New TRANSLink Ticket Machines ... Problems?

[ozbob]

Feedback being received that there are issues with the new machines.  Wrong tickets being issued, and change problems.

RAIL Back On Track has received feedback confirming more problems with the TRANSLink Smart card and the new ticket machines.  Some of these new machines are issuing tickets that don't match the commuter input, it is a bit like airline 'mystery flights', but now we have our own Citytrain 'mystery trips' courtesy of the new TRANSLink ticket machines.  These 'mystery tickets' could lead to fines from Transit Officers for unsuspecting commuters.  There are also problems with change not being available which is making for some expensive journeys.  We call on Minister Lucas to address the many issues that have been identified with the Smartcard, particularly the lack of daily cap threshold, and  make provision for weekly and monthly tickets on the new system as well as fixing the new ticket machines so they actually work properly.

Ozbob
Admin

If you have an experience with the new machines please post in this thread if registered, or if you wish please  email admin@backontrack.org or use our feedback mailer here  -->  http://backontrack.org/contact/

Thanks!

Regards
Ozbob

[ozbob]

Posted by Kinematic.
Thanks.

Also, I went to buy a single ticket from the new machines and chose the select station by name option. The price of a single return ticket to the city (gaythorne to central) was $23.40 (or something in that vacinity).

However, if you selected the station by the map option, the cost of the ticket is only $5.40. Much more appropriate.

Needless to say I purchase my ticket through the older machines.

My problem is not so much me but more so the many number of seniors that live in my area. Some of these elderly people have trouble walking to the station so it's not unreasonable to think that they would just follow the prompts and enter their money without looking at the price.

I'm sure QR wouldn't be keen to refund the money without a number of items of evidence.

[ozbob]

Posted by Derwan.  Thanks!

The following was sent to everyone at work today:

Last night I purchased a ticket "Single, Full fare to Murrarie (Zone 1-3)."  I paid the correct amount on screen (being $3.20) and got on my train.  The ticket inspectors started to check tickets as we pulled into my stop, luckily my ticket wasn't checked closely because when I looked down the machine had issued a"Single, Concession to Zone 1-5" and had registered on the bottom of the ticket the amount of $2.10 instead.

This morning when leaving Roma Street, I mentioned to the Inspectors what had occurred, and typically they suggested I must have pressed inicorrect buttons!  He walked with me to the machine to check what or how I could have pressed incorrectly.  A lady was walking up also so she went first.  With us watching she entered the details of "Daily, Full Fare to Wynnum North and the correct fare amount was paid.  When she looked at the ticket her ticket said "Single to the Domestic Airport"

Just be careful as the inspector then admitted there are still a few problems with these machines, but they possibly would have issued me with a ticket.

It's a bit of a worry when the machines can't even issue the correct ticket.

[ozbob]

More feedback received, thanks!

I had this happen to me a week or so ago. Punched in daily to the city, fairly certain I paid the daily fare, but got a single trip ticket. Doesn't help that there's almost never any rail staff at my station, so you either have to pay for another or risk getting fined. I think I'll stick to the old machines whenever I can.

[ozbob]

Brisbane mX has run this story as the lead item, front page September 7th.

Thanks to the mX for highlighting these problems.

Word doc --> http://backontrack.org/docs/mx_7Sep_1.doc