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

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes has a competition  click here for details!

Be first on the go with go card
January 8, 2008 - 1:37PM

The dawn of a brave new world in public transport ticketing is almost upon us with the imminent release of Translink's smart card.

The pre-paid plastic "go card", as it will be known, will operate on Brisbane's bus, ferry and rail network from February.

Passengers will be able to top up their card balance on buses, at train stations, over the internet or phone, and in some newsagents and convenience stores.

But before the pre-paid plastic cards go on sale next month, Translink is offering 30 brisbanetimes.com.au readers the chance to participate in a special go card preview.

You will be sent your own go card in the mail with instructions on how to set up an account.

Just tell us in 25 words or less why a go card would make your travelling life easier and what mode of public transport you use most often.

As part of the trial brisbanetimes.com.au will follow the daily commutes of a few readers as they put their go card through its paces.

Edit am 18 Jan: Apparently the winners were notified last evening.

[ozbob]

Looks like Minister Mickel is losing patience, as are many.


Woes continue for public transport ticketing system
7News Brisbane Top Stories - Wed Jan 09 07:00pm EST

Queensland's troubled smart card public transport system has fallen further into crisis with the government seeking legal advice to ensure suppliers honour their contract.

Click here!

from http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/local/qld/#

[Derwan]

Queensland's troubled smart card public transport system has fallen further into crisis with the government seeking legal advice to ensure suppliers honour their contract.

Should've done it 12 months ago!  (At least!)

[ozbob]

Interesting comment on a  blog at the Courier Mail click here!

I am one of the people who participated in the smartcard trial and I now posess one of the new GO cards. Problem is that with the new pricing that has been set, it is far cheaper for me to purchase one of the old monthly paper tickets than use my GO card (which is what I will do).

I did comment to Translink about the anomoly but didn't receive a reply.

This has been a constant criticism by us and others.  If there was a decent fare structure it would work to the benefit of all.

[crouchg]

The promise of 50% discount after the 6th trip in a week? Just does not work.

Did the 9th trip this morning and I am still being charged full fare!

Smart Card Could be a lot smarter.

[ozbob]

 

Maybe it needs time to reconcile with the main system?

Not a promising start.

Thanks for the comments.

Regards
Ozbob

[Otto]

The promise of 50% discount after the 6th trip in a week? Just does not work.

Did the 9th trip this morning and I am still being charged full fare!

Smart Card Could be a lot smarter.

Did you do trip 6 or 7 on the same day as trip 9 ?

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

'Go cards' coming but no word on when

'Go cards' coming but no word on when
January 15, 2008 - 11:56AM

Brisbane public transport users will be able to buy and use the long-awaited smart card within a month or two.

Acting Premier Paul Lucas would not name a date for the electronic ticketing roll-out, which was announced more than five years ago, but said he was confident it would be "soon".

?I would hope that in the next month or two we would have it rolled out,? Mr Lucas said.

?This about doing it properly, you do not roll out a system across two million people in South-East Queensland and not want every absolute ?i? dotted,? he said.

The go card, as it will be known, is currently in a trial phase with 1200 people on the Sunshine Coast and at Redcliffe.

Transport Minister John Mickel today said three train stations in Brisbane were still under construction and could not have the machines installed there yet.

However, another 143 train stations, 1500 buses and 21 ferries did have the go card equipment installed, Mr Mickel said.

The go cards will be available at all train stations, 7-Eleven stores and Supanews newsagencies.

The State Government signed a contract with Cubic Transportation Systems to design, build and operate the $99.8 million integrated ticketing system in July 2003.

The first pilot began in June 2005 and a public pilot started in July 2006.

The entire system was supposed to be in place and working at the end of 2006 but technical issues led Cubic to request an extra year, Mr Mickel said.

[Derwan]

I feel like a donkey with a carrot dangling in front of me.

[ozbob]

I feel like a wombat trying to fly  GO! ...   

Meanwhile from the Courier Mail  click here!

Transport smart card to debut 'within in two months'

Transport smart card to debut 'within in two months'
Article from: AAP

Roberta Mancuso

January 15, 2008 04:05pm

THE Queensland Government says its long-overdue transport smart card should be fully operational within the next two months.

The so-called GoCard - which promises seamless travel across bus, ferry and rail services - is being progressively rolled out across the state's southeast.

"It will be well and truly rolled out in the not-too-distant future - or else," Acting Premier and former transport minister Paul Lucas said today.

"I would hope that in the next month or two we would have it rolled out.

"All the equipment ... is all there, it's operational, this is about doing it properly."

Former minister Steve Bredhauer promised in 1999 that a smart card would be rolled out by early 2001.

The card is being trialled in Redcliffe and on the Sunshine Coast.

Mr Lucas said the Government would consider taking legal action against the contractor, US-based Cubic Transportation Systems, if the system was not delivered in the coming months.

Transport Minister John Mickel, who inspected work on the eastern busway with Mr Lucas, said Cubic signed the contract in July 2004.

He blamed the delays on Cubic requesting another year to deliver the system, the need to train staff and the fact that three train stations in Brisbane were still under construction.

