TransLink Smart card the Go Card - what's going on?

[ozbob]

Still struggling to get any acknowledgement of the time issue by Translink.

It is appalling that bus go card users are being left to cope with excess fares and penalties when the problem has been clearly identified since early last week.

My own personal advice would be don't use the go card on bus until Translink come clean and acknowledge the issue and alert commuters to check their transaction history and take steps to resolve the problem.

See this thread too --> Go Card - time issue and lack of official response

There will always be some technical issues with any new system.  What is very disappointing is the complete 'cone of silence' and no official attempt to alert commuters. It is not surprising as we have noted the 'cone of silence' is often used to hide disastrous policy and systemic failure.

I think Translink and Government need to give bus Go card users (which it seems are a diminishing number anyway due to the ongoing touch issues) a week of free travel once it is sorted ...

All MHO of course.

Cheers
Ozbob

[ozbob]

FYI

Looks like history is repeating in Melbourne.  More smart card madness in Melbourne ...

-->  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=749.0

Meanwhile in SEQ, bus commuters battle on with a system with a time error causing excessive fares and penalties.  Government and Translink fail to alert commuters, we are doing our best to alert go card users to check their transaction history.

This is extremely serious as the Go card is a time based/zone based system. If the time is stuffed so is the system.  The zone base also has with issues with the GPS failures too 

People using unregistered cards are particulary at risk of being ripped off as they can only check limited transactions on the AVVMs.

In the absence of any response from Translink or Government please ring up radio stations (talk back) and let them know of the time problem with the go system on buses.

[ozbob]

The touch device at the eastern end of Oxley platform has been repaired.  Thanks!
Easy to use now 

From:



Photograph R Dow 4 Apr 2008


To:



Photograph R Dow 15 Apr 2008

[ozbob]

The Minister for Transport has made a statement in Parliament today (17 April 2008) praising Translink. 
I am not surprised in view of the ongoing criticism by bus, rail and ferry commuters.

It is a great shame that bus and ferry commuters still do not have a reliable Go card system. 
When the ten trip tickets are phased out in Brisbane area there will be chaos unless it is fixed and fixed fast.

Government and Translink are in denial.

See Hansard today April 17 PDF.
General Link for Hansard

The 50000 Go card has been issued.  Again the questions astute journalists should be asking are:

1.  How many of these 50000 cards are in active use?

2.  How much of the revenue so far is actually penalties/excess fares not claimed back?

3.  When will the go card be reliable on buses and ferries?

4.  When will equitable fares be introduced?

5.  Is 50000 really a sign of a successful roll out?

6.  Why haven't go card users been alerted by Translink and the Minister to the major time issue with the go card system on buses and encouraged to check their transaction history for excessive charges and make claims for refunds of extra fares and penalties?

Cheers
Ozbob

[ozbob]

I checked the Touch device at eastern end of Taringa platforms 3 and 4 today (April 17). Screen plastic replaced, still the faded stuff on the touch area.  At least it can be read now.

[ozbob]

Media Release 17 April 2008 

SEQ: 50 000 Go Cards ? some questions

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has congratulated Translink on the 50,000th go card being issued, but has said that serious problems remain with the go card (1,2,3).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?The go card, successfully implemented with a high user uptake promises improved efficiency gains and cost savings for public transport.?

?Fifty thousand go cards is a milestone of sorts. It is a great pity the go card is still unreliable and many commuters have had to abandon it and revert back to paper ticketing due to ongoing problems, particularly on the buses and ferries.?

?The go card frequent user fare structure is expensive relative to the present paper integrated ticketing for many, and this has also acted as a disincentive for use and uptake.?

?Congratulations to the recipient of the $250 go card. Pity normal users are limited to $200 maximum top up.?

?Here are some questions which if answered might show the true situation with the go card:

1.  How many of these 50,000 cards are in active use?

2.  How much of the revenue so far is actually penalties/excess fares not claimed back?

3.  When will the go card be reliable on buses and ferries?

4.  When will equitable fares be introduced?

5.  Is 50,000 really a sign of a successful roll out?

6.  Why haven't go card users been alerted by Translink and the Minister for Transport as to the major time issue with the go card system on buses and encouraged to check their transaction history for excessive charges and make claims for refunds of extra fares and penalties??

Reference:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=746.0

2.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=443.0

3.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?board=27.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

I think it is time to lock this noble thread!

We have many topics now of course, but when this thread was started the Go card (Translink smart card) was some way off. 

There is some very interesting information in this thread.  I will sticky it and lock it for prosperity!