Media Release: go card tops targets

[Golliwog]

http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/media-releases/release/356
Wednesday 27 July 2011

The go card system continues to operate with some of the highest customer satisfaction levels on the TransLink network - well above the 75 per cent benchmark considered high standard.

It has been rated the leading smart card ticketing system in Australia by peak body the Tourism and Transport Forum.

It saves up to 4000 hours per week in bus boarding time alone and is saving more than $4 million a year by reducing the impact of fare evasion.

Every month TransLink, and delivery partner Cubic Transportation System, closely monitor all public transport ticketing equipment - including readers, gates, mobile devices, driver consoles, ticket machines, retailer units, station units and paper ticketing equipment.

Ticketing staff attended to the 20,000 pieces of electronic equipment across 10,000 sq km about 60 times a day in 2010. This included scheduled servicing, cosmetic repairs, replacing an LED light or audio component, rebooting a fare gate or assisting a retailer.

While operating across the biggest ticketing network in the world we do experience problems with technology from time to time and faults that impact on customers are repaired quickly.

Since July 2008, the go card has now been used for one-quarter of a billion trips. In that time go card reader faults have impacted 0.01 per cent of trips - or one trip every 10,000 trips. In 2010 this figure continued to drop to 0.003 per cent - or three out every 100,000 trips.

Cubic are required to meet benchmarks for bus/ferry (99.2 per cent), train (99.91 per cent) and ticket machines (98 per cent).

With 80 per cent of trips taken on the TransLink network using a go card and performance benchmarks continuing to be met, South East Queensland has a ticketing system approaching a world-class standard.

[Fares_Fair]

http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/media-releases/release/356
Wednesday 27 July 2011

The go card system continues to operate with some of the highest customer satisfaction levels on the TransLink network - well above the 75 per cent benchmark considered high standard.

It has been rated the leading smart card ticketing system in Australia by peak body the Tourism and Transport Forum.
It saves up to 4000 hours per week in bus boarding time alone and is saving more than $4 million a year by reducing the impact of fare evasion.

Every month TransLink, and delivery partner Cubic Transportation System, closely monitor all public transport ticketing equipment - including readers, gates, mobile devices, driver consoles, ticket machines, retailer units, station units and paper ticketing equipment.

Ticketing staff attended to the 20,000 pieces of electronic equipment across 10,000 sq km about 60 times a day in 2010. This included scheduled servicing, cosmetic repairs, replacing an LED light or audio component, rebooting a fare gate or assisting a retailer.

While operating across the biggest ticketing network in the world we do experience problems with technology from time to time and faults that impact on customers are repaired quickly.

Since July 2008, the go card has now been used for one-quarter of a billion trips. In that time go card reader faults have impacted 0.01 per cent of trips - or one trip every 10,000 trips. In 2010 this figure continued to drop to 0.003 per cent - or three out every 100,000 trips.

Cubic are required to meet benchmarks for bus/ferry (99.2 per cent), train (99.91 per cent) and ticket machines (98 per cent).

With 80 per cent of trips taken on the TransLink network using a go card and performance benchmarks continuing to be met, South East Queensland has a ticketing system approaching a world-class standard.

Do they even realise that there is no tourist equivalent or integrated system for day trippers etc. ?

Regards,
Fares_fair.

[ozbob]

Who knows with the TTF ....  wonder what prompted this burst of self praise?  Is something GOing to happen??  LOL

But why is there such a high rate of fixed fares?  Figures can be looked at a number of ways ...

World class, there is that term again. 

[Fares_Fair]

at least they now are saying it is "approaching a 'world class' standard."  ... for fixed fares.

Is the TTF funded by the government ?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

at least they now are saying it is "approaching a 'world class' standard."  ... for fixed fares.

Is the TTF funded by the government ?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

From the TTF website.
The Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF), originally the Tourism Task Force, was established as a not-for-profit company in November 1989 to provide a strong voice for the tourism and aviation sectors in the wake of Australia's devastating pilots' strike that year and to address a number of major issues impacting the industry at that time, including a reduction of the Australian Tourist Commission budget; the investment malaise affecting hotel ownership; and the political inertia governing the development of Sydney Airport's third runway.