But Opposition transport spokesman Tim Nicholls said the Government had offered only "lame" excuses for the delays.

"I think they're treating the commuters of southeast Queensland like mushrooms - they're keeping them in the dark and feeding them you-know-what," Mr Nicholls said.

He said the Government should appoint a team of independent experts to drive the system's delivery.

Meanwhile, Mr Lucas announced the Government had approved the design for a bridge over Ipswich Rd which would take about 600 buses off local roads.

"This is a transport revolution and people in Brisbane will be able to brag about a busway network that other cities could only dream of," he said.

My comment on blog to this article:

The Go Card is a long long saga.  We have some very silly people in QT.

Aside from the many technical issues with the card a major compounding problem  in SEQ is that with the introduction of the Go Card we have a bureaucracy squandering the opportunity to encourage maximise uptake of the electronic ticketing system, because they are setting a fare structure that when compared to present seasonal ticketing is much more expensive for the regular commuter. They are foregoing the potential considerable long term savings to transport operators, hence the taxpayer.

The Go Card should replicate present daily fare caps, with weekly and monthly fare limits.  Do that and uptake of the Go Card will be greater than 95% and much benefit will accrue to public transport whilst help keeping transport costs manageable for citizens.

People from the pilot who have been issued Go Cards (in effect an extension of the pilot) have been going back to paper weekly and monthly tickets because it costs to much with the present fare structure on the card.  Smart state, smart card???

[ozbob]

Things getting serious ..


"... Mr Lucas said the Government would consider taking legal action against the contractor, US-based Cubic Transportation Systems, if the system was not delivered in the coming months ... "

Time will tell ... 

[ozbob]

More bluster ...

From the Courier Mail click here!

Public transport smartcard here within weeks

Public transport smartcard here within weeks
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Patrick Lion

January 15, 2008 11:00pm

COMMUTERS have been promised the long-overdue public transport smartcard will finally be rolled out across southeast Queensland within weeks.

After nine years of broken pledges since the State Government announced its so-called Go Card, Acting Premier Paul Lucas yesterday asked commuters to again trust his Government as he guaranteed completion of the beleaguered project by the middle of March.

The surprise pledge from the former transport minister came after refusals from his successor John Mickel to set a deadline for the whole network, after Sunshine Coast and outer northern Brisbane suburbs come on-line in coming days.

The roll-out of the cards ? promising seamless ticketing between buses, trains and ferries ? has encountered numerous setbacks recently due to technical difficulties.

Mr Mickel initially outlined a cautious approach at the press conference yesterday but was forced to take a back seat when Mr Lucas whispered in his ear, "I will handle this".

"It will be well and truly rolled out in the not too distant future ? or else," Mr Lucas said.

"We can take legal action (against contractor Cubic Transportation Systems) if we need to (but) I would hope that in the next month or two we will have it rolled out.

"We will have the best integrated ticketing system, we will have the best smartcard in Australia."

Several transport ministers, including Mr Lucas himself, have broken promises dating back to the 1990s to deliver the multimillion-dollar project.

But Mr Lucas yesterday tried to distance the Labor Government from its previous promises, refusing to comment on a front-page story in The Courier-Mail on December 17, 1999, when his predecessor Steve Bredhauer finally declared smartcards would arrive in January, 2001.

"I do not pour over every media comment Steve Bredhauer ever made," Mr Lucas said. "I do not know what announcement they made in 1999."

Echoing his recent "bricks-and-mortar" advice to motorists to appreciate roadworks at the congested Brisbane Airport roundabout, Mr Lucas said commuters could trust his latest promise because they could already see smartcard machines at transport stations.

"They can see the bricks and mortar of it around here," Mr Lucas said. "When they hop on a bus in Brisbane, they see the ticketing machine there. When they hop on a train at the station, they see a ticketing machine there.

"I'm happy to jump on a train with you now with my smartcard ? that is operating, that I put the money on myself ? and watch it operating."

Opposition transport spokesman Tim Nicholls yesterday said it was hard to believe the Government could deliver the card by March given the constant problems so far.

"I hope it can be but I'm sceptical given the enormous number of missed deadlines on this project already," he said

My comment on blog to the article above:

The Go Card has been  a shambles, and still is.  The only fare structure announced is a blatant ripoff when compared to present ticketing, particularly weekly and monthly fares.  If they want uptake, and hence realise the gains in efficiency and savings across the network it must be made commuter friendly.

When pilot participants who have been issued the Go Card in an extended trial, go back to using paper tickets because the Go Card is too expensive you know when have been sold a dud!
There is an urgent need for a daily fare cap, weekly and monthly fare limits to be available on the Go Card to encourage uptake.

The myriad of technical problems will hopefully be sorted out or there will be legal action no doubt!!  LOL

[ozbob]

Reports of widespread failure of new TVMs this morning.

See Courier Mail  click here!

Glitch stops rail ticket blitz
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Robyn Ironside and Patrick Lion

January 16, 2008 07:30am

QUEENSLAND Rail was forced to cancel a fare evasion blitz today after all of its new smartcard ticketing machines crashed - causing delays for commuters.

