POLL: 6 monthly/yearly tickets

[somebody]

Again, there's been a bit of debate so let's see what others think.

[SurfRail]

I say yes, but I base that on giving the user freedom of choice, not pandering to people who want the QR passes back.

Significant discounts should be offered for buying periodicals as they represent money up-front for the system, and give certainty to the user.  Likewise, discounts should be offered for pre-loading credit by auto-top up or Bpay (which you can use in Perth and Canberra, but not here).

I would favour bringing back weeklies, monthlies, quarterly, half-yearly and yearly passes that can be loaded onto a go card for a select number of zones, with a top up fare payable for travelling outside them.

Capping should also be implemented and available for the 'floating' balance on the card - should apply for daily travel and then gradually apply for the above periods based on calendar months.

My concerns about what the Minister has said so far about the 2 products specifically in question are (a) as others have said, it sounds suspiciously like a fait accompli, and (b) it is entirely political and for the benefit of noisy long-distance commuters, not for the system at large.

[ozbob]

As far as I am aware, there is no intention by anyone to recreate 6 monthly, yearly tickets (possibly apart from the LNP). There is a possibility of bringing in further fare enhancements for the go card, including periodical options though.

[Gazza]

^It's a given 6/12 month tickets would be periodicals on the go card.

[Arnz]

Not in the form of paper tickets (integrated or non-integrated).

Periodical options on the Go Cards, I'll support.

[Derwan]

I don't support periodic ticketing at all.

However I DO support frequent-user discounts.

[colinw]

Keep it simple.  Frequent user discount or capping of some kind.

Be guided by what similar systems elsewhere use, including the My Way card in the ACT

http://www.transport.act.gov.au/myway/fares.html

[#Metro]

The reusable MyWay cards can be recharged via autoload (direct debit) or by using BPAY, both of which will enable passengers to receive a 5% discount on their fares once the payment has been processed.

I suspect that they are using something similar to what TransPerth has.

To assist with minimising fare evasion, the PTA has purchased in excess of 100 Handheld Smart Card Processors. These are based on an open platform operating system and allow inspection as well as providing mobile tag on and tag off processing. In addition 500 Handheld Inspector Units have been provided to assist in fare evasion and customer queries.

http://www.parkeon.com/fr/parkeon-perfection-in-perth.html

So TransPerth could integrate this with taxi if they wanted to. 

[somebody]

Keep it simple.  Frequent user discount or capping of some kind.

Current system is about as simple as I could imagine.  The fare levels however have significant room for improvement.

[#Metro]

Greencard automatically caps urban fares at a maximum daily rate. This means that once the daily cap amount is reached during the course of a day's travel, you will pay no more for any further travel during that day.

Two daily cap levels apply, dependent upon the time of your first boarding.

If the first urban boarding is before 9.00am then the before 9.00am daily cap will apply.
If the first urban boarding is after 9.00am then the after 9.00am daily cap will apply.

A Greencard will not deduct further urban fares once a daily cap is reached.

Even... gasp.. Tasmania  

http://www.metrotas.com.au/tickets-and-fares

[ozbob]

We have truly missed the bus ....

[colinw]

We have truly missed the bus ....

And are still waiting for the train.  It won't be along for another 29 minutes, or 29 years in the case of the Sunshine Coast.

Yet again we manage to create something less functional despite having a much bigger budget. How on earth do we manage to keep doing this "less from more" thing?

[Astro]

I have probably missed something here but why is there such an emphasis on bringing back 6 & 12 monthly tickets why not just cap fares after 10 trips like they used to with paper tickets. That would be fairer for everyone.

[somebody]

I have probably missed something here but why is there such an emphasis on bringing back 6 & 12 monthly tickets why not just cap fares after 10 trips like they used to with paper tickets. That would be fairer for everyone.

Indeed.  Note though that the weeklies effectively capped after 8 peak time trips.  I don't support less than 10 trips for a second.

I don't know why there is such emphasis on "fare structure" at all.

[ozbob]

Interesting development in Sydney --> Monthly railway tickets slashed by RailCorp by up to $240 a year

[Derwan]

A number of people have voted in favour of bringing back periodic ticketing.  But I suspect that this is simply because it would save people money.  (People will support anything that saves them money.)

I have set up a poll asking what kind of discount you'd prefer (i.e. upfront payment or discount applied over time).

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6084.0

[SurfRail]

A number of people have voted in favour of bringing back periodic ticketing.  But I suspect that this is simply because it would save people money.  (People will support anything that saves them money.)

Do you consider that to be a bad thing?

People will buy something that is cheap.  Currently, cars can be cheaper (ostensibly, and to a person's own wallet) compared to commuting.  Fixing the fare system is much easier to do - politically and in terms of the physical infrastructure - than whacking charges on cars to make them less competitive price wise.

[Derwan]

Do you consider that to be a bad thing?

Not at all, but it shouldn't be achieved by taking a step backwards.  Period tickets were previously the only option.  We need to move forwards and use the technology that we have available to track usage and apply appropriate discounts.

That was the point of my previous comment. I don't support period ticketing.  We have the technology, just not a government that is willing to use it.

The poll I created was to determine who REALLY wants periodic ticketing - and who just wants to save money.

[Gazza]

Not at all, but it shouldn't be achieved by taking a step backwards.  Period tickets were previously the only option.  We need to move forwards and use the technology that we have available to track usage and apply appropriate discounts.

Agreed, perodical tickets used to exist mostly because they took pressure off ticket offices and meant less media had to be printed.
Now it's all electronic, they can create fare structures that are more intelligent.