27 Nov 2009: SEQ: go card system needs urgent work

[ozbob]

Media Release 27 November 2009

SEQ:  go card system needs urgent work

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has called for the defects in the go card system to be fixed.  Additionally urgent consideration be given to the introduction of a daily fare and a periodical ticketing option for the go card.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track has long supported the go card simply because of the overall improved efficiency gains that can be realised with a high uptake."

"As we are on the threshold of a punitive fare price increase in paper ticketing from January 2010 with the eventual removal of all paper ticketing by the end of 2010 it is essential that the go card system be fixed as commuters move to the go card.  There are problems with equipment that is failing, screens on a lot of the touch devices on railway stations have deteriorated such that essential information for the user is unable to be read.  Additionally the beeps are often not heard either due to failure or background noise."

"Similar problems are experienced on the buses.  Equipment is hard to read and use even for experienced users.  Failures are frequent and the beeps are often missing. It has been suggested that bus drivers can de-activate the beeps - the beeps are needed for confirmation of successful touches for many commuters."

"Many railway stations have insufficient go card readers.  Lengthy queues already form at peak times with only around 30% of passengers using the go card!  How much worse this will be unless sufficient equipment is put in place.  RAIL Back On Track members have identified a number of railway stations that need more equipment for touching on and off (1)."

"It is not unreasonable we believe for TransLink,  who is in actual fact the custodian of the taxpayers investment in the go card system to demand the contractor to fix the defective equipment. We have identified the problems since early 2008."

"What is the contingency plan for allowing citizens who are not able to use the go card the ability to access public transport once all paper tickets removed?  Many elderly citizens have poor visual acuity and will struggle to use the system.  Other citizens may have cognitive or other issues that prevent them from using the system. Why should commuters who are not able to use the go card system cop a financial penalty from the 4 January 2010?  What will they do when paper tickets are removed at the end of 2010?"

"Despite the spin, there is a significant learning curve with the go card for many users and in some cases it will be extremely difficult for some to use the system without copping serial fixed fare penalties with the current state of the system."

Reference:

1.  Please indicate rail stations that need more go card readers http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2882.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[Otto]

"Similar problems are experienced on the buses.  Equipment is hard to read and use even for experienced users.  Failures are frequent and the beeps are often missing. It has been suggested that bus drivers can de-activate the beeps - the beeps are needed for confirmation of successful touches for many commuters."

This is certainly not true... I wish I was able to turn the beeps on as I cannot know if someone actually did use a card... What is so hard about checking if a C.I.D (card reader) beeps when the CUBIC people install these things.. It's just laziness on CUBICS part....

[ozbob]

Thanks for that confirmation Otto.  There was a caller to ABC radio who made that claim,  hence my caution.

Glad that has been cleared up, it is equipment failure.  The beeps are very helpful of course.

Cheers!