Commuters who couldn't get a ticket at their local train station had to queue at the ticket window at their destination.

Queensland Rail appealed to commuters to allow more time for their journey into work this morning, to accommodate the ticketing hassles.

Besieged smartcard contractor Cubic Transportation Systems was supposed to be testing a small section of the system, but ended up crashing all 179 machines across the network.

The glitch came as commuters were promised the long-overdue public transport smartcard would belatedly be rolled out across southeast Queensland within weeks.

After nine years of broken pledges since the State Government announced its so-called Go Card, Acting Premier Paul Lucas yesterday asked commuters to again trust his Government as he guaranteed completion of the beleaguered project by the middle of March.

The surprise pledge from the former transport minister came after refusals from his successor John Mickel to set a deadline for the whole network, after Sunshine Coast and outer northern Brisbane suburbs come on-line in coming days.

The roll-out of the cards - promising seamless ticketing between buses, trains and ferries - has encountered numerous setbacks recently due to technical difficulties.

Mr Mickel initially outlined a cautious approach at the press conference yesterday but was forced to take a back seat when Mr Lucas whispered in his ear, "I will handle this".

"It will be well and truly rolled out in the not too distant future - or else," Mr Lucas said.

"We can take legal action (against contractor Cubic Transportation Systems) if we need to (but) I would hope that in the next month or two we will have it rolled out.

"We will have the best integrated ticketing system, we will have the best smartcard in Australia."

Several transport ministers, including Mr Lucas himself, have broken promises dating back to the 1990s to deliver the multimillion-dollar project.

But Mr Lucas yesterday tried to distance the Labor Government from its previous promises, refusing to comment on a front-page story in The Courier-Mail on December 17, 1999, when his predecessor Steve Bredhauer finally declared smartcards would arrive in January, 2001.

"I do not pour over every media comment Steve Bredhauer ever made," Mr Lucas said. "I do not know what announcement they made in 1999."

Echoing his recent "bricks-and-mortar" advice to motorists to appreciate roadworks at the congested Brisbane Airport roundabout, Mr Lucas said commuters could trust his latest promise because they could already see smartcard machines at transport stations.

"They can see the bricks and mortar of it around here," Mr Lucas said. "When they hop on a bus in Brisbane, they see the ticketing machine there. When they hop on a train at the station, they see a ticketing machine there.

"I'm happy to jump on a train with you now with my smartcard - that is operating, that I put the money on myself - and watch it operating."

Opposition transport spokesman Tim Nicholls yesterday said it was hard to believe the Government could deliver the card by March given the constant problems so far.

"I hope it can be but I'm sceptical given the enormous number of missed deadlines on this project already," he said.

[ozbob]

Another pilot participant spills the beans ...

From blog C-M click here!

... I was on the Smartcard Pilot Scheme and was one of the first to get a new Go Card. The system has a lot of problems and I have reverted to a paper monthly ticket. The machines that tag you on and off sometimes come up with an error that says 'seek assistance' but there is nobody to seek assistance from. The rail and bus staff know as much as we do and can't do anything. This normally results in you being charged the maximum amount for the trip and it is a hassle to get it back. The system is a failure and also works out more expensive than a monthly ticket ...

[ozbob]

From Courier Mail click here!

Smartcard machines fail test

Smartcard machines fail test
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Patrick Lion and Robyn Ironside

January 16, 2008 11:00pm

SOUTHEAST Queensland's much-vaunted new smartcard system has suffered another devastating credibility blow - only a day after the Bligh Government boasted the long-overdue project was "going well" and nearing completion.

Thousands of morning peak-hour train commuters struggled to buy a ticket yesterday when all 179 high-tech TransLink smartcard machines across the CityTrain network went into meltdown for nine hours.

Besieged contractor Cubic Transportation Systems was supposed to be installing new software on a few machines overnight but instead crashed the whole system. Some machines even began spitting out Japanese to frustrated patrons.

The lack of purchase points forced Queensland Rail into an embarrassing backdown of a new fare-evasion campaign as commuters travelled free or battled queues at old machines and station windows.

Transport Minister John Mickel was not available to comment last night but the bungle came after Acting Premier Paul Lucas declared on Tuesday that the nine-year project would be finished by mid-March.

Mr Lucas had also pointed to the "bricks and mortar" of the machines as evidence to commuters to believe the latest promised deadline for the so-called Go Card.

"It is going and it is going well," Mr Lucas had said. "We will have the best integrated ticketing system, we will have the best smartcard in Australia."

The Opposition has seized on the problems, claiming people using the Go Card in trials are reporting difficulties.

Liberal transport spokesman Tim Nicholls said the card was now facing credibility issues.

Trial commuters had already told him they were not receiving discounts while encountering problems topping up the card.

"We hope it is fine, but none of this bodes well for the future of smartcard," Mr Nicholls said.

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes  click here!

Transport ticketing glitch 'being resolved'

Transport ticketing glitch 'being resolved'
Georgina Robinson | January 16, 2008

The Queensland Transport Minister says he still has confidence in the company behind Translink's electronic ticketing system, despite a litany of delays and fresh technical glitches.

