4 Sep 2008: SEQ: Go card: going not going, going not going ? going?

[ozbob]

Media Release 4 September 2008

SEQ:  Go card: going not going, going not going ? going?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has said that is time that the Go card was made reliable and fares equitable.  Is there any incentive in the contract for Cubic to make sure the system is actually fit for purpose? Are there contract penalties if the system is not fit for purpose?

Presently, poor reliability with go card on the buses is leading to many free rides and incorrect fare charges.  Refund of incorrect debits is still a clumsy process.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?RAIL Back On Track has received a lot of feedback from go card users that indicates that the go card is not working properly on the buses.  It is hit and miss, and many commuters are reporting free rides; waved on to buses because the system is not functioning.?

?One colleague of mine has enjoyed 4 free trips this week out of 8!  Is this 50% free ride option system wide??

?Teething time is well and truly over.  Does the Go card contract actually have provision for financial penalties if the system is not fit for purpose??

?Does the TransLink Transit Authority actually know how many free rides are enjoyed each day?  Is there any indication as to the number of touch failures??

?Many go card users only have mobile phones.  It is an expensive matter for them to call TransLink and attempt to negotiate a refund when there is problem with their go card.  It would be sensible to add an online incorrect debit refund application to the online go card management.  This would make it easier for all, users and TransLink.?

?Does anyone know when the Go card will be going??

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Commuters score free bus trips

Commuters score free bus trips
Tony Moore | September 5, 2008 - 12:24PM

Tens of thousands of bus passengers had free trips in August because the go card system keeps breaking down, according to figures released by Translink this morning.

The news comes as the Auditor General's department confirmed yesterday afternoon it had begun a six-month audit of South-East Queensland's "pressured" public transport system.

A public transport source said one officer from the Auditor General's department had just "thrown his hands in the air" after the first two weeks of a month-long review of the State Government's go card system.

The officer is understood to be exasperated at how frequently bus passengers were given free trips because the card readers were failing.

Translink this morning reported that faults with card readers on Brisbane's buses happened on 0.5 per cent of bus services, but they were less frequent than with the paper-based 10 Trip Saver system.

However, spokesman Adam Nicholson said Translink was now withholding "milestone" payments from US-based company Cubic because of faults with the go card system.

"Issues with go card devices occur very infrequently and the new equipment is far more reliable than previous ticketing systems, like the Ten Trip Saver," Mr Nicholson said.

"For example, operator-reported faults for devices on TransLink buses impact just 0.5% of services."

There were 206,136 bus services in Brisbane during August.

That means 0.5 per cent of bus services is 1030 bus services where bus trips were free. Each bus is able to hold around 62 passengers.

Public transport lobby group Rail: Back on Track - which supports the go card scheme - this morning demanded answers.

Spokesman Robert Dow said details of the Cubic contract should be made public.

"Rail: Back On Track has received a lot of feedback from go card users that indicates that the go card is not working properly on the buses," Mr Dow said.

"It is hit and miss, and many commuters are reporting free rides; waved on to buses because the system is not functioning.

"One colleague of mine has enjoyed four free trips this week out of eight - is this 50 per cent free ride option system-wide?"

Mr Dow questioned whether Queensland Transport's contract with Cubic included penalties for "failed" trips.

"Teething time is well and truly over. Does the go card contract actually have provision for financial penalties if the system is not fit for purpose?" he questioned.

"Does the TransLink Transit Authority actually know how many free rides are enjoyed each day? Is there any indication as to the number of touch failures?"

This reporter has received a free bus trip on the CBD to West End bus service four times in the past fortnight because card readers were not working.

TransLink said specific details of Cubic's contract with TransLink are commercial-in-confidence.

"The performance management framework under the contract can include withholding of milestone payments, bonuses for good performance and abatements for inadequate performance," Mr Nicholson said.

"At this stage the primary mechanism imposed on Cubic has been withholding milestone payments."

A spokeswoman from the Queensland Audit Office yesterday afternoon said the public transport audit was underway and that it would take six months to complete.

"We would think that the results would go to Parliament early in 2009," the spokeswoman said.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union assistant secretary David Madders said bus drivers were still reporting faults with the satellite tracking and with go card readers.

But he said drivers had spoken with Transport Minister John Mickel at the Virginia and Garden City depots and he was soon to visit the Toowong depot.

[ozbob]

From Brisbane mX 5 September 2008 page 2

Free for all on TransLink

Commuters are still receiving free rides because of problems with go card, almost nine months after it was launched.

TransLink this morning said it still hadn't collated the numbers of commuters who were given free rides after readers broke down.  It also doesn't know how much revenue has been lost as a result.

Commuter group Rail Back On Track spokesman Robert Dow said some commuters were still receiving up to four trips a week.

"It is hit and miss." he said.

"Many commuters are reporting free rides, waved on to buses because the system is not functioning.