Going Paperless: 100% Go Card ticketing environment phase in

[#Metro]

How should the Go Card be phased in without a gigantic disaster developing?

Christmas/January is bad timing- people too busy shopping, a lot of travel around the place. If the entire network switches over on a single day, there will be chaos.

Some sketchy ideas for the gradual withdrawal of paper ticketing. Doing a staged withdrawal is less risky- if there a problems they will be run into much earlier and be of much smaller scale than if the entire system is switched over all at once.

Maybe all the rocket bus services could go paperless first,
then the CityCat ferry services next, followed by all the other
normal buses and then the BUZ routes and finally the rail system.

IMHO this would take at least 3 months to do slowly...

[somebody]

Just abolish dailies, weeklies and monthlies.  Easy.

[ozbob]

I think it is more of detailing when and what  new 'go card lite' is to be.  Active education campaign and positioning of the product for sale/distribution by middle of November.

Highlight that paper tickets are going at the end of December.

Paper is then ceased wef 1 Jan 2011.  Last monthly ticket sales 1 Dec 2010.  Last weekly ticket sales 24 Dec 2010.

There will need to be a grace period for folks caught out, despite the education program and so forth.  If folks are caught without tickets they should be given the benefit of doubt, and given advice and support on what the options are now.

I think staging it over the various modes won't work that well. People will be more confused than they need to be.  Cold turkey ...

[longboi]

Bob is right. Look at the last fare increase...people will whinge at first but eventually they will switch and comply with the new system.

Of course there will be some protest but anyone who can't see the benefits of paperless ticketing and stops travelling on PT because of it should be stuck in traffic.

[BribieG]

For the first time at FV last night I saw the wide gate manned by a couple of staff holding cards, beeping the paper ticket holders through one at a time as they showed the paper. They are definitely making it harder for paper holders. I travel mostly off peak at weekends and it's obvious the number of people who are extremely casual train travellers - the typical foursome of Clarrie, Archie, Doris and Edith going down to Southbank for their first trip this century : "ooohhh look at that, that building wasn't there ten years ago........" as well as total lack of train etiquette 
These people are going to get the shock of their lives when they front up to the station next year.

[dwb]

I really think the gates need to open and close faster before they go for 100% uptake.

I also think they'll need another advertising campaign about what Go card is.... lots of people don't actually know/care what it is/how to use it/ where to get it. I had a non regular PT user say to me the other day how wonderful the cards are... but he was a very recent user, and had NO idea about it before he started using it.

WRT buses I'd think they could do a couple of things... either send all BUZ prepaid in November ie a T-minus-month followed by all other bus routes end Dec, or vice versa... ie people can always get off one service and on to the next.

AND/ or, they should sell pre-loaded Go cards for say $10 to customers who request a paper ticket.... They could easily put a few "conductors" on bus services in the first week or two of transition.

FURTHER, and this is a big one that I bet no-one has thought about and is really going to p%ss some people off.... grade 12 student cards generally expire Nov.... and they can't get their new uni ID until late Febuary, March.

Does Translink really expect all these students to go out and buy an adult go card for the three months in between the expiry of their old card and the issuance of their new card???

Bob - I'd think it would be great if you could suggest to TTA that they give a "3 month extension" to student concession cards expiring in Nov/Dec this year!!

[dwb]

I'd also think somebody is on the money with abolishing dailies, weeklies and monthlies prior to singles.... singles are really important for those times when you get caught out... for instance go card suddenly stops working, caught with nil balance but unable to top up on BT buses, new the the city/region/country/pt.

[ozbob]

G'day Dwb.  We haven't had a response to the question 'are paper tickets to be phased out as planned?'  

Can only assume that the earlier advice that paper is to be ceased at the end of the year is still the go.

However, I would not be surprised if paper tickets from AVVMs are continued ...

Clearly time is running out and there are many uncertainties.

The so called go card lite I think may well be a problem in terms of fare abuse on rail particularly.  Unregistered card that has a nominal value. Say $20.  Will someone work out that if they don't touch off on a high zone fare that it is better not to touch off?  What will be the fixed fares for this product, be the same as regular go card.  Will the fare structures for both be the same?  Will fixed fares be increased as well for all users??  I think it might be a case of ramping fixed fares.  Remember there was a plan to do this earlier but delayed.  Will the fare increases and other changes be the time that some fare enhancements and other go card products are introduced?  

No matter what shaping up to be an interesting time ..

