20 Viaduct Harbour Avenue Auckland 1010
Private Bag 92250, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Ph 09 355 3553
Fax 09 355 3550
24 August 2020
Alex Hart
[FYI request #13294 email]
Kia ora Alex
The information you requested - CAS-176645-M4Z8B4
Thank you for your request for information dated 13 July 2020, requesting information about
cost and benefits of the Auckland Transport Program aimed at reducing fare evasion as per
the article published in June 2018.
Current estimate of lost revenue from fare evasion for the years since June 2018
Auckland Transport takes the safety of our passengers very seriously. We have invested
heavily in trains in recent years and as we continue to do this the number of people using
them continue to rise. Our customers take more than 20 mil ion train journeys a year (the
overall number of journeys on public transport is an estimate of 91 mil ion per year).
In 2018, we started a project specifically aimed at Security and Fare Enforcement (SAFE)
which had a number of components. As a start, we recruited Transport Officers (TOs), who
for the period in question, worked on the full rail network in Auckland. Their role is very
interactive with the public and they are warranted by The Police Commissioner with the
Enforcement Officer status and are trained as first responders.
The purpose of the Transport Officer role is to;
• increase passenger safety and security whilst on the public transport network and
associated facilities
• ensure proactive fare evasion management through regular fare enforcement duties
such as fare inspections, issuing infringements
• provide a high level of customer service and information to customers
TO’s along with other staff, act as a point of contact for incidents on the rail network and at
stations and help the police and transport operators with emergency management when
necessary. Feedback about the Transport Officers from the public travel ing on the rail
network in Auckland has been very positive.
On-board safety starts even before passengers get on the train. We have gated more
stations to stop fare evaders from accessing the trains. This means that, when the
programme is complete, 90% of all journeys must be paid for before accessing the platform.
aucklandtransport.govt.nz
In this
Herald article it was stated that fare evasion costs rate payers an average of
$2.5million a year, and that fare evaders can face an infringement of between $150 and
$500. The referenced fare evasion cost was based on an average fare evasion rate of 4-5%.
To clarify this data, to date no infringements to the value of $500 have been issued and we
do not have an offence attached to such a value.
The fare evasion rate used for this article was calculated as an average of 4.5% and
calculated by employing contractors to stand at each platform for all hours of rail services
and physically count the people that came onto the platform vs how many people purchased
a ticket/used their HOP card to pay for the relevant fare.
For the purpose of providing a relevant full year’s data to answer this request we have used
the period of 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019. The fare evasion rate for this period was 1.29%,
this was calculated by using the number of checks completed/the number of non-compliant
travellers identified through these checks by Transport Officers. The lost revenue for the
same period was around $685,000.
This shows a reduction in fare evasion at a rate of around 3.21% and $1,815,000 in costs to
rate payers.
In addition to the financial benefit, the overall confidence in the safety the public feel when
Transport Officers are on board public transport has been relayed multiple times through
interactions.
The number of people who have been issued infringement notices since June 2018,
and how many paid the $150 fine and how many paid a $500 fine.
The data below contains the number of infringements issued, as noted before, no customers
have been issued with a $500 fine.
Number of Infringements
Number of
Period
issued
Number of $150 $500
July 2018-December
2018
2011
2011
0
January 2019-
December 2019
6617
6617
0
January 2020-June
2020
1792
1792
0
Total
10420
10420
0
Cost of the program
Marketing cost
The cost of marketing against fare evasion (including the production and placement of the
“No more lame excuses” advertising) was $62,000. It was mostly delivered via posters and
signage on trains and at train stations.
Transport Officer cost
For the period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019, the cost of Transport Officers was $5,384,404.
Please note that this cost consists of a multitude of items including but not limited to salaries,
training, uniform, equipment and facilities.
Equipment cost and installation of gates
The combined cost for the ticket gate installation is approximately $13 mil ion. The gates
have been installed at the following stations:
• Henderson
• Middlemore
• Manurewa
• Glen Innes (on hold)
• Papatoetoe
• Papakura
• Parnell
• Middlemore (stil to be completed)
• Glen Innes (stil to be completed)
A majority of the costs was used to install 1.9m high electronic gates which is accessible
only with a HOP card. However, there is other infrastructures being built as part of this
programme such as:
• 1.8m high fencing
• staff cubicles for security staff with CCTV
• a manual gate for passengers with paper tickets
Due to location and/or design, some stations include additional enhancements for more
safety benefits.
Prosecution cost
Auckland Transport does not record the cost of prosecuting infringements. Therefore, this
part of your request is refused under section 17(e) of the LGOIMA as the information does
not exist.
Should you believe that we have not dealt with your request appropriately, you are able to
make a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman in accordance with section 27(3) of the
LGOIMA Act and seek an investigation and review regarding this matter.
Yours sincerely
Phil Wratt
Engagement Manager
Customer Care