Less than 24 hours after Minister John Mickel defended the heavily delayed roll-out of the pre-paid plastic "go card", train commuters woke to news 179 brand new ticket vending machines were on the blink.

Translink responded by calling a ceasefire on fare evaders and promised to have the machines up and running by 1pm.

At 2pm the software "glitch" was not fixed and Queensland Rail was preparing to open extra ticket windows at Central, Roma Street and South Brisbane stations to meet evening peak demand.

By 4pm most of the machines were back up and running with a "dozen or so" still being worked on.

Despite the horror two days, Mr Mickel stood by Cubic Transportation Systems, the company charged with designing, building and operating the $99 million integrated ticketing system.

"Contrary to incorrect reports in the media last week, no legal action is pending with regards to the Cubic contract to deliver the go card project," a spokesperson for the minister said.

"The minister will always act in the best interests of the taxpayers of this state should the need arise, however there is no reason to consider legal action with Cubic at this stage.

"(Mr Mickel) has maintained throughout the trial of the go card that he wants any creases in the system to be ironed out before he launches the project.

"This morning's glitch was a software problem which has been identified and is currently being resolved," the spokesperson said.

State Opposition transport spokesperson Tim Nicholls said it was just another "excuse" from the state government.

"The government has had over five years to bring the system up to scratch," Mr Nicholls said.

"Now they say that in just two months all the flaws will have been dealt with and the system will finally be up and running.

"The government needs to stop making promises and start delivering the trasnport system they've been promising for far too long."

[Derwan]

Mr Lucas had also pointed to the "bricks and mortar" of the machines as evidence to commuters to believe the latest promised deadline for the so-called Go Card.

I saw him say this on the news and it's one of the dumbest (and funniest) statements so far.  How long have the ticket machines and card readers been there?  The TVM's were boarded up for months before even being switched on.  We've become so used to them that of course we're not going to take any notice of them as assurance that the system will be rolled out any time soon.

Some of these assets are depreciating without ever being used.

[ozbob]

From Courier Mail, yet more technical issues identified with the card ..  click here!

Smarting over cards

Smarting over cards
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Terry Sweetman

January 18, 2008

ACTING Premier Paul Lucas stuck his neck out with some fairly heroic pronouncements on the calamitous public transport smartcard on Tuesday.

Well, more precisely, he put Transport Minister John Mickel's neck on the chopping block of public opinion and commuter scorn when he made a promise of sorts about the roll-out of the card.

Mickel recently had shown some belated discretion by refusing to be drawn on a timetable but Lucas leapt in where a wiser man might have feared to tread.

"It will be well and truly rolled out in the not too distant future," he declared in a masterpiece of political non-speak.

The "not too distant future" is a remarkably elastic time frame in reference to a transport initiative that has so far delivered nothing but nine years of broken promises.

Good luck, but I wouldn't like to spend the intervening period hanging by my fingernails or queuing up at what must be one of the most customer unfriendly ticketing systems yet devised by man or bureaucrat.

And I wasn't entirely comforted by Lucas's line of "trust-me" because, behold, commuters already could see the smartcard machines at transport stations.

We have been able to see the smartcard machines for years. Now we would like to see them work ...  more     click here!

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor published Courier Mail January 19

Terry Sweetman (C-M, Jan 18) has highlighted yet more technical problems with the Go Card.

Among all the spin and counter-claims concerning the Go Card is the important fact that the present fare structure for the card is not an incentive for people to use the card.

Why is it that some people from the pilot scheme who have been issued with a new Go Card are reverting back to paper integrated tickets, such as weekly or monthly?

It is because of the constant system problems and the cost of travel with the card relative to present seasonal ticketing. These are critical issues.

[ozbob]

Media Release 21 January 2008

SEQ: Go Card is a stop card!

RAIL ? Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)  a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has called for clarification on the operation and roll out of the Go Card, and assurances that commuters will not be worse off should they elect to use the Go Card.

Robert Dow said that:

?Many present users of the Go Card, who are in the main the former  Translink smart card pilot participants, are reporting numerous system problems with the card?s operation, and problems with the new Ticket Vending Machines.?

?For example feedback has been received of users losing money in the ticket machines when attempting to top up balances, and problems with the debiting of fare costs to the card, particularly when there are system failures and users are unable to tag off.?

?Others have highlighted problems with the GPS location system in buses, and some concerns with the durability of Go Card equipment on the river ferries.  The tag-on tag-off devices at railway stations seem to be particularly prone to vandalism.?

?The only fare structure announced, the frequent user scheme, is also causing concern to high use public transport users who face significant fare increases relative to their present seasonal paper ticketing should they use the card.  We note that paper ticketing will be maintained for a period following card roll-out but surely the whole point of investing $100 million dollars or so will be to eventually replace the present system, otherwise we will just have two expensive duplicate ticketing systems??

?Can assurances be given that commuters will not be worse off with the Go Card? Is the card really ready for roll out?  The evidence so far suggests that commuters will be worse off and the card still is not ready for main stream use!? said Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

Contact:

Robert Dow

admin@backontrack.org
Administration RAIL Back On Track

[Derwan]

Believe it or not, there are actually cases where people are BETTER OFF under the Go Card FU scheme.