If your go card suddenly stops working - travel for free, you are unable to touch on.

[dwb]

Will fixed fares be increased as well for all users??  I think it might be a case of ramping fixed fares.  Remember there was a plan to do this earlier but delayed.

I think it would be a mistake for them to raise the fixed fares at the same time as enforcing full go card... all those new users copping it :S

[ozbob]

Yes be wicked, but I can see them doing it because of the potential fare abuse issues with the go card lite (if there is to be one ...)

All in all it is shaping up as a bit of a mess unless what is going to happen is properly communicated in a timely manner with educational support.

[ozbob]

Does anyone know of a public transport jurisdiction using smart card ticketing similar to the go card that does not have a paper alternative?

[#Metro]

Does anyone know of a public transport jurisdiction using smart card ticketing similar to the go card that does not have a paper alternative?

Not sure. Atlanta? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breeze_Card

Run by Cubic. But they also have a "breeze ticket" which is a paper smartcard.

I found a list of worldwide transport systems that use smart cards.
It might take a while, but there is a good chance that one () of them is wholly paperless.

http://www.sdamovers.com/203.html

[#Metro]

Maybe a question best put to translink/cubic?

[ozbob]

Run by Cubic. But they also have a "breeze ticket" which is a paper smartcard.

That will probably be go card lite I reckon ...  fare structure and fixed fares will be interesting

http://www.breezecard.com/htm/ticket_card.html

Breeze Tickets have limited functions:

    * NOT FLEXIBLE: Breeze Ticket can no longer be reloaded.
    * NOT AS QUICK TO SCAN: When entering a faregate or boarding a bus, hold the Breeze Ticket in place while the Breeze Target subtracts the proper fare or loads a transfer. Multiple taps could remove multiple fares!

    * NOT SECURE: Breeze Tickets cannot receive Balance Protection. Treat your Breeze Ticket the same as cash.

[#Metro]

Q:   13. Will monthly and weekly passes still be available on Breeze?
A: Yes. Instead of getting a new TransCard each week or month, you will re-use your Breeze Card. Simply go to a RideStore or Breeze Vending Machine and reload. In addition, YOU will now determine when your passes begin.

   * A 7-day pass can start any day of the week and is good for seven consecutive days after you first use it.
   * A 30-day pass can start any day of the month and is good for 30 consecutive days after you first use it.

If you purchase your monthly pass from your employer or university, your card will be reloaded by your administrator – no need to get a new card each month!

AND you can load monthy/weekly unlimited passes onto it! Same machines as cubic!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Breeze_vending_machine.jpg

[ozbob]

The go card fare structure is sad ...  there is nothing stopping a better one from the technical view point at all.

The failure to sort out the go card lite in a timely manner is just another example of an inept roll out, when contrasted with systems (using the same technology even) elsewhere ..  points which I am sure will be raised constantly in a paperless new world ticketing environment come Jan 2011 unless addressed.

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Vancouver ..

[ozbob]

These are the drivers for the paperless ticket world.  But will it be as effective as many hope ...

[FrequencyCrusader]

AND you can load monthy/weekly unlimited passes onto it! Same machines as cubic!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Breeze_vending_machine.jpg

What excites me about that Breeze vending machine is the apparent lack of a 3-second-delay-touchscreen-with-windows3.1-chime 
The slowness of train station gates also concerns me...

Also, does another fare structure have to be brought in for "go card lite"? Can't they have a simple surcharge on the new limited-use RFID tickets, either a fixed amount, or +30% or something? The table of fares is already confusing enough 

(Incidentally, I had a visitor from Melbourne recently- she had no hesitation in buying a normal go card, as she said she'll be back eventually. Also I'm pretty sure we both have Octopus cards in our drawers somewhere...)

[ozbob]

Yes, I have a myki (well several actually .. LOL) for when I visit Melbourne.

The fact that go card lite is still MIA (missing in action) might well be a pointer then the plan now might be just using go cards for all but drop the deposit and  set up charges.  Go cards just given away and users top up as needed.  Doesn't need much work to the distribution network etc. as essentially in place. More outlets at Tourist venues etc. and you are GOing.   Under this scenario not much else needs to be altered, other than some further fare improvements (eg. capping and periodical options).  This is the easiest way for all in actuality.

Can imagine the media statements  if this scenario was to eventuate

"World's best practice ticketing system, Brisbane's GO Card is shining so strongly, we DON"T need anything else!"

