Passengers have once again been stranded on the Gold Coast when a Surfside bus failed to turn up in Surfers Paradise late last night, according to Member for Gaven, Dr Alex Douglas MP.
“This comes on top of at least 300 people being stranded at Nerang Railway Station on Christmas Day when buses failed to arrive,” he said.
“At least ten passengers waiting for the last 745 bus to Nerang at 11.18 pm had no way home on our faltering public transport system.
“One person phoned my office this morning angry that she was forced to pay $30 for a cab after phoning Translink and being told there was nothing they could do.
“At least three passengers phoned Translink last night from the bus-stop in Surfers Paradise and each were told there was nothing that could be done.
“Some of these passengers were from Switzerland, who are just bewildered by our unreliable bus system, which is also one of the most expensive in the world.
“What is the point of having a Translink help line when passengers are told it’s not their problem and there is nothing they can do?
“The angry passenger told me she was now purchasing a bicycle as the only reliable way of getting from Surfers Paradise to Carrara at night.
“Our public transport system is making us a laughing side amongst our international tourists.”
4 Responses
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Joseph Says:
Gold coast needs to take a lesson from Auckland, New Zealand. Gold Coast have had a bus system for years, Auckland has only just in the last 4 years finished there transport system, which was…for the lack of a better word. nothing. The buses there run on there own lanes, they are always on time, and you know what its CHEAP.If we are to host the games in 2018 we really need to look in to this. its pathetic, and a embarrassment to the Gold Coast. To many times I have been left at a bus stop waiting for a bus to show up, only to have it late or for it to drive right past. or there is the case when the buss is very early so you miss it.
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Gareth Says:
“One person phoned my office this morning angry that she was forced to pay $30 for a cab after phoning Translink and being told there was nothing they could do.
At least we have a Taxi service we can depend upon when other modes of transport let you down.
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Craig Says:
What’s probably happened is that the bus drivers on those shifts have been sacked and the company subsequently has had no way to cover their shifts. Surfside Buslines has an unbelievable history of unfair dismissals which result from some of the telephone complaints from undesirable troublemaking passengers who mostly seem to come out at night.
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Mi Says:
It’s really time to review Surfside Buslines service AND the Go Card service.
I have loads of unpleasant experience on Surfside buslines and the Go Card service to share with you.
These include: overcharge of busfare to Go Card users (Example- When train broke down one day in July 2011 during peak travelling hours, Queensland Rail directed train passengers to use bus service to travel to Bne. but flashed at the entrance and exit gates. When passengers did this, they were overcharged – many without knowing if they didn’t check their balance of the Go Card ticket.)
Another example – when Go Card service undertook to refund overcharged fare by crediting the overcharge to the Go Card ticket, such credit did not really took place! The credit entry appeared on the Go Card statement only. No credit actually went to the Go Card ticket !! When passenger reported this to Go Card customer service about this, they got a response saying they could not deal with it on their email system and directed the passenger to call their hotline which is busy all the time! Again, nothing could be recovered!! Too many examples of such a faulty system and it’s really shocking!The fact is: those people who are busily travelling to work each day can hardly find enough time to go around and around trying to claim back $10 or $20. But if this faulty loss of $10 or $20 appear regularly, passengers could end up losing hundreds of dollars each month WITHOUT knowing if they are too busy to check their Go Card balance !!
One more example – Some Go Card fare discount method to seniors/pensioners are indeed very mean!! Seniors/pensoners get discount when they travel 5 jouneys on the same day. Just think about it – senior people/pensioner is unlikely to benefit from this. Who on earth can travel 5 journeys on the same day??
Other example – Go Card fare structure allow only one hour’s time for passengers to do the transit between bus zones. If passengers took more than one hour’s time, they will be charged again despite they already paid for the fare!! Again, this is a reap off on bus passengers!! The question is: who can help to solve the problems?
Thanks for reading this!