If you use it 4 times in the week (i.e. 8 trips), you'll receive a 50% discount on the forth day.  With paper tickets (excluding 10-trip savers), you would pay for 4 dailies (either as a weekly or 4 daily tickets).  This could benefit:

1.  A part-timer who works 4 days a week.
2.  Full time employees on weeks when there is a public holiday - or when they have 1 day off in the week.

I'm not sure if the higher zone weeklies would be cheaper than 3.5 dailies, but at least we have found where people will sometimes be better off using the Go Card.  Don't tell TransLink though or they'll close this "loophole".

[ozbob]

 

My favourite example of positive twist is an intrepid zone 1 commuter who does 6 zone 1 trips on the card and then heads off to the outer limits of zone 23 on subsequent days!  At least a winner there too!   

But the real advantage of a daily is that no transfer time limits and you can do unrestricted trips in your zones during the day, do that on the card and will cost a lot more of course.  (The Perth Smartrider caps at a daily fare, wish the Go Card did too!)

My local newsagent (in BCC area) has stopped selling 10 trippers as no future incentive seeing they won't be selling the card either.  Guess there might be a few more going that way. 

[ozbob]

For information ...

NSW govt 'terminates' T-card contract

From Brisbanetimes click here!

NSW govt 'terminates' T-card contract

January 23, 2008 - 2:23PM

The NSW government has terminated its contract for the integrated public transport ticketing system, the T-card, after the company behind the project repeatedly failed to meet targets.

Transport Minister John Watkins said the contract with Integrated Ticketing Solutions (ITSL) was cancelled at 1pm (AEDT) on Wednesday.

The government will now pursue a damages claim to recover as much as possible of the $95 million taxpayers have spent on the T-card.

The termination of the contact comes after the government in November last year issued ITSL with a notice of intention to terminate the T-card contact on December 3.

The company responded with a proposal outlining a timetable that would have had the T-card fully operational in 2009.

But, Mr Watkins said a review of the plan by the Public Transport Ticketing Corporation (PTTC) found it was unsatisfactory.

"ITSL's plan did not adequately address their poor project management and recurring problems with technology," Mr Watkins said.

"Cashless ticketing for Sydney's public transport system is a must as we move into the 21st century, but we have to get the right system for Sydney."

The PTTC, the government agency overseeing the project, will now work with an expert group to begin the search for a new cashless ticketing system for Sydney.

? 2008 AAP

Also here --> http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23096414-29277,00.html

[Derwan]

Take note Cubic!!

Pull your finger out, or you'll be next!

[Otto]

The Go Card is finally being released to the public on Tuesday Jan 29th ( But only to people on the Sunshine Coast and rail stations north of Strathpine )

Cards can be bought at some sunshine coast 7 eleven stores as well as TL

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
24/01/2008
go card goes live

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel today announced go cards will be available to residents on the Sunshine Coast, Caboolture, Pine Rivers and Redcliffe from Tuesday, January 29, 2008.

Mr Mickel said the first public release of go cards marked a historic moment in public transport in South East Queensland.

"We are now at the start of an exciting new phase in the evolution of public transport in South East Queensland.

"The go card product we will be releasing on Tuesday is just the beginning.
"Over time we will be able to add on additional products, offering new choices for public transport users.

"I am committed to providing public transport users in South East Queensland with choice - that is why we are retaining all TransLink integrated paper tickets.

"I encourage all public transport users to consider giving the go card a try but if you would prefer to continue using a paper ticket that option is available too.

"Passengers on rail and bus services in areas north of Strathpine will see staff out and about with information about the go card from Tuesday.

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

Minister Mickel said any new technology encountered an occasional glitch but he said he was confident the go card system would be a great addition to the TransLink network.

"In a meeting earlier this week I spoke to senior managers from Cubic who assured me that the kind of problems experienced with fare machines recently would not happen again," he said.

"Cubic and TransLink have been working tirelessly to ensure the system is in good shape for the roll out."

Four different go cards will be available - child, concession, senior and adult.

Public transport users can get a go card by phoning 13 12 30, through the go card website at http://www.translink.com.au/go or by visiting a go card retailer at:

? Caloundra Travel - Bus Interchange, 23 Cooma Tce, Caloundra
? Noosa Civic News, 28 Eenie Creek Rd, Noosaville
? Cotton Tree News, 9 King St, Maroochydore
? 7 Eleven Mooloolaba, 85 The Esplanade, Mooloolaba
? 7 Eleven Maroochydore North, 53 Aerodrome Rd, Maroochydore North
? 7 Eleven Marcoola, 946-948 David Low Way, Marcoola
? 7 Eleven Noosa, 91 -97 Noosa Dr, Noosa
? 7 Eleven Warana, Cnr Nicklin Way & Aquatic Dr, Warana
? 7 Eleven Maroochydore, Aerodrome Rd, Maroochydore
? NewsXpress Caboolture, Cnr Matthew Tce & James St, Caboolture
? 7 Eleven Clontarf, 9 Elizabeth St, Clontarf
? 7 Eleven Redcliffe, 77 Anzac Ave, Redcliffe
? 7 Eleven Rothwell, 759-761 Deception Bay Rd, Rothwell
? 7 Eleven Morayfield, 272 Morayfield Rd, Morayfield

Staff will be available to answer questions about go card at major train stations and bus interchanges from Tuesday. For information on where and when TransLink representatives will be available, please go to the TransLink website.

