QConnect

Infobox Organization
name = qconnect


size = 148px
motto =
formation = 20 December 2007
extinction =
type = Agency
headquarters = flagicon|AUS Brisbane, Queensland
location = flagicon|AUS Regional Queensland
membership = Queensland Government, QR, private operators
leader_title = General Manager
leader_name = John Mickel
key_people =
num_staff =
budget = A$100+ million
website = [http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/General_information/Qconnect/]

qconnect is a system of integrated public transport that covers rail, bus, air and ferry networks in Regional Queensland, Australia. It was introduced by the Queensland Government in December 2007, and is an agency operated by Queensland Transport with an annual budget of more than A$300 million.

qconnect is a Queensland Government initiative providing improved public transport services and greater connectivity and accessibility of services throughout regional, rural and remote Queensland by working with such transport companies as Traveltrain, Marlin Coast Sunbus, Sunbus Townsville, Mackay Transit, Capricorn Sunbus and more than 10 other public transport operators in regional and rural Queensland. The system allows a ticket purchased on any of these public transport services to be used for travel on any of the other ones, provided that it covers the appropriate zones.

Zones

Zones radiate out in rings from the centre of the city which are used to determine ticket prices for passengers. There are a total of 12 zones for Cairns and 11 zones for Townsville. While these zones indicate qconnect's coverage, services may not actually be in operation in certain parts of these zones.

The borders between zones are called precincts – areas where the cost of a ticket purchased will depend on whether the travel is away or towards the City's Central Business District. This ensures that the passenger always pays the lowest fare for their journey.

All Rockhampton bus services will be run under the QConnect system in June 2008.Magnetic Island bus services will also come under the QConncet system on June 10th, 2008.

Ticket Types and Fares

Tickets available include:

Single – one-way travel with unlimited transfers for two hours dependent on any qconnect service.

Daily – the equivalent of a return ticket, but unlimited travel within the zones described on the date of purchase, for around twice the cost of a single ticket. Depending on the number of zones purchased, the daily fare is sometimes cheaper than the cost of two singles.

Weekly - Unlimited travel within the zones purchased for one week (seven consecutive days) from the date of issue.

Monthly - Unlimited travel within the zones purchased for one month (four consecutive weeks) from the date of issue.

Concession fares – qconnect provides standard concession fares for the following:

*Children 5-14 years of age inclusive. Children four and under travel for free.
*full time students from approved Queensland schools, TAFEs, and universities undertaking Austudy, Abstudy or Youth Allowance approved courses. Approved Students are required to produce a Tertiary Travel Card.
*Queensland Pensioners holding an approved Queensland Pensioner Concession Card issued by Centrelink or Department of Veterans' Affairs.
*Seniors holding a Queensland Seniors Card (not a Seniors Discount Card) [ [http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/resources/file/eb218607830a5db/Pdf_townsville_network_guide.pdf Fares and Ticket Types] , page 8, retrieved 27 March 2008] .

Service Operators

qconnect is roughly divided into 15 different operating areas. Different operators provide different services in different areas.
# Buslink Gladstone-Gladstone City
# Capricorn Sunbus-Rockhampton City
# Duffy's Buses-Bundaberg City
# Garden City Sunbus-Toowoomba City
#Hermit Park Bus Service-Townsville Region
#Kynoch Coaches-Toowoomba Region
#Mackay Transit Coaches-Mackay City
#Magnetic Island Bus Service-Magnetic Island
#Marlin Coast Sunbus-Cairns and Surrounding Areas
#Polleys Coaches-Gympie Region
#Sunbus Townsville-Townsville Region
#Trans North Bus & Coach-Innisfail Region
#Whitsunday Transit-The Whitsundays
#Wide Bay Transit- Hervey Bay
#Youngs Bus Service-Capricorn Coast. [ [http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/General_information/Qconnect/Urban_bus_services/ qconnect urban bus services] , retrieved 27 March 2008] .

ee also

*TransLink
*Queensland Transport

References