21 Jan 2008: Go Card is a stop card!

[ozbob]

Media Release 21 January 2008

SEQ: Go Card is a stop card!

RAIL ? Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)  a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has called for clarification on the operation and roll out of the Go Card, and assurances that commuters will not be worse off should they elect to use the Go Card.

Robert Dow said that:

?Many present users of the Go Card, who are in the main the former  Translink smart card pilot participants, are reporting numerous system problems with the card?s operation, and problems with the new Ticket Vending Machines.?

?For example feedback has been received of users losing money in the ticket machines when attempting to top up balances, and problems with the debiting of fare costs to the card, particularly when there are system failures and users are unable to tag off.?

?Others have highlighted problems with the GPS location system in buses, and some concerns with the durability of Go Card equipment on the river ferries.  The tag-on tag-off devices at railway stations seem to be particularly prone to vandalism.?

?The only fare structure announced, the frequent user scheme, is also causing concern to high use public transport users who face significant fare increases relative to their present seasonal paper ticketing should they use the card.  We note that paper ticketing will be maintained for a period following card roll-out but surely the whole point of investing $100 million dollars or so will be to eventually replace the present system, otherwise we will just have two expensive duplicate ticketing systems??

?Can assurances be given that commuters will not be worse off with the Go Card? Is the card really ready for roll out?  The evidence so far suggests that commuters will be worse off and the card still is not ready for main stream use!? said Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

Contact:

Robert Dow

admin@backontrack.org
Administration RAIL Back On Track