Bus operator Kinetic is calling on Tasmanians to cancel unwanted bookings as record passenger numbers on inter-city services bring a growing problem with no-shows.
Since the state government made public transport free earlier this year, Kinetic says it has seen a surge in people reserving seats and not turning up, leaving other passengers unable to travel.
The company is now rolling out a reminder system across all its inter-city routes, sending passengers an SMS and email 48 hours before departure asking them to confirm or cancel their booking.
A two-week trial on the Hobart to Launceston service saw 1,598 reminders sent, with 149 passengers cancelling bookings they no longer needed and freeing up those seats.
Kinetic General Manager for Tasmania Andrew Grzinic said the reminders were about making sure every seat carries a passenger.
“Free public transport has brought record numbers of Tasmanians onto our services and that’s exactly what we want to see,” he said.
“This isn’t about penalising anyone. It’s a simple, free message by text and email asking you to confirm you’re still travelling.”
“If your plans have changed, cancelling takes seconds and that seat goes straight back to another customer who needs it, whether they’re heading to work, a medical appointment or to see family.”
Grzinic said the company’s message was simple – “ride responsibly.”
“Book the trips you intend to take and cancel the ones you no longer need, so the seat can go to someone else,” he said.
The reminders build on other changes Kinetic has introduced this year, including requiring an account for online bookings, a self-cancellation function and a standby queue at Transit Centres.
Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent said no-shows had been an issue and praised Kinetic for working with the department to address it.
“It does appear that it’s working very, very efficiently,” he said.
Vincent described unused bookings as “really, really disappointing for those genuine people needing to move around the state.”
Vincent also confirmed the procurement of the new Cubic ticketing system contract has been placed on hold while the government assesses the future of free fares.
