New ticket vending machine (AVVM) details

[bnetrans]

Previously there was the Ticket Vending Machine (TVM), introduced around 1995, familiar to Citytrain commuters.  The TVM accepted coins only, had a simple display showing the ticket you've selected, then you just enter the coins, confirming your selection.  The user interface was quick and easy to use - you could even comfortably purchase your ticket as the train was arriving at the platform.

With the advent of Translink and GO Card, these have been replaced by the Add Value Vending Machine (AVVM), also referred to as TransLink fare machines.  It uses a touch-screen user interface which can be slow to navigate.

The AVVM has hardware to accept coins, notes and EFTPOS cards.

From what I understand, the AVVM has two broad functions:

(1) GO Card balance / history / top-up


(2) Selling paper tickets


The first function (using the GO Card) is described well in the various GO Card literature, however I haven't been able to find any detailed information regarding the second function (selling paper tickets), apart from these two pages:

http://www.translink.com.au/qt/transLin.nsf/Index/ti_wheretobuy

http://www.translink.com.au/qt/translin.nsf/index/ti_tickets_anotherway


The following is my understanding.  Please confirm or correct.


Paper tickets can only be paid for by cash (not EFTPOS).

Single, Daily and Off-Peak Daily tickets can only be purchased for travel on the day of purchase (cannot purchase for travel on a future date).

Single (and probably also Daily and Off-Peak Daily) tickets can only be purchased for travel originating from the station (or zone) where the AVVM is located.

For example, suppose you have a weekly ticket for zones 1,2,3 and you want to travel to the airport from Coopers Plains (zone 3/4).  Can the AVVM at Coopers Plains sell you a single ticket for Eagle Junction->Domestic Airport?  Could the ticket window sell you such a ticket (if the station was attended)?

Admin: removed dead space

[ozbob]

Howdy,

Yes, I have often purchased extension tickets from a railway station ticket office when I had a weekly, say for zones 1 to 3 for travel on a journey to zone 5.  The reference to this on the web is now dead. I suppose they are trying to de-emphasise this option.  The exception is that you cannot buy an Airtrain ticket from a local station for just the CBD to Airport leg despite the fact you may have a weekly or other valid ticket. Part of the rip-off that we are all well aware of.

AVVMs do not allow for extension ticketing (either did TVMs). 

For rail travel to the airport, you a best off buying a ticket or using the go card to the CBD, then touch off, touch on or buy another ticket for the CBD leg to the Airport.  It is rather sad that the Government and TransLink allow this farce and misrepresentation to continue.  It is something we will be highlighting big time during the election campaign, the failure of the TransLink and the Government to stop rail commuters being screwed.

Cheers
Bob

[verbatim9]

Noticed while in Portland while buying a ticket they have installed next gen NFC EFT payment facilities (Paypass) to speed up the process of toping up or purchasing a ticket.