Go card on ferry and CityCats - reports please ..

[ozbob]

Howdy,

I don't get on the ferries or the CityCats a great deal.  I have heard that on some ferries the go card equipment hasn't been operating properly for months.

That doesn't surprise me as the equipment is not designed for a marine environment.

Any reports please?   Please post here or if you are reading this and not a member please use our form here --> http://backontrack.org/contact/

Thanks.

Regards
Bob

[Mozz]

I catch the citycats once or twice a week and the gocard readers I use have always worked - although often there are readers, generally out in the open which have been hooded (they might be not functioning).

[Jon Bryant]

They also cover them up so people go further into the boat to scan card rather than block up gang plank.

[ButFli]

I too can report that on my once or twice weekly CityCat trips I have never had a Go Card problem.

[ozbob]

Thanks for the reports so far!   

Similar to comments from numerous work colleagues.  CityCat go seems to going ok, except for some comments re hooded readers - not working due to water damage some have suggested as well.

Really keen to learn about the ferries as some reports of possible issues.

Cheers
Bob

[KS]

I got a free trip once on a city ferry (bulimba to teneriffe) and I touched on and it went across the river and I touched off, when I checked my statement it turned out the ferry didn't know it crossed the river and thought it was in bulimba so it did a cancelled touch on lol.

but otherwise the system works great, especially on city cats, I have not had a single issue

[beauyboy]

There is a Major problem with Go Cards and Ferries, the fact that the readers are on the ferries and not the terminals like the Trains.

Using the State Governments own words a Go Card take a person 3 seconds to board.
If a Citycat is beginning from Riverside and is taking a full load like they often do during peak that is around 160 people.
That is a massive 8 minutes to load every one on the service.

This is not going to speed everything up.
In my mind Go Cards and the ferries will have to be rethought

Donald

[haakon]

In my mind Go Cards and the ferries will have to be rethought

Donald

Have you used the Go Cards on the Ferries at all? I think the current system is fine. Aside from the tag reader at each entry point there is also one in the middle of the boat so you don't have to tag on until the ferry is underway if there are a lot of people loading. It is also the reason why paper tickets don't hold up the ferries either as you don't have to purchase one on the gang plank....

[beauyboy]

I understand that but the installation of go card is also designed to reduce fare evation which, at times be quite High on the Citycats. Just because there is another scan point, who is to say someone will use it!

Donald

[Derwan]

I agree that fixed scanners at ferry stops would be ideal.  There may have been issues with communication equipment preventing this from occurring.  (I.e. a line would have to run to each stop.)

[ButFli]

No offence dudes, but if GC readers are placed on the ferry wharfs, who is to know if a passenger actually touches on or not?

Supposedly (and I admit it never happens) ferry staff are supposed to observe which passengers touch on and which passengers are supposed to buy a ticket.

[WTN]

Supposedly (and I admit it never happens) ferry staff are supposed to observe which passengers touch on and which passengers are supposed to buy a ticket.

The last time I travelled on one they asked all passengers to file past the ticket counter to show tickets.  I wasn't allowed to simply sit down on the deck with a valid paper ticket.  Not sure if it was a new policy, but it was certainly different from the usual.