12 Nov 2007: Smartcard: Would you pay $134 million for faulty equipment?

[ozbob]

Media Release 12 November 2007


SEQ:  Smartcard: Would you pay $134 million for faulty equipment?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)  a web based community support group  for rail and public transport has highlighted problems with the equipment that has been put in place to support the eventual roll out of the TransLink Smartcard.

Robert Dow said:

?If you or I  paid $134 million dollars for equipment we would hope that it was tested, reliable and fit for purpose.  We as taxpayers are in fact paying for equipment that has already failed and it is still not in general use.

?The picture below is of the touch on/touch off smartcard device at the eastern end of Oxley railway platform.  As can be noted it is moisture affected, and the screen has also been vandalised.  The moisture means it can not be read.?



Photograph: R B Dow 12 Nov 2007

?This is not the only example of damaged equipment across the system.

?How on earth will commuters be able to use such devices?  Will they need to sprint to the other end of the platform to access the device at the western end of the platform before boarding the train?

?RAIL Back On Track calls for all smartcard equipment to made serviceable prior to roll out, a request that we believe is not unreasonable,? said Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

Reference:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=135.0

Contact:

Robert Dow

admin@backontrack.org
Administration RAIL Back On Track

[ozbob]

The touch off / touch on device has now been repaired, quick response! Amazing what a bit of publicity can do!!    

Hope it doesn't leak next time it rains!!

Thanks for fixing it Cubic/TransLink.



Photograph: R B Dow 13 Nov 2007

[ozbob]

Touch device Eastern platform Oxley.  Now on.



Photograph:  R Dow 29 Nov 2007

[ozbob]

I walked down the subway at Indooroopilly station tonight. The touch devices in the subway not on and have scratched screens.  Suppose it don't matter though as the upgrade of the station will possibly see them redundant. 

This is going to be a major issue, the vandalisation of the touch devices.
I hope the people ease up once they are in use, otherwise this is going to be a hell of a mess ...