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

[ozbob]

The FU (frequent user) scheme is overly complicated as has been demonstrated.

The fare scheme on the Go Card should be single fares less 20%, with daily fare caps and weekly fare limits.

If it was structured this way it would be revenue neutral and cost neutral for all including those who have previously used the 10 tripper tickets.

Uptake of the card would be universal the public transport system would then reap the benefits of a high use electronic ticketing system.

After all the public is paying in advance with a Go Card and should receive the benefit of the ticket cost savings that will accumulate.

The implementation and roll out of the card process has only given token consideration to feedback and suggestions from the community.

Many of the pilot participants have also vented their frustration at the refusal of Translink to take on board their constructive suggestions.

The end result is a flawed product from a users point of view.

[ozbob]

Media Release

Tim Nicholls MP
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
Shadow Minister for Transport, Traffic Management,
Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations   
Member for Clayfield           

Students' up to 30% worse off under Smartcard plans

25 January 2008

Queensland students will be forced to pay up to 30 percent more under the State Government's Smartcard plan, thanks to the withdrawal of the popular ten trip discount tickets.

Under the Smartcard discount scheme, students have to take six trips in one week before being eligible for a discount on any subsequent journeys.  Ten trip tickets were a permanent discount.

Shadow Minister for Transport Tim Nicholls said the Government had failed to provide students with a discount scheme flexible enough to suit their schedules.

"The Government's 'Go Card' discount scheme fails to consider that not all students catch the bus to and from school or uni every day," he said.

"Things like before and after school activities, part-time jobs and lifts from friends and family, all disrupt the Government's strict discount plan.

"They haven't even considered just how many public holidays and student free days will disrupt the discount scheme.  In the school term alone there are three weeks that are disrupted by holidays."

Mr Nicholls said the Smartcard system was not student or parent friendly, lacking the ease of the popular ten trip tickets.

"There are currently no contingency plans for when the Smartcard machines go down - like they did earlier this month," he said.

"So far Smartcard users who have been unable to touch on or off have simply been advised they'll have to either revert to the old paper tickets or travel for free.

"It's simply not practical to expect children travelling to and from school to have spare change on them in case their card doesn't work."

Students who fail to touch off properly will also be charged a penalty fee of $2.50 for train trips and $1.50 for bus and ferry journeys.

"The State Government needs to ensure that no Queenslanders will be worse off under the Go Card ticketing system," Mr Nicholls said.

[ozbob]

Media Release 30 January 2008

SEQ:  Go Card users do your sums! Beware of potential cost impacts on your public transport travel

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport has highlighted some of the fare price increases commuters will face if they choose to use a Go Card.  Feedback from the community has confirmed that many will not consider using the Go Card as to use it would mean hefty increases in their cost of travel.  This is a disastrous outcome for a project that has so far cost $100 million dollars of tax payer funds.  Previous calls for guarantees that commuters will not be worse off with the Go Card have resulted in silence.

Robert Dow said:

?The Go Card promises to improve public transport efficiency throughout the Translink area.  The first public roll out of the card  commenced on January 29th north of Brisbane.?

?However, commuters are not being told the full story with respect to significant  financial impacts in certain situations of the very unusual frequent user fare scheme that is the basis of  fare costs on the Go Card.?

?Attached to this media release are typical examples of cost increases using the Go Card relative to weekly tickets. These examples are also available on the RAIL Back On Track web site ( http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?board=27.0 ). RAIL Back On Track advocates for public transport commuters and we are very concerned about these financial impacts at time when cost of living increases are putting a lot of pressure on families.?

?In view of the demonstrated financial penalties on many commuters should they elect to use the Go Card, can the Transport Minister give a guarantee that paper integrated ticketing such as weekly and monthly tickets will continue to be available indefinitely, or until such fares are made available on the Go Card?? said Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

Contact:

Robert  Dow


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


Examples of the  impact of Go Card frequent user fare scheme on commuters costs

1.  Typical tertiary student

This example is a university student who lives in zone 4.  Attends university 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 city
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.



