Article: Swipe on and off: go cards are go

[ozbob]

From Brisbane mX 21 Feb 2008 page 4

Swipe on and off: go cards are go

The long-awaited go card system rolled out without a ban in Brisbane when almost 100 retailers started selling the plastic cards today.

Nine years in the making, the system will be completely up and running in the city from Monday, with the onset of an education campaign teaching commuters to swipe on at the beginning of the journey and swipe off at the end.

The go card's frequent user scheme, which give a half price discount after six consecutive trips, will also be working from Monday, transport Minister John Mickel promised.

TransLink staff would be on hand at rail stations and major bus interchanges to answer questions, he said.

"I would encourage passengers to have a chat to one of the representatives and find out if go card is right for them"

The go cards will be available for sale in city and some suburban news agencies and 7 Eleven stores, all city train stations and a number of suburban stations.

But the system's pricing structure has attracted criticism after is was revealed some commuters would be worse off using a go card.

"There is a major problem with the fare structure." commuter group Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said.

"People do need to do their sums to fully understand what the true cost of the go card is."