20 May 2014: SEQ: Time for a new or upgraded ticketing system

[ozbob]

Media release 20th May 2014

SEQ: Time for a new or upgraded ticketing system

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the bizarre fare system in place for south-east Queensland is partly the result of limited options on the present go card system.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The lack of flexible cost effective programming options for the go card has meant that SEQ has ended up with a crazy fare system.  Easily rorted, high base fare cost, and complicated journey caps which confuse many. Fare affordability is tracking along at its lowest levels ever and is the standout failure of all the TransLink KPIs (1). Public transport patronage has stagnated."

"The latest data from TransLink shows that there was an average of 1.97% fixed fares of all go card trips during March 2014, that is every 50 times a go card is used a fixed fare is generated (2). Subsequently only 1 in 15 fixed fares is adjusted. This is further confirmation of a failing system."

"Daily caps, differential fare pricing based on touch off times encourages maximum fare box and maximum patronage (3, 4) without the present high cost rorting. These ticketing options are not able to be programmed on the present system apparently.  It is time to move into the next generation of ticketing to include various payment options.  The present fare system is a shambles (5)."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

References:

1. http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/open-data/2014-mar-snapshot.pdf

2. There were 12.82 adjustments per 10000 trips during March 2014 = 0.13% of all go card trips

This means then that 1.97/0.13 = 15.2 trips,  so for every 15 fixed fares only one on average is being adjusted.

3. The SEQ fare fail http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.msg142219#msg142219

4. Free metro travel spreads the peak load http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/free-metro-travel-spreads-the-peak-load.html

5. 6 May 2014: SEQ: Fare affordability crisis continues ... http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10701.0

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.msg142246#msg142246

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Your phone may replace your Go-Card

Your phone may replace your Go-Card
Date May 21, 2014 - 12:01AM  Tony Moore

Queensland's new-generation Go-Card could be a smart phone app which might also be used as a debit card to buy food, drink and magazines at train and bus stations.

That is one option to be explored as Queensland Transport begins to consider the next 10 years of what Queenslanders now know as the "Go-Card".

This month Queensland Transport called for tenders for experts to design its "Next Generation Ticketing Project".

Giant US-based public transport and defence contractor Cubic Corporation in July 2006 won a 10-year $225 million contract to develop the Go-Card public transport system in Queensland.

There are now 3 million Go-Cards in Southeast Queensland, accounting for almost 80 per cent of the 700,000 public transport journeys a day.

Queensland Transport now wants to lay the foundations for the next stage of public transport ticketing in an era in which smart-phones are used universally as a personal pocket computer.

Queensland Transport has this month asked for technical advice for the new system, which will replace the existing system in September 2016.

Rail: Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow welcomed the beginning of the new generation of public transport thinking.

"It looks like they are moving ahead with an improved electronic smart card for public transport in South East Queensland," Mr Dow said. "We think this is a very encouraging sign."

Mr Dow said it was time the Go-Card was modernised because commuters wanted more from the Cubic contract.

"We think that is related to the fact that they got a very base-level software package with it," he said.

Mr Dow suggested three restrictions with the Go-Card frustrated Queensland Transport.

The first was "clumsy fare options" including free trips after 10 journeys, which he suggested were inefficient, led to fare leakage and should be replaced by free fares after a "capped daily fare".

The second was technical problems in directly charging for a Brisbane City Council City Cycle account using the Go-Card, despite Transport Minister Scott Emerson's efforts in 2013 to start the scheme.

And before that in 2010 Queensland Police conceded they used Go-Card's electronic tracking abilities to locate people, sparking calls for Queensland Council for Civil Liberties for change.

Mr Dow pointed to examples in Singapore – where a similar smart card is also used as a debit card – and at Brisbane's Airtrain – where customers simply use a smart phone app to book ahead.

Brisbane Airtrain introduced in February a smart phone app so customers can book an Airtrain to and from Brisbane Airport before they arrived.

Brisbane Airtrain chief executive Chris Basche said they introduced their e-ticket because customers demanded it.

"It is pretty exciting stuff and it is pretty popular with our customers," he said.

"Our online bookings are now 3.5 per cent and growing," he said.

"Our research show that a large number of people make decisions about arriving and departing airports in advance.

"And we are providing those customers with the ability to plan their journey in advance."

Brisbane Airtrain's e-ticket also comes with a 10 per cent fare discount if it is bought in advance, he said.

"That provides them with a barcode and that barcode is scanned at the airport and at the city," he said.

The barcode can be on the person's smartphone, or printed out, he said.

"Yes, you have the ability to have the barcode on your smartphone and then our scanners read that barcode and you are then ticketed."

Mr Emerson declined to comment.

A spokeswoman said a contractor was being employed to provide early technical advice to Translink on the types of ticketing options that would be part of the contract to go out in 2016.

"Translink will have a team of people who will work on that contract – that tender process – and this is one of the people they need to help with that."

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/your-phone-may-replace-your-gocard-20140520-zrj78.html

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

22nd May 2014

Re: SEQ: Time for a new or upgraded ticketing system

Greetings,

As discussed in the release below, he latest data from TransLink shows that there was an average of 1.97% fixed fares of all go card trips during March 2014, that is every 50 times a go card is used a fixed fare is generated (2). Subsequently only 1 in 15 fixed fares is adjusted.

The Oyster card in London has the ability to perform Automatic correction of incomplete journeys

Automatic correction of incomplete journeys

We recognise that there are times when you can't touch out as you leave a station, during a major sporting or entertainment event, for instance. When this happens, we'll try to complete the journey automatically.

We also know that people can sometimes forget to touch out. When this happens, we'll also attempt to complete your journey (no more than once every 28 days).

If you're due a refund when we automatically complete a journey, you can pick it up at the station you use most often. It loads on to your Oyster card automatically when you next touch your card on a yellow card reader, as you enter or leave the station.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/oyster/using-oyster/incomplete-journeys

Clearly there are a lot of go card users wearing fixed fares.  Some people may be outright fare evading, but others are getting fixed fares and may not be aware of it.  A truly customer focussed approach would be to introduce a process similar to what is done with the Oyster card in London.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Media release 20th May 2014

SEQ: Time for a new or upgraded ticketing system

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the bizarre fare system in place for south-east Queensland is partly the result of limited options on the present go card system.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The lack of flexible cost effective programming options for the go card has meant that SEQ has ended up with a crazy fare system.  Easily rorted, high base fare cost, and complicated journey caps which confuse many. Fare affordability is tracking along at its lowest levels ever and is the standout failure of all the TransLink KPIs (1). Public transport patronage has stagnated."

"The latest data from TransLink shows that there was an average of 1.97% fixed fares of all go card trips during March 2014, that is every 50 times a go card is used a fixed fare is generated (2). Subsequently only 1 in 15 fixed fares is adjusted. This is further confirmation of a failing system."

"Daily caps, differential fare pricing based on touch off times encourages maximum fare box and maximum patronage (3, 4) without the present high cost rorting. These ticketing options are not able to be programmed on the present system apparently.  It is time to move into the next generation of ticketing to include various payment options.  The present fare system is a shambles (5)."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

References:

1. http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/open-data/2014-mar-snapshot.pdf

2. There were 12.82 adjustments per 10000 trips during March 2014 = 0.13% of all go card trips

This means then that 1.97/0.13 = 15.2 trips,  so for every 15 fixed fares only one on average is being adjusted.

3. The SEQ fare fail http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10048.msg142219#msg142219

4. Free metro travel spreads the peak load http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/free-metro-travel-spreads-the-peak-load.html

5. 6 May 2014: SEQ: Fare affordability crisis continues ... http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10701.0