2.  High use

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.



3.  High zone

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 should they use card.

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!



4.  Shift workers

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 consider a zone 7 worker.

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

Weekly cost $40.

Go Card costs 25% more!!

Note: 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.

[ozbob]

Letter to Editor: Submitted to Courier Mail February 3

The frequent user fare scheme on the new Translink Go Card is a rip off.
Interested commuters should check out Perth's SmartRider smart card fares, and the proposed fare structure for Melbourne's Myki smart card.  They both have very equitable fare structures not like Queensland's Go Card.  The Go Card is being rejected by many if not most commuters because using it costs a lot more to travel than the present integrated paper ticketing.  The Go card should smartly calculate a 2 hour fare for a single journey, if you travel more than once during the day cap at a daily fare, and if travel more during the same week cap at a weekly fare.  Why does the Queensland Government and Translink allow the public transport commuters of SEQ to be ripped off?

[ozbob]

Melbourne's Myki is going to cost a lot more too ...

See Vic "Tcard" AU$1 billion over budget, 15 months late

click here!

[ozbob]

Media Release 5 February 2008

SEQ:  Go Card needs a fair fare!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport has called for an urgent review of the Go Card frequent user fare scheme.  It is too expensive for many commuters and there is a lot of community concern and growing anti-Go Card sentiment.

Robert Dow said:

?The Translink Go Card is progressively being rolled out.?

?Commuters are waking up to the significance of the high cost frequent user fare scheme.  RAIL Back On Track has previously highlighted some of the impacts of this inequitable fare structure (1).?

?RAIL Back On Track has received feedback and there are many reports in the media of very dissatisfied Go Card users who are becoming aware of the significant increases in their cost of travel relative to integrated paper ticketing.?

?Calls have been made previously for guarantees that no commuters would be worse off using the Go Card.  Clearly that is not the case and explains the non response to these calls.?

?The Translink Go Card frequent user scheme is a failure.  Base fares on the card should be reduced by 25% to provide an equitable fare and incentive to uptake.  This is typical for other smart card ticketing systems.  They provide real incentives for uptake which just reflect the improvements in the efficiency of public transport that can be achieved by a high uptake of the card.?

?The Go Card is fast becoming a wasted opportunity because of the bizarre fare structure on the card,? said Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

References:

1. Go Card users do your sums!  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=443.0

Contact:

Robert  Dow

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

[Mozz]

Interesting interview with the Minister this morning on ABC radio Tuesday 5.2.08 6.30am - when questioned as to whether people would pay more under the gocard than paper tickets his response was that you could always "concoct" stories - giving the impression to listeners that anyone suggesting the gocard would be more expensive was just manipulating the facts to suit their perspective - I believe we should step up the campaign to show the inequities between paper tickets and go card.

Minister did say that there was no proposal before him to get rid of paper tickets.

[ozbob]

Yes, I heard that interview too Mozz. I have contacted the 612 ABC Brisbane disputing the claim 'concocted'.

A very off hand manner to dismiss commuter's very valid and true concerns.  I am sure the listeners who have previously rang up 612 ABC Brisbane will be disappointed too.

[ozbob]

Published Courier Mail February 7

The frequent user fare scheme on the new Translink Go Card is a rip off.
Interested commuters should check out Perth's SmartRider smart card fares, and the proposed fare structure for Melbourne's Myki smart card.

They both have very equitable fare structures, not like Queensland's Go Card.  The Go Card is being rejected by many commuters because using it costs a lot more to travel than the present integrated paper ticketing.

The Go card should calculate a 2 hour fare for a single journey. If you travel more than once during the day, cap at a daily fare. And if you travel more during the same week cap at a weekly fare.

Why does the State Government and Translink allow the public transport commuters of southeast Queensland to be ripped off?

[ozbob]

From Brisbane mX (8 Feb 07) via Courier Mail click here!

Rail Back on Track calls for 'expensive' go card overhaul

Rail Back on Track calls for 'expensive' go card overhaul
Article from: mX

Anna Edwards of MX

February 08, 2008 04:13pm

SOUTH east Queensland's new go card ticketing system is hitting commuters hip pockets and should be overhauled, a commuter group claims.

