COMMUTERS will be slugged with a new $25 penalty if they fail to use the troublesome public transport smartcard correctly on trains to Brisbane Airport.
A leaked TransLink memo reveals the "fixed fare" for Go Card users who fail to "touch off" properly on Airtrain services from this weekend regardless of journey costs.
Translink originally charged $15 penalties for normal CityTrain services but backed down, reducing the fee to $5. A plan to again raise it has been delayed.
Transport Minister John Mickel rejected responsibility for the penalty size on his own department's product, saying Airtrain - a private operator - made the decision."Our responsibility is to ensure that if there is an error with the Go Card system the commuter receives a refund," Mr Mickel said in a statement.
His comments come after The Courier-Mail revealed commuters were being robbed of refunds due to a secret five-week limit not included in terms and conditions.
Opposition transport spokesman Tim Nicholls said the growing disincentives would make commuters wonder why they should ditch paper tickets.
He said the constant touchpad errors and overcharging needed fixing before large penalties were dished out."
He blamed the flu for the train cancellations, he blamed the bus drivers for Go Card problems and now he blames Airtrain for this," he said.
The TransLink memo also reveals frequent user discounts will be phased out eventually for trips on the Airtrain line.
The Courier Mail
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