For more information on how the go card works or how to obtain a card go to http://www.translink.com.au/go or phone 13 12 30

[ozbob]

Lets hope it goes better than the feedback from the pilot users would suggest.

[ozbob]

Letter to Minister.

------------------

24 Jan 2008

Dear Minister,

Many present users of the Go Card, who are in the main the former Translink smart card pilot participants, are reporting numerous system problems with the card?s operation, and problems with the new Ticket Vending Machines. This is of concern following reports of the collapse of the Sydney T Card smart card ticketing project.

For example some users have reported losing money in the ticket machines when attempting to top up balances, and problems with the debiting of fare costs to the card, particularly when there are system failures and users are unable to tag off.

Others have highlighted problems with the GPS location system in buses, and some concerns with the durability of Go Card equipment on the river ferries. The tag-on tag-off devices at railway stations seem to be particularly prone to vandalism.

The only fare structure announced, the frequent user scheme, is also causing concern to high use public transport users who face significant fare increases relative to their present seasonal paper ticketing should they use the card. I note that paper ticketing will be maintained for a period following card roll-out but surely the whole point of investing $100 million dollars or so will be to eventually replace the present system, otherwise we will just have two expensive duplicate ticketing systems?

Can assurances be given that commuters will not be worse off with the Go Card? Is the card really ready for roll out? The evidence so far suggests that commuters will be worse off and the card still is not ready for main stream use! How long will paper ticketing be maintained?

Yours sincerely,

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

[ozbob]

Media Release 25 January 2008

SEQ:  Go for Go Card!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport has welcomed the initial public roll out of the Go Card north of Brisbane, but some concerns and questions remain answered.

Robert Dow said:

?The Go Card promises to improve public transport efficiency throughout the Translink area, and we welcome the public roll out of the card, even though it is limited to the north of Brisbane at this time.?

?RAIL Back On Track does have concerns though with the present frequent user fare structure, it is expensive for high use commuters relative to integrated paper ticketing.?

?Also a number of users of the Go Card have reported a number of problems that are taking up to 10 days to be resolved by Translink. This is not satisfactory as commuters often have limited cash reserves.?

?Can assurances be given that commuters will not be worse off with the Go Card??

?How long will paper integrated ticketing be maintained??

?Commuters are entitled to definitive answers to these questions rather than spin!? said Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

Contact:

Robert  Dow

Administration
admin@backontrack.org RAIL Back On Track
http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

To further highlight the cost of using the Go Card for high use commuters;

Consider a commuter who does 2 round trips a day outside transfer time limit (one hour) say Zones 1 to 3, 7 days a week (and a number do, eg. uni students who work, people who work a number of part time jobs and so forth) cost on card is 4 x $1.60 (50% discount) x 7 = $44.80 + the 6 x $1.60 = $54.40

Cf. to weekly $25.60  that is a 112% increase if they use the card.

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Ready, Set, GO! Smartcard released in SEQ

Ready, Set, GO! Smartcard released in SEQ
Scott Casey | January 25, 2008

The new high tech 'Go' public transport smartcard will become available to customers in South-East Queensland on Tuesday, almost 10 years after plans for a such as system were proposed.

But public transport users in most of Brisbane will miss out for the moment with the go card becoming available only to residents of the Sunshine Coast, Caboolture, Pine Rivers and Redcliffe.

Its Brisbane release is expected to happen by the end of February.

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said yesterday the release of the go card was an historic moment in public transport in South-East Queensland.

"We are now at the start of an exciting new phase in the evolution of public transport," he said.

"The go card product we will be releasing on Tuesday is just the beginning. Over time we will be able to add on additional products, offering new choices for public transport users."

Last week a network test of the new ticketing system caused ticket machines across the CityTrain network to crash resulting in long delays for commuters.

At the time Mr Mickel said the crash was a good reason why the system should not be rolled out for the whole of the transport network just yet.

Yesterday the Mr Mickel said any new technology encountered an occasional glitch but assured commuters using the public transport network that he was confident the go card would be a great success.

"In a meeting earlier this week I spoke to senior managers from Cubic who assured me that the kind of problems experienced with fare machines recently would not happen again," he said.

"Cubic and TransLink have been working tirelessly to ensure the system is in good shape for the roll out."

Cubic Transportation Systems was contracted to design, build and operate the $99.8 million integrated ticketing system in July 2003.

The first pilot began in June 2005 and a public pilot started in July 2006.

The entire system was supposed to be in place and working at the end of 2006 but technical issues led Cubic to request an extra year.

Four different go cards will be available; child, concession, senior and adult.

