Translink drops the ball again

[mufreight]

Monday 19th saw the new platform at Oxley brought into service, a marathon effort br Trackstar and QR yes there is still work to be done to complete the platform but it has been a good job well done under difficult circumstances and all involved should be commended for their efforts.
There has been however one glaring failure, predictiably that of Translink, on the opening morning the go card readers were not operable, the ticket machine unusable, later in the day the card readers were made functional but the second day of operation starts with the ticket machine still unable to issue tickets or receipts.
One would have thought that if Translink was on the ball that they would have had staff present for the first morning and that more to the point ensured that their equipment for the much critised Go card was functional but as was predicted by many Translink simply does not care, in the light of their performance in this case one must question their ability to manage anything other than to provide misinformation and spin.
Score for effort at Oxley, Trachstar 10+. QR 10, Translink -2.

[ozbob]

The good news is that the go card touch device and AVVM now appear to be both operational on platform 3.

There is provision for a further two go card touch devices to be added to platform 3.  One opposite the present one, near the main entrance to platform and another at the eastern end of the platform.

Another device is needed on platforms 1/2 at the main stairs, opposite to the present one.  There is surge when the trains arrive from the City and further down the line so two readers are needed, one each side of the stairs.  Touching on at platform 3 is more spread out in time.

The one at the eastern end of platforms 1/2 will be replaced when foot bridge complete and opened.

[ozbob]

The AVVM on platform 3 was operating on full service this morning (21st Jan).

[Mozz]

Reports from passengers to trackstar staff that coins not working in new machine. Didn't have time to verify at 7.55am

[ozbob]

Might have failed after I looked at it (early) .....

[Derwan]

I'm with mufreight on this one.  It should have been operational when the platform opened.  The AVVM was in place on Tuesday January 13.  They had 6 days to connect it up and get it operational.

It's meant to be this state-of-the-art system - and yet they can't even schedule the commissioning of new devices before platforms open.

[ozbob]

A further update from a passenger at Oxley, the AVVM is not functioning again ...

[mufreight]

ticket machine was supposedly fixed for the fourth time since its instalation with the Translink circus pronouncing it fit for use, 20 minutes later it went toes up again and the QR station staff and the staff from Trackstar there to direct passengers to the new platform were despite their best efforts getting a lot of flack and in some cases abuse from disgruntled passengers as a consequence of Translinks failings, most notable no Translink presence there apparently Translink is quite happy for QR and Trackstar staff to carry the can for Translink failings yet again.

[ozbob]

Checked the AVVM on platform 3 this morning, seems to be working!   



Photograph R Dow 22nd January 2009