"Citizens have voted with their GO Cards and have dropped paper tickets, an extraordinary uptake rate of 63%"  (no mention of 40% cost differential)

"Go with the Go ... have fun on the Gold Coast too, just remember to touch off when you get there!  Shine on ...."

[ozbob]

More evidence of just what a poor show train frequency is in south-east Queensland.

Anyway, thinking about this overnight, I see little point in a go card lite.  Just drop the deposits and issue fees.  Make go cards freely available. The cost will more than be covered by non redemption of credits on cards by short term users.  Some will redeem any unused credit, most won't.

Go cards could be placed in every hotel room used by tourists, or made available in the hotel reception desks etc.

That way just one system, no hassles.

This might be too lateral and forward thinking for the bean counters though.

[Jonno]

More evidence of just what a poor show train frequency is in south-east Queensland.

Anyway, thinking about this overnight, I see little point in a go card lite.  Just drop the deposits and issue fees.  Make go cards freely available. The cost will more than be covered by non redemption of credits on cards by short term users.  Some will redeem any unused credit, most won't.

Go cards could be placed in every hotel room used by tourists, or made available in the hotel reception desks etc.

That way just one system, no hassles.

This might be too lateral and forward thinking for the bean counters though.

Agree totally.  Having been a tourist in many many cities the first thing I look for is a "transit card/ticket" whether it is a tourist version or not.  Happy to pay the cost as long as it is easy to purchase, use and top up.  I would suggest a $2 or $3 car return refund at airports, station and that will encourage many to return it and thus partically avoid the cost of replacing lost/non-returned cards.  If it costs 50 centrs to replace a card then make it a dollar if it is $ then make it $2.

Thus I think the intro of 100% paperless should focus on the products available (daily/weekly caps, 3 day unlimited travel, etc) rather than the card.  Singapore has a refund process which works really well.

[somebody]

I don't see the value in the Go Card lite either.  Will it be sold by bus drivers on every route?  Then the drivers still need to carry cash.

Seems to be a 15 minute weekday frequency and a 20 minute weekend one in Atlanta.  Most of the network has shared lines, so a 10 minute weekend frequency applies to most stations.

[ozbob]

This might be the go card lite we end up with ..

=================

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/eAccess-LLC-to-Supply-Smart-Cards-to-PATH-NYSE-CUB-1297246.htm


SOURCE: Cubic Corporation

Jul 29, 2010 07:00 ET
eAccess LLC to Supply Smart Cards to PATH

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - July 29, 2010) -  eAccess LLC, a Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB) subsidiary that supplies smart card products, RFID solutions and services, will deliver 1 million smart cards to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PATH) under a new three-year-contract.

eAccess will deliver a substantial quantity of Limited Use Contactless Smart Cards later this summer. The cards will be packaged with a secure RFID shield for convenient storage and retail handling, and will be sold through retail kiosks at various PATH stations.

"The eAccess Limited Use smart card allows transit riders who have been using paper magnetic tickets to switch to cutting-edge contactless technology," said Paul Orloff, director of marketing for eAccess for the Eastern region. "This will ensure a consistent and efficient experience for transit patrons by reducing the time they spend at fare gates. Our cards use the most advanced, proven technology available, and complement the successful SmartLink℠ contactless full-featured smart card already used by many transit riders in the New York/New Jersey area."

The new cards meet the ANSI 410 standard adopted by the American National Standards Institute, as well as ISO/IEC 14443 compliance. ANSI 410 has accelerated the use of Limited Use cards among public transit agencies and systems integrators. There are well over 650 million Limited Use smart cards being issued by transit agencies around the world. eAccess' advanced production techniques allow standard-format cards to be manufactured on a quick-turn basis at prices comparable to the magnetic-stripe tickets. Many agencies use them for single-trip, multiple-trip, daily, weekly and monthly passes.

PATH is a new customer for eAccess, but a long-term existing customer for its parent company, Cubic Corporation. Other U.S. cities that have used eAccess smart card products include Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Miami and Minneapolis, as well as many international customers.

"eAccess is pleased to have the opportunity to showcase our strong smart card and RFID experience in the heavily transit-populated Eastern corridor," Orloff said. "eAccess provides an array of RFID products and services, including building access and security ID consulting services, along with smart card design production, supply and services."

eAccess is part of Cubic Corporation. Cubic Corporation is the parent company of three major business segments: Defense Systems, Mission Support Services and Transportation Systems. Cubic Defense Systems is a leading provider of realistic combat training systems, cyber technologies, asset tracking solutions, and defense electronics. Mission Support Services is a leading provider of training, operations, maintenance, technical and other support services. Cubic Transportation Systems is the world's leading provider of automated fare collection systems and services for public transit authorities. For more information about Cubic, see the company's Web site at www.cubic.com.