The Rail Back on Track group proposed base fares on the go card be reduced by 25 per cent and daily and weekly fare limits capped.

This would give commuters more incentive to use go cards, the group's spokesman Robert Dow said.

Long-distance commuters are slugged with higher fares under the new system with fares past Zone 10 up to $23 more.

A Zone 11 weekly ticket costs $56.30, but if a commuter uses the new go card to travel the same journey from Monday to Friday, taking into account the go cards half-price discount after six consecutive trips, they would be stung for $60.

And the difference between the two ticket types gets higher as the zones increase.

A weekly Zone 20 ticket costs $100.80, but go card users would be stung with $124.

A spokesman for Transport Minister John Mickel said commuters had a choice.

Single, daily, off-peak daily, weekly and monthly tickets will continue to be available for purchase.

"There is currently no timetable for the removal of these integrated paper ticketproducts," he said.

"Ultimately we would like everyone to use the go card and will offer further products on the card."

He said that while they were financially worse off, longdistance commuters who used the go card would benefit in convenience and security.

Footnote:  Original article title was 'Go card hits wallets' in mX 

[ozbob]

From Couriermail click here!

At last the true situation is starting to come to light.

Our strong stand has been vindicated.

State Government retains paper tickets

State Government retains paper tickets
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Steven Wardill

February 10, 2008 11:00pm

PAPER tickets for buses, trains and ferries were to be eradicated with the introduction of the controversial new public transport smartcard.

However, the State Government secretly altered the contract with the company introducing the technology, Cubic Transportation Systems, in 2005.

The decision to backtrack on the abolition of paper tickets came after customer research showed single, daily, off-peak daily, weekly and monthly tickets were hugely popular with commuters.

The move to keep the paper tickets is likely to affect the sale of the so-called "go cards" and hurt the profits of Cubic, which has a contract to install and manage the system for 10 years.

Transport Minister John Mickel revealed last week that under the original contract with Cubic only single paper tickets were to be available once the cards were rolled out.

"However, early customer research clearly indicated the big five paper products ? single, daily, off-peak daily, weekly and monthly tickets ? should run in tandem with the go card to minimise the impact of the switch to smartcards and provide a broader range of choices for passengers," he said.

"TransLink requested a variation to the contract with Cubic on June 6, 2005 to retain integrated paper ticket products after go card rolled out."

Cubic's Brisbane office has refused to comment, directing media inquiries to its corporate headquarters in San Diego.

However, in 2003 the company said its $135 million contract involved replacing existing paper tickets.

"The new system will link most urban rail, bus and ferry services in the southeast Queensland region and allow public transport commuters to use one smartcard to pay for all their fares," it said.

The company is years behind schedule introducing the system, which only recently kicked off on the Sunshine Coast and will be introduced in Brisbane later this month. However, the situation is better than in NSW, where the Government has been forced to cancel its contract with another smartcard supplier.

Coalition Transport spokesman Tim Nicholls said he was concerned paper tickets were still going to be phased out, because the go cards did not offer the same discounts. He accused Cubic of trying to force commuters to use its go cards "by stealth" by shrinking the number of outlets where paper tickets were available.

For 2003 Cubic release see --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=135.msg339#msg339

[ozbob]

Card that costs you $900 more to take the train

Click here! PDF

[crouchg]

If you buy a monthly ticket your between 8% and 33% worse off no matter what zone you are in.

Its shocking behavior from the minister.

[Derwan]

It will be interesting when TransLink introduces a second frequent user scheme.  No doubt we will be calling it FU2.

[ozbob]

Brisbane mX this afternoon (19th Feb) reports ongoing issues with the GPS on buses and people unable to tag on at Queen St bus station.  Drivers are able to manually turn on the devices, seems more training still to be done.  Still some kinks to be worked through ...

