Ms Anne Graham:

We try to encourage the users of public transport not to use cars to travel if they can or if there is an alternative available.

At the locations in question - Pelletstown, in the future, and Broombridge - there are other means of getting to the railway station.

In terms of integrated ticketing, we are looking at the next generation of the Leap card, which we are calling next generation ticketing. This will be account based ticketing, which will move towards cashless, account based payments using a bank card and other means of payment for public transport. We have started the process and one part of the strategy involves the use of mobile phones to book certain tickets. We have a procurement process under way in regard to that. We will put in place validators to enable the use of bank card payment for public transport. I do not have a timeline for that but we want to move on that as quickly as possible.

We believe we presented the benefits of BusConnects to the public. We were not being disingenuous in saying there would be a 20% increase in services across the region. This figure was very carefully calculated and that was what was presented to the public. We also commented on the impacts of the network proposal. It proposed additional interchange and orbital services, as well as additional services. However, it also proposed changes associated with the current network. We have asked members of the public whether they are prepared to make changes to the network in order to achieve the type of service improvements we believe would come from the BusConnects network.

I do not have the full advertising spend for BusConnects but I can certainly make that available to the committee. In terms of the network and bus corridors, BusConnects will bring improved and more efficient public transport, which will reduce public transport carbon emissions.