13 Mar 2010: SEQ: GOing against the flow - work needed now

[ozbob]

Media Release 13 March 2010
 
SEQ:  GOing against the flow - work needed now

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 some additional go card gates to be placed at major rail stations to safely allow go card users to touch on and off against peak flows.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Observations at peak times at Central and Roma Street stations have confirmed the difficulty for many go card users in attempting to touch on and off at peak times against the waves of commuters (1).  As go card usage surges this problem is becoming one of concern to public transport commuters and is not only risky in terms of potential personal injury it is very frustrating to users."

"There is a definite need for some go card gates to be set up that are uni-directional, that is, permit only an anti peak flow for users.  There is room at both Central and Roma Street stations for some additional gates to be set up for this purpose. TransLink does need to ensure that as we move to a 100%  go card ticketing environment there is sufficient go card equipment in place on the network to allow safe and timely use."

References:

1.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=486.msg22916#msg22916

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[tramtrain]

One side could be entrance, the other exit.

[nikko]

I've never understood why this wasn't done in the first place.

[ozbob]

The go gates at Roma St are now being set for directional flows during am and pm peaks.

AM the far left large gate going off has a red cross off (green  on), this allows users to touch on against the peak flow.

Reverse arrangement in the PM Peak.  Gates at the parkland side also set up much the same. 

Anyone notice any changes at Central?

 

[ozbob]

Parkland gates at Roma St  set for afternoon peak, five gates off X (green on)  one gate green for touching off.  This side is not as busy as the front gates but still will improve the peak flows.



Photograph R Dow 22nd March 2010

[ozbob]

Had a look at the setup of the main gates at Roma St, it is only the first large gate that is unidirectional (set for touches against the peak)  the rest seem to still permit both directions.

Some signage might help to point out that the first gate is for touching against the peak flow ...

[ozbob]

At the Ipswich line QR Passenger Community Reference Group meeting last night, a member made the suggestion of having staggered gates to increase numbers and flows.  Great idea, I will try to draw this over the weekend.  This would allow more gates at the main exit at Roma St and possible Central even with the space limitations.

 

[ozbob]

Presently at Central checking out the go gates.  Still no changes for some anti-peak flow.  It is virtually impossible for anyone to touch against the peak flows.  Clearly, the area next to the ticket box, not used (right at the front) could be fitted with a large and small gate and these be used for anti-peak go card users.  This would be safe and out of the way of the peak commuter flows ...   not hard is it?

 

[nikko]

Presently at Central checking out the go gates.  Still no changes for some anti-peak flow.  It is virtually impossible for anyone to touch against the peak flows.  Clearly, the area next to the ticket box, not used (right at the front) could be fitted with a large and small gate and these be used for anti-peak go card users.  This would be safe and out of the way of the peak commuter flows ...   not hard is it?

 

The space is there for another gate array so why not?

[ozbob]

Checked out directional go card gate settings at Roma St PM peak 30th March, both arrays set to facilitate users going against the flow, seems to be working.  Eventually more gates will be needed on the main array.

[ozbob]

By having part of the go card gate array at angle more gates for the same width.

Would also facilitate flow

e.g.
Standard go gate array (top)  angle array bottom.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

6 April 2010

Greetings,

Changes for the go card gates at South Brisbane, Fortitude Valley and Roma St Stations have been indicated from today by TransLink (see --> http://www.translink.com.au/servicechange.php?id=536 ).  Further corralling of commuters at this time in face of inadequate go card gate numbers and arrangements is not conducive for good customer relations.  Further more, we suggest that it is a possible breach of Occupational Health and Safety.  One only has to sit observing peak flows at major stations to understand that sooner or later there will be injuries as go card users attempt to battle on against peak flows.  A failure to set proper directional flows at all stations with adequate go gate arrays is yet another aspect of a very poor implementation of the go card.

At the main Roma St go gate array one of the large gates has been set for anti-peak flow of late.  If the changes mean that one large gate is now used for paper etc. this only leaves the one large gate ( still set for anti-peak flow or have the anti-peak punters been abandoned?) and the four gates for peak touches.  Clearly inadequate.  The area previously used for paper needs to be fitted urgently with a couple of gates, one large, one small for touching against the peak.  Additional gates also need to be placed at Central station to facilitate anti-peak flows, there is room right front of the main ticket box.

A suggested  improved layout of go gates can be viewed here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3565.msg24301#msg24301

Promised extra rail services but not delivered, forced to cope with a poor train frequency with ridiculous timetable gaps, and now treated like cattle, it is little wonder that public transport commuters on rail are rapidly loosing what little faith they have left with the authorities.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org


Reference:

1.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3565.msg23642#msg23642

============================


Media Release 13 March 2010
 
SEQ:  GOing against the flow - work needed now

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 some additional go card gates to be placed at major rail stations to safely allow go card users to touch on and off against peak flows.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Observations at peak times at Central and Roma Street stations have confirmed the difficulty for many go card users in attempting to touch on and off at peak times against the waves of commuters (1).  As go card usage surges this problem is becoming one of concern to public transport commuters and is not only risky in terms of potential personal injury it is very frustrating to users."

"There is a definite need for some go card gates to be set up that are uni-directional, that is, permit only an anti peak flow for users.  There is room at both Central and Roma Street stations for some additional gates to be set up for this purpose. TransLink does need to ensure that as we move to a 100%  go card ticketing environment there is sufficient go card equipment in place on the network to allow safe and timely use."

References:

1.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=486.msg22916#msg22916

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/servicechange.php?id=593

Roma Street fare gate changes - effective 6 May 2010

From Thursday 6 May go card gates at the Parklands end of the Roma Street station will be closed for works.

A go card reader has been installed on platform 10 for customers to touch on and touch off. You can exit the station via platform 10.

Paper ticket holders can still enter and exit the station as normal from the Parklands end of the station.

=======================

Looks like some changes for the gate arrays at Roma St.  Hopefully some of the gates are being moved ... to the main exit ...

[ozbob]

Just went through Roma St main go gate array against flow.  Still a shambles ...  nothing has been done to improve the flows or position more gates as yet.

[Jon Bryant]

Just came through myself and there are paper signs on the gate saying either no entry or entry. Green and red crosses to match.  Might be old news.

[ozbob]

Going off far right narrow gate was set and people trying to go off with the paper crowd coming on at the far left large go gate.  Even simple things like having the gates on the left can not be done. The way they have it just directs people into cross streams.  It is beyond them I am afraid ...  every time I look at the gates at the Parklands exit I just smile ...   wasn't a great deal of thought that went into the roll out, was there?

With respect to the paper signs that attach to the gates, been a while now, surely some BRIGHT GREEN and BRIGHT RED signs could have been fashioned by now.  This too is too difficult.

The ads extolling the virtues of the go roll on overhead.  It is a beautiful moment in history don't you think?

If I was to score the roll out of go gates at Roma St, I think 1.5/10 is a very generous mark!