[ozbob]

http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=56609

[ozbob]

Media Release 24 February 2008

SEQ:  Go Card user campaign begins

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport has welcomed the Go Card roll out and education campaign for commuters.

Robert Dow said:

?The Go Card is being rolled out.  This is welcome news for commuters who will be able to use the electronic ticketing system wide.?

?We hope that the education campaign is complete in that the true cost of travel relative to the present paper integrated ticketing is made clear for all users.  Some commuters may have unexpected increases in their travel costs if they are not properly informed (1).?

?RAIL Back On Track supports the Go Card. It offers much in terms of improved efficiency for our public transport.  Our major concern has always been, and still is with the frequent user fare structure costs relative to the present integrated paper ticketing.?

?We note that in a Ministerial Statement of the 21st February that a clear indication was given as to future ticketing options (2). Mr Mickel said in the statement that the release of the go card product on Monday (25th February) was just the beginning and over time we will be able to add on additional products, offering new choices for public transport users.?

?All public transport users look forward to these additional products.  Hopefully these new products will overcome the concerns of many commuters with the present frequent user fare structure.?

?We congratulate Translink and Cubic for getting the Go Card in place.  We look forward to improved outcomes for our public transport in south-east Queensland,? said Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

References:

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

2.  http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=56609

Contact:

Robert  Dow

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

[ozbob]

Official launch of the Go Card at Central Station tomorrow (Monday Feb 25). 

Apparently between 7am and 8.30am according to a post at BusAustralia ATDB

[ozbob]

Went through Central a bit after 7am.  Some people handing out Go Card packs. 


Poster on display at Central



Photograph R Dow 25 Feb 2008

[ozbob]

I couldn't stick around due to work commitments.

More information from the launch this morning is available --> here from the ATDB!

[Peter J]

I couldn't stick around due to work commitments.

More information from the launch this morning is available --> here from the ATDB!

Thanks Ozbob. I was about to post the link to my report & pics on ATDB but since you have already done it for me.....thankyou.

[ozbob]

Thanks for the photos and report Peter 

I went to the Translink booth at the QUT market day at Gardens Point Campus during lunch break today.  Two tents with a good team in attendance including some TOs.

Got another Go card (  ) pens stickers notepads and they had heaps of timetables and that too.
Certainly doing a good job at promoting the card and public transport at this event!!  Students everywhere ... 

Three different stickers.

[Derwan]

Machine at Boondall this morning said, "Tickets only."   

Machine at Nudgee this afternoon was totally powered off.   

[ozbob]

Are you referring to the touch devices Derwan?

Was a few comments in the press today about the odd problem out and about ..



PS.  Touch devices don't say tickets only, must be the you beaut AVVMs ... LOL

[Derwan]

PS.  Touch devices don't say tickets only, must be the you beaut AVVMs ... LOL

Yeah the AVVM's.  Happened to notice nothing on the top display as we went through Nudgee so looked at the screen.  It was blank.  I guess it's possible it was in screen saver mode, but combined with the lack of top display, it looked like the machine was powered off.

[ozbob]

The older ticket machines are starting to be turned off.  Reports of Auchenflower machines off and commuters directed to the new machines.

The old machines, even though coins only were certainly very functional and reasonably impervious to vandalism.

There are some issues with the new machines from usability point of view.  I think some citizens will have some problems initially, and then have to run the 'fare evader' gauntlet at the inner city stations.
The new machine at Wulkuraka for example has been in various states inoperability due to vandalism for months.  Commuters have been caught at times with lack of proper functionality.

Some stations haven't even got new machines yet, for example Oxley, a very busy station.

[david]

I was shocked to see a bus driver refusing to let a young lady use her 10 trip saver yesterday on the 104 to PA Hospital. I have checked the Translink website and so far ten trip savers have not been withdrawn from use yet. Can anyone clarify this? I do realise that they are trying to switch over to the Go Card but surely bus drivers must know that ten trip savers should still be accepted on all bus services, shouldn't they?

[ozbob]

Ten trippers are still valid David. 