[ozbob]

I wonder when there will be an announcement?

Looks like we will have go card, limited use go card, and I still think some paper tickets.  There has been a failure of late to the answer the direct question ' are paper tickets to be completely phased out as planned? '

Previous form with the fare structure for Jan 4 last was announcements Nov 2009.  So on that basis November 2010 will be the announcements?

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

D-day for paper transport tickets remains unclear

D-day for paper transport tickets remains unclear
Daniel Hurst
October 26, 2010 - 5:38AM

Paper public transport tickets may yet survive into 2011 after Premier Anna Bligh yesterday refused to rule out extending the deadline for their abolition.

Paper tickets are due to be scrapped by the end of this year but the long-awaited limited-use transport smartcard - a Go Card equivalent catering for tourists and occasional users - is yet to be unveiled, having apparently been held up by discussions about its financial viability among other concerns.

Ms Bligh yesterday refused to rule out pushing back the deadline for abolishing paper tickets, saying only that a decision would be revealed soon.

Her reluctance to stand by the original timeframe comes in the wake of concerns from transport and tourism groups that the government was leaving it too late to introduce its Go Card alternative for occasional bus, ferry and train users.

Ms Bligh said she understood people were "very keen" to see the government's decision on the proposed limited-use smartcard, but work had to be done on a number of issues.

"I just say, we are working rigorously and carefully to make sure that this decision is financially viable, is fair to commuters and is capable of implementation," she said.

"You'll see the government's decision on this in the not-too-distant future, and the government's decision will be clear."

Robert Dow, from commuter lobby group Rail Back on Track, said the comments about an imminent decision were encouraging.

But Mr Dow, who has previously questioned the paper phase-out timeframes, said he was concerned by the lack of information up to this point.

He said the delays were perplexing given that Cubic, the company which supplied Translink with its Go Card technology, already had "off the shelf" limited-use smartcard technology available.

Mr Dow pointed to a press release from a Cubic Corporation subsidiary which boasted that there were "well over 650 million Limited Use smart cards being issued by transit agencies around the world".

"Many agencies use them for single-trip, multiple-trip, daily, weekly and monthly passes," the July 29 statement said.

brisbanetimes.com.au last month reported the tourism industry was worried about the time it was taking for the government to reveal its plans for occasional users once paper tickets were scrapped.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the public transport system needed to be accessible to the 900,000 international and four million domestic visitors who stayed in Brisbane every year.

He called for an alternative to the regular Go Card to be "communicated well in advance".

Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek two weeks ago added his voice to the concerns, saying the paper ticket phase-out should be delayed if a tourist-friendly solution wasn't revealed soon.

"Something that should have been top of mind and well prepared for hasn't been done," Mr Langbroek told brisbanetimes.com.au.

While Go Card usage has increased dramatically over the past year, the cards require a $5 deposit and are not considered ideal for tourists or occasional users.

In January, Translink told brisbanetimes.com.au the limited-life Go Card alternative would be rolled out ''well in advance'' of the paperless changeover.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan recently said an announcement would be made soon.

She has said the plan would be "communicated well in advance to the public by Translink".

[ozbob]

"I just say, we are working rigorously and carefully to make sure that this decision is financially viable, is fair to commuters and is capable of implementation," she said.

"You'll see the government's decision on this in the not-too-distant future, and the government's decision will be clear."

Is this a clue?

[#Metro]

Maybe they will reduce the GoCard fee to $1, GoCard everywhere and introduce caps like Atlanta (which is also run by Cubic).

[colinw]

I'm expecting something half assed, rushed & bungled.  Seems to be the way.

[frereOP]

If they can do it in Singapore they can do it here.  They have single use smart cards with a S$2 deposit which is returned when the card is returned at the end of the journey.  You buy a fare from A to B then get your refund from the top-up machine when you return your card which you can't top up.  Alternatively you can buy an EZ-link card for $5 plus $5 refundable deposit and some credit. 

In any case $5 for a Go Card is nothing if you can get them from a machine at an airport or transport terminal and get your $5 refund (plus unused credit) when you leave.  Even if you added another non-refundable $5 it's still cheap and doable.

The sooner we get rid of paper tickets the better IMHO.