Under the chairmanship of former federal Tourism Minister, the Hon John Brown AO, and with the support of TTF's first CEO Susan Hunt, TTF immediately bolstered the industry's fortunes by securing funding of $23 million from the Hawke government for a campaign to boost domestic tourism after the pilots' strike.

In 1992, Christopher Brown was appointed CEO and over the next 18 years continued to build on the early successes of TTF and secure its position as the country's peak advocacy group for the tourism, aviation, transport and investment sectors and deliver its own financial and membership security.  

In 2002, John Brown retired from TTF and was succeeded by Australia's most distinguished business leader in airline and travel distribution, Leslie Cassar AM.   TTF's charter was expanded to better embrace aviation and transport. The following year, TTF rebranded and became the Tourism & Transport Forum to reflect this new direction.

Former NSW Minister for Tourism & Roads, Transport, and the Sydney Olympics Bid, the Hon Bruce Baird AM, took over the chairmanship in 2008 and continues to lead TTF's Advisory Board.

TTF's uncompromising advocacy, through a 200-strong membership base, influential political and stakeholder networks, major events and high profile media campaigns of our research and policy agenda, has helped secure major reforms for the industries it represents.

It doesn't appear to be all that independent of government. 

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

This might have something to do with the sudden burst of GO enthusiasm ...  --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5215.msg64306#msg64306

The TTF should read the letters to the editor CM from disgruntled tourists and do some lobbying!   

[Fares_Fair]

They are full of former government and public servants, from various states, and the website does not look like a 'grass roots' organisation.
As the show says, "this myth (of independence) is busted!"

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

Interurban passenger rail frequency is approaching world class too on the Sunshine coast line, it is just that it still has a long way to go on the approach!

[SurfRail]

I suppose in that sense Brunel's 7-foot GWR was "approaching" the TGV Est for speed and comfort.

[Fares_Fair]

Interurban passenger rail frequency is approaching world class too on the Sunshine coast line, it is just that it still has a long way to go on the approach!

That'd make it a 'world class' sized approach then.  

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Derwan]

Interurban passenger rail frequency is approaching world class too on the Sunshine coast line, it is just that it still has a long way to go on the approach!

I'm approaching 70.... well... I'm a bit closer to it than I was yesterday.

[Stillwater]

I suggest the media statement has more to do with the Channel 7 campaign about the unreliability and serviceability of the Go-card readers.

[Golliwog]

I suggest the media statement has more to do with the Channel 7 campaign about the unreliability and serviceability of the Go-card readers.

Ah, figured it was someone in the media asking questions or talking crap. Seemed a very specific release.

[Stillwater]

Here's the Channel 7 News piece: http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/national/watch/26044814/885636/

[Golliwog]

Here's the Channel 7 News piece: http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/national/watch/26044814/885636/

Cheers, I was half expecting it to be on Today Tonight. Interesting. Can't get a copy of the letter they talk about right now. Its online in Translink RTI disclosure log (http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/right-to-information/disclosure-log) however, this release is too big.

TL11/279

    Application number: TL11/279
    Date of release: 14 July 2011
    Topic/information requested: Documents held by TransLink Transit Authority concerning the extent and frequency of breakdowns of go card readers and subsequent impact on revenue.
    Attachments:
        Due to size constraints, copies of the actual documents for this application cannot be published on the Disclosure Log. You can obtain copies of the released documents by contacting the TransLink RTI and Privacy Unit with the details of the information requested, including the application reference number.
        Email: rti@translink.com.au
        Post: Right to Information & Privacy Unit
        TransLink Transit Authority
        GPO Box 50
        Brisbane
        Queensland 4001

I'm not going to bother asking for it as I'm not overly interested and think in the scheme of things, this is a bit of a media beat up. The letter they quote was from September 2009. And they're trying to same faults are the same as failures, which I would say is not the case.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

30th July 2011

Go card fare structure

Greetings,

A report on Channel 7 News has highlighted some of problems with the go card system during roll-out ( http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/national/watch/26044814/885636/ ) .  As we have pointed out a system that still results in a fixed fare every 29 times it is used suggests some lingering issues  - be it system failures, equipment failures, user errors or fare evasion.  ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6346.0 ).

RAIL Back On Track has always supported the go card but we have constantly challenged the various fare structures adopted during the past years. We still hope that further fare enhancements for the go card are now not too far away.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org