From http://www.translink.com.au/qt/TransLin.nsf/index/go_tentrip

Brisbane City Council (BCC) and Brisbane Transport Ten Trip Savers will continue to be able to be used until mid 2008.

It is very unfortunate the lady was treated in that way.

[ozbob]

Another letter to the editor Courier Mail today from a disillusioned commuter who has sent their Go card back because of the increases of travel with the Go Card relative to paper ticketing. 

You know, the Go Card could have been the good news story for public transport for many a year if the fare structure had have been right on roll-out IMHO.  A tragedy  and opportunity lost ...

[ozbob]

There was a statement by Minister Mickel on the Go Card in parliament today (Feb 27)

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/legislativeAssembly/hansard/documents/2008.pdf/2008_02_27Qtime.pdf

No mention of decent fare options to come ....

[ozbob]

From ABC News Qld click here!

Govt says go card problems to be fixed soon

Govt says go card problems to be fixed soon

The Queensland Transport Minister says cross border issues and a complex ticketing system at Surf Side Buses delayed the rollout of the new go card system in region.

John Mickel says interstate red tape needs to be removed before the new system can work effectively.

The Minister says the problems should be fixed in the coming weeks.

"Put simply the Government felt that the Gold Coast community would prefer to wait a little longer for a go card rather than get a less flexible less convenient service that stopped at the border," he said.

[ozbob]

Another letter to editor in the Courier Mail today (Feb 28) express concerns with Go card fares and loss of ten tripper tickets.

The ten trip tickets are gone (the equipment is being sold off to Sydney).  But there is a strong case for a comparable fare on the Go Card to be introduced. 

There is a e-petition on this at the Queensland Parliament click here!

[ozbob]

There was another question in Parliament about the Go card today (Feb 28). 
Link updated click here!

The response from the Minister makes me wonder if he actually understands the impacts of the fare structure at all.

Uptake is very slow in reality.

[Peter J]

There was another question in Parliament about the Go card today (Feb 28). 

I am getting an error report for the page requested.

Updated click here!

[ozbob]

The parliamentary link has been changed.

Click here!

[ozbob]

The Say No to The Go Card Committee are putting an ad in the mX.

Details --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=576.msg2279#msg2279

North Coast rail commuters are particularly impacted by the perverse fare structure.

[ozbob]

letter to the editor published Courier Mail March 3

Incentives are the go

Recent correspondents to The Courier Mail have highlighted the concerns with the inequitable fare structure on the go card.

The go card itself is great, I have been using it now for a number of weeks. 

The problem is the fare structure which, for many commuters means go card-enabled travel is a lot dearer than the present integrated paper ticketing.

Translink and the Queensland Government are just not listening and ignoring the feedback from many citizens on this point.  It is a great shame that they are doing this.

The go card could be the best thing for public transport since the introduction of the integrated paper ticketing a few years ago, and if uptake of the go card is high, significant improvements in terms of efficiency (faster loading) and actual savings due to reduced cash handling and ticketing sales would be possible. 

Commuters need a real incentive to use the go card, other than spin.  At the moment, public transport users on the Translink network fall into two broad groups, those who can afford to use the go card and those who cannot afford it. Is this equitable?

[ozbob]

Another letter in the mX yesterday (3 Mar 2008) from a Go Card user that has gone back to weekly because too dear for that correspondent to continue to use the Go Card.

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor Courier Mail today (5 Mar 2008) from a bus Go Card user.  Still lots of problems with system at a number of bus stops.

The constant touch off penalties must be a huge problem for Translink and commuters.

On rail seems fine.

[ozbob]

An advertisement appeared in tonight's mX (Mar 5) page 9 highlighting the cost impacts of the frequent user scheme on the Go Card relative to weekly and monthly tickets.

This is a measure of the community discontent with the fare structure.

The fact that a group of private citizens, those citizens particularly adversely affected (North coast commuters)  have taken this step at some expense to them, is a sad reflection on the apparent failure of Government to heed the concerns that have been expressed by the community through normal feedback and communication channels.

Well done to the Say No to The Go Card (Until the Fares are Fair) Committee!