Public transport users can get a go card by;

-phoning 13 12 30

-visiting http://www.translink.com.au/go

-or by visiting a go card retailer at:

Caloundra Travel - Bus Interchange, 23 Cooma Tce, Caloundra

Noosa Civic News, 28 Eenie Creek Rd, Noosaville

Cotton Tree News, 9 King St, Maroochydore

7 Eleven Mooloolaba, 85 The Esplanade, Mooloolaba

7 Eleven Maroochydore North, 53 Aerodrome Rd, Maroochydore North

7 Eleven Marcoola, 946-948 David Low Way, Marcoola

7 Eleven Noosa, 91 -97 Noosa Dr, Noosa

7 Eleven Warana, Cnr Nicklin Way and Aquatic Dr, Warana

7 Eleven Maroochydore, Aerodrome Rd, Maroochydore

NewsXpress Caboolture, Cnr Matthew Tce and James St, Caboolture

7 Eleven Clontarf, 9 Elizabeth St, Clontarf

7 Eleven Redcliffe, 77 Anzac Ave, Redcliffe

7 Eleven Rothwell, 759-761 Deception Bay Rd, Rothwell

7 Eleven Morayfield, 272 Morayfield Rd, Morayfield

[ozbob]

Application form for Go Card from Translink

PDF Click here!

[crouchg]

I wonder if the web site will accept CC payment for top up from next tuesday?

Still waiting for my refunds.......

GC

[ozbob]

With the ramp up next week we can expect  a huge increase in the numbers applying for refunds.  Wonder how that is going to go?  If they can't process a small number of user refunds now, what is going to happen when the masses are let loose!!   

[ozbob]

For information looks like T card inquiry might come about in Sydney.

From Australian IT click here!

Parliamentary inquiry into Tcard?

Parliamentary inquiry into Tcard?

Nick Ralston in Sydney | January 25, 2008

Transport Minister John Watkins announced yesterday that the Tcard contract with Integrated Ticketing Solutions Ltd had been cancelled after the company repeatedly failed to meet milestones
The NSW opposition yesterday said it would move to establish an upper house inquiry into the government's handling of the cancelled Tcard and the $95 million of taxpayers' funds spent on the failed project.

"The public deserve answers on why and how the state Labor government spent $95 million of their money for no result," Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell said.

"We are proposing an upper house inquiry to provide answers on how this project was mismanaged so the lessons can be learned to ensure that, as the taxpayers start the whole process again, the government doesn't make the same mistakes."

Transport Minister John Watkins announced yesterday that the Tcard contract with Integrated Ticketing Solutions Ltd (ITSL) had been cancelled after the company repeatedly failed to meet milestones.

The government does not control the upper house and the opposition would need the support of minor parties to establish the inquiry, which would be chaired by Nationals MP Jenny Gardiner.

The Greens have already said they would support Mr O'Farrell's attempt to establish the inquiry.

Mr Watkins however has attacked the move, saying it could place at risk the government's ability to recoup the $95 million paid to ITSL.

"The government has strong legal grounds to recover money outlaid on the Tcard project, but Mr O'Farrell would rather stage a stunt inquiry for information that's already on the public record,'' Mr Watkins said.

"The only person wanting to waste taxpayers' money is Mr O'Farrell, by putting in jeopardy our legal position."

Mr O'Farrell wants an upper house inquiry to examine the details of the contract, including the milestones and what the government's obligations were.

He also wants to know how $95 million of taxpayers' money could be spent for no tangible result.

Premier Morris Iemma today sought to defend his government's handling of the Tcard, insisting Sydney was not the only city hit by problems when switching to integrated public transport ticketing.

"San Fransisco has had similar problems with theirs, so has Paris. In Brisbane nearly 200 terminals collapsed through its integrated ticketing systems,'' he told reporters.

"They are complex, but it is something we would like to give commuters but we want to give them something that works."

ITSL's parent company ERG Group today released a short statement taking aim at the government for cancelling the contract.

"ERG's board of directors today described the NSW government's decision to terminate the Tcard project as unreasonable, short-term, and politically driven," the statement said.

[ozbob]

Published Brisbane mX  January 25

Many users of the Go Card, who are in the main the former Translink smart card pilot participants, are reporting numerous system problems with the card?s operation, and problems with the new ticket vending machines.

This is of concern following reports of the collapse of the Sydney T Card smart card ticketing project.

For example, some users have reported losing money in the ticket machines when attempting to top up balances, and problems with the debiting of fare costs to the card, particularly when there are system failures and users are unable to tag off.

Others have highlighted problems with the GPS location system in buses, and some concerns with the durability of Go Card equipment on the river ferries.

The tag-on tag-off devices at railway stations seem to be particularly prone to vandalism.

The only fare structure announced, the frequent user scheme, is also causing concern to high use public transport users who face significant fare increases relative to their present seasonal paper ticketing should they use the card.

I note that paper ticketing will be maintained for a period following card roll-out but surely the whole point of investing $100 million dollars or so will be to eventually replace the present system. Otherwise we will just have two expensive duplicate ticketing systems?

Can assurances be given that commuters will not be worse off with the Go Card?

