Article: Go cards are go for launch

[ozbob]

From Brisbantimes click here!

Go cards are go for launch

Go cards are go for launch
Tony Moore | February 21, 2008 - 5:00AM

Monday is "go day" for Brisbane's much anticipated public transport electronic "go card" across South-East Queensland's ferries, buses and trains.

From today, the go card will be available from almost 110 retailers, a figure vastly reduced from the 300 newsagents that previously sold paper translink tickets.

However, the new cards are available on the internet.

Almost 1000 cards have already been ordered through the go card website, http://www.translink.com.au, during the trials in Redcliffe, Pine Rivers, Caboolture and on the Sunshine Coast.

The phase-in period has been marred by go-card readers not reading cards; cards not accurately showing the money deposited on them; and card readers that have not "touched off" correctly.

Translink staff will be at railway stations on Monday to answer questions from passengers.

Many commuters still question whether the card will provide the value they currently receive from the "10-trip saver" paper tickets.

Transport Minister John Mickel said paper tickets would remain for the time being.

The go card website says many paper tickets are being phased out and will be redundant from mid-year.

Mr Mickel said the trials showed people were starting to take up the go cards.

"On the first day [the] go card was available to residents on the Sunshine Coast and north of Strathpine, there were 633 journeys made by passengers using the card," he said.

"By Monday of the following week the number of journeys on go cards had already doubled to 1270 and by yesterday, three weeks from the launch day, there were 2811 journeys on go cards.

"So far more than 1000 cards have been ordered through the go card website - a clear sign people are eager to embrace the convenience offered by using the internet to buy their card."

It is understood Mr Mickel has also ordered Cubic, the private operator of the go cards, to increase the "geographical size" of each bus station on the GPS system so it can more accurately "read" the location of the station.

This "tells" the go-card system "when" and "where" the customer is, and helps the card operate more efficiently. This has been one of the failings of the cards during the trial.

The go cards can be used on all buses, trains and ferries. Talks are underway to make the go cards operational on the privately-run Airtrain services to Brisbane airport.

The Opposition's public transport spokesman, Tim Nicholls, said he was glad the multi-million system was finally moving to the next stage after many years of delays, but said there were still problems.

"The first issue is the points of sale," Mr Nicholls said.

Mr Nicholls said newsagents previously sold public transport tickets in every suburb, compared to the retailers in the newer system being more concentrated in the inner city.

"There were 300 points of sale under the old system," he said.

"It appears there will be almost half of that number now, so in effect it is like the government is trying to funnel people on to the go cards."

He also questioned why it appeared that people who travel more than five days a week will face higher fares.

Mr Nicholls said commuters from outside the 11th zone would pay in excess of 23 per cent more for their rail journeys under the go card system.

[Derwan]

Oh great!  We're being likened to Thunderbirds!

Somehow I don't think the current FU scheme will help "save the planet".