Speaker announcement at Central Train Station Tuesday 16 September 2009

[Mozz]

"As of 30 September 2009 access through the creek street and ? street commuter access gates will be via go card only"

[Derwan]

I heard an announcement at Central this morning that from 30 September 2008, a certain exit would be made Go Card only - and that paper ticket holders would have to use the Ann St exit instead.

Unfortunately I didn't catch the name of the exit that would be Go Card only.  It was possibly Edward St (which I guess would make it the one nearest Ticket Central) - or could have equally been Creek St.  Did anyone else hear it?  I'll listen for the announcement this afternoon.

[ozbob]

My elder daughter has sent me this message:

Did you know that from 30th Sep, the Creek St side & Edward St side gates at Central Station will only be for Go Card-ers

Thanks!

[Derwan]

Yep - heard it yesterday afternoon.  Both Creek and Edward Streets will be Go Card only.

[ozbob]

A letter in the mX tonight slamming the changes in the Edward St subway to go card only. It has been coming for a while these changes but I suspect there will be a bit of noise ..

Interestingly another letter suggesting Rail Back On Track is a a bunch of p%ssed off commuters and I am a media tart.  Thanks for the mention in the media Craig ... 

Vent your spleen: Is this "Rail Back On track" group just a pack of p%ssed  off commuters or what. And this spokesman of theirs Robert Dow, is quite the media tart. he gets his name in the paper every other day.  -  Craig Bowen Hills.

The media choose what they run, they contact us.   Good to be noticed, commuters' message is getting out there.

There are times when commuters are p%ssed off for sure, but we tend to put forward constructive criticism and  suggestions which resonates with the media from time to time.  Commuters have every right to have their views put, we are in a democracy after all ...


Cheers
Bob

[ozbob]

From QR Citytrain

Passenger Alert - effective Tuesday 30 September 2008:

Passengers please be advised that the Creek Street and Edward Street fare gates at Central Station will be for go card users entry and exit only,

Paper ticket users can enter and exit the station via the signed areas at the Ann Street barries.

For further information on the go card please visit www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30.

pdf Passenger Alert - effective Tuesday 30 September 2008 [55.19 kb]

[O_128]

well it has been coming thats all i can say but is ann street exit the one with the stairs that goes into the intersection, usuall where all the smokers are

[Derwan]

There are 2 exits on the Ann St side.  One is the one that is always open.  The other is the other side of the ticket booth that is open during peak periods.  The Edward St entrance is just near Ticket Central - and the Creek Street entrance is near that coffee shop towards all the ATM's.

Being a Go Card user, I think it's a great idea.  I can understand the frustration of paper ticket holders though.  If the Go Card was equitable in cost, I'd say, "Too bad, get a Go Card," but there are too many situation where paper tickets are still cheaper.

[ozbob]

[Fares_Fair]

What is the purpose of the proposed gate closures at Central Station ?

Is it just to peeve off the train travellers who choose to use
paper tickets and avoid the extra charges; timewasting in getting refunds back
and dearer costs (depending on one's travel routine) associated with the GoCard ?

My guess is that they will say it is to save on ticket checkers at those locations,
but the result will be to 'corral' (some of us are, after all, used to cattle train conditions)
all of us into a smaller space and to impede our safe and swifter egress and entry from/to Central.

Perplexed. 

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

I intend to have a good look around central tomorrow at some stage so I can understand exactly what gates will be what etc. and what is actually going on.

I understand that these changes are primarily an attempt to minimise fare evasion rather than drive go card uptake.  It would seem that some go card users are not actually touching and now that that TTOs have mobile card readers this has become very apparent.  There is possibly some confusion with users too, for example, some one attempts to use a go card on a bus trip and is not able too, then transfers to the train maybe they are under the mistaken impression that as they were waved on the bus the rest of journey is the same? 

Will update after I have a good look.

Cheers
Bob

[Fares_Fair]

Thanks Bob,

We had the ticket inspectors on our 6:27am Nambour (5 Car ICE Train) service this morning.

They had their GoCard readers with them - first time I have seen them used.

They caught scores of non-swiping GoCarders - just giving out pink ticket warnings.
It took them until 8:00am to get to our 2nd carriage (if they got on at Caboolture, at 7:24am)
because of the high number of warnings issued.
It took them 35 minutes to check 3 Carriages @ 48 people per carriage.
There was 4 of them.

When I asked one of the 'ticketies' why the gate closures at Central,
he said that it was to make it easier for GoCard holders
(and conversely by inference, more difficult for paper ticket holders).

It would be interesting to get the TV or print media at Central station next Tuesday 30 September and see what kind of entry/exit chaos is created by this move.

Kind Regards,
Fares_Fair

[ozbob]

I had a short briefing at Central Station this afternoon.

Here is a map of the ticket gate arrangements at Central from the 30th Sep 2008.



In actual fact it will probably speed things up for paper ticket holders and go carders as there will be splitting of those streams.

The additional gates presently not in use will be open for paper tickets ie. Ann St 1. 

Creek St and Edward St array go card only.

Ann St 2 go card and paper tickets.


And advice received that the subway will still be paper or go card ...


Thanks to QR for providing the briefing and map.

[ozbob]

On passing through Roma St Station this morning heard announcement about the changes at Central from next Tuesday.

There are some signs at Roma St too, probably some changes later on as well at Roma St.

Cheers
Bob

[Mozz]

Caught the 6.44am cattle class from Oxley this morning and in the last carriage had the joy of sharing the limited space with 4 bikes

Got off at Central and the new gate process seemed to work great, particularly if you have a go card because only around 1 in 10 commuters were using them compared to the paper tickets. Lots of friendly QR staff directing people where to go and the process worked quite well. A trickle of people through the go card only Edward Street gates and hundreds of people cramming through the paper ticket ann street gates.

I heard an media article on 612 this morning - apparently there has been a 38% increase in public transport commuters over the past year due to the integrated ticketing called the gocard. Mostly on buses however an extra 10million journeys by rail commuters. Rollon those extra services on all forms of public transport I say.

[ozbob]

Yes, I stayed around Central for a while too.

Met up with Mr Paul Scurrah QR and Rebecca roving reporter radio 612 ABC Brisbane.

Must say everything worked very well.  Lots of staff and very seamless transition.  Well done QR!

Roll on those trains!!   



PS used my go card of course too, no worries, first time at a completely closed go card array.

[ozbob]

Report on Spencer Howson's blog at 612 ABC Brisbane

http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2008/09/go-card-express.html?program=612_breakfast


http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/images/2008/09/29/dow_scurrah.jpg

Rail Back on Track's Robert Dow and Queensland Rail's Passenger Services Manager Paul Scurrah.

The Edward and Creek Street exits from the Central Station concourse are "Go Card only" from this morning.

Paper ticket-holders can still use the Ann Street exit.

612's Rebecca Levingston went along to see what happened on Day One:

[ozbob]

I passed through Central Station last evening (Oct 1st).  Everything was working well.

These changes have improved things.  My elder daughter also commented that it is a lot better and wants to thank QR, she travels through Central mid peaks daily.  Now she is a hard task master.  Take a bow QR!!

[ozbob]

Went through Central again this morning (Oct 2)  everything seems to be going great.

I would expect changes at Roma St and eventually Fortitude Valley stations as well.  Perhaps then the major suburban stations.

[Mozz]

Bit of a hiccup with the Edward street gates this afternoon after 5.15pm - 3 red x's out of 6 gates - only 50% of the readers were working. Maybe the extra workload is taking it's toll on the equipment.