Is the card really ready for roll out? The evidence so far suggests that commuters will be worse off and the card still is not ready for mainstream use!

[ozbob]

The fundamental flaw with the Go Card roll-out

Electronic ticketing offers much in the way of benefits to public transport.  Accurate loading data is easily available, the cost of providing ticketing and the cash sales is minimised, loading of buses and ferries particularly is much faster and this leads to significant overall efficiency gains. 

Why then is the Queensland Government and Translink trying to drive through a product that has a number of flaws and with no or little regard to feedback from pilot users and others, when in fact if they had an equitable fare structure and incentives for  uptake the overall benefits would be realised from the outset?

The fare base on the card should have a significant discount to cash fares (as the card is a form of advance  payment and this also reflects the savings made from no need to handle cash or paper ticket sales).

There should be fare caps that equate to the present ticketing practices.  Essential to have a daily fare cap with weekly and monthly limits.  This would then make the Go Card attractive to all and encourage a high level of uptake. 

It would appear the Queensland Government and Translink are hoping that the average commuter will not be able to fathom the details as so far presented.  I think they will be in for a shock when commuters do realize the full imposts of the actions of Government and Translink.

The fundamental flaw has been to ignore the considerable feedback from all concerned. 

[ozbob]

Another example of how the Go Card impacts on regular commuters.

This example is a uni student who lives in zone 4.  Attends uni in zone 1 (eg. QUT) and works part time in a shop in zone 3.

Goes to university Mon Tue Wed and Thu.  Works Wed Thu Sat.  This is a typical profile for a university student.

If using a Go Card:

Home zone 4  Uni zone 1 Work Zone 3.

Mon  2 single trips a $1.80  = $3.60
Tue  2 single trips @ $1.80  = $3.60

Wed  1 single to uni @ $1.80 = $1.80
Wed  1 single uni to work @ $1.60 = $1.60   Note 6 trip threshold reached - 50% after 6 trips.
Wed  1 single work to home 1 @ $0.70 =$0.70

Thu  1 single to uni @ $0.90  = $0.90
Thu  1 single uni to work @ $0.80 = $0.80
Thu 1 single work to home 1 @ $0.70

Friday night out in the cbd
2 single trips @ $0.90 = $1.80

Sat 2 single trips @ $0.90 = $1.80

Total if using Go Card $17.70 compared to Weekly ticket cost $14.40

Increase if using Go Card 23%

If using the weekly the student also has the option of using the ticket for Sunday travel in zones for no cost.  Also should extra trips be necessary during the week if using the weekly ticket no additional cost, on the Go Card additional expenditure.  This highlights why the Go Card should be capped to daily fare limits as most in other jurisdictions are.



To further highlight the cost of using the Go Card for high use commuters;

Consider a commuter who does 2 round trips a day outside transfer time limit (one hour) say Zones 1 to 3, 7 days a week (and a number do, eg. part time uni students who work full time, people who work a number of part time jobs and so forth) cost on card is 4 x $1.60 (50% discount) x 7 = $44.80 + the 6 x $1.60 = $54.40

Go Card cost of travel $54.40 compared to weekly $25.60 that is a 112% increase if they use the Go Card.

Should our hapless commuters forget to tag off or on with the Go Card then further penalties additional to fare costs to pay too. 

The obvious conclusion that one can make is the the Queensland Government is trying to introduce back door fare increases which will impact heavily on citizens at time when cost of living increases are hurting all.

The mumble and spin by the Minister et al that paper tickets will continue to be available is not the long term plan.  We have requested clear responses to the question "How long will the present integrated paper tickets be retained".  They won't provide a clear answer.  Obviously they want to push all on to the Go Card and pay increases in their travel.  The only paper tickets that will probably remain eventually will be those that are issued by the new ticket machines (single and daily).

What sort of Government would allow this to be done to their citizens?

[ozbob]

High zone weeklies are about 3.5 times a daily fare cost. 

The Go Card means that even people who do exactly 10 trips per week high zone (> zone 10) will be facing an increase (this has been mentioned by crouchg before too, see --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=404.0 ) should they use card.

Example.

Take a zone 20 commuter, Mon to Fri commute.  Go Card Cost ($15.50 x 6) + ($7.75 x 4) = $124

Cost of a paper weekly ticket is $100.80

This is 23% increase in cost of travel if the commuter uses the Go Card and doesn't even consider extra trips which would be free if user had a weekly!

[ozbob]

The Go Card FU (frequent user) fare scheme operates on a Monday to Sunday basis.

So a person who works five days a week, say Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Monday and Tuesday does not receive the 50% discount on their Go Card as the counter resets each Monday.

So for example lets consider a zone 7 worker.

Cost of Go Card Travel is 10 x $5 = $50.

Weekly cost $40.

Go Card costs 25% more!! 

If the worker stays on the same shift  in the following week they will receive the FU  discount on the Sat Sun  and then approximate a weekly, as the Mon Tue and Fri will be full fare.  The problem for shift workers is that they are often moving days worked so they will need to consider these effects.  For many a weekly ticket would be a better option, particularly if greater than ten zones.

What a stupid fare scheme this FU is!!