied by Transport Minister Rachel Nolan, who said union officials had no understanding of how QR was funded.

Source: The Queensland Times