Article: Buses go cashless in bid to cut waiting times

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Buses go cashless in bid to cut waiting times

Buses go cashless in bid to cut waiting times
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Ursula Heger

September 30, 2009 12:00am

HUNDREDS of Brisbane buses will go cash-free from November, forcing commuters to use Go Cards or pre-bought tickets.

In a move TransLink said would cut passenger waiting times, cashless buses will be launched on 36 key routes across the city from November 16.

Commuters will need a Go Card or paper ticket to board the buses, while those paying with cash will have to wait for an alternative service where tickets can be bought from the driver.

A TransLink spokesman said about four minutes would be cut from the average bus trip in peak hour.

"On average, it takes 11 seconds for a passenger to board and buy a ticket from the driver during peak periods. Passengers with prepaid tickets board within six seconds," the spokesman said.

Pre-paid buses could be rolled out across the southeast if the new Brisbane services proved successful in cutting waiting times and improving reliability.

The prepaid routes, which will feature a 'P' next to the route number on the front of the bus, will have alternate services running before and after for those with cash.

A similar cashless system has been established on Sydney CBD buses, significantly reducing waiting times.

But some local ticket vendors were found exploiting the prepaid services, charging their own fee on the bus ticket when commuters paid by eftpos for tickets.

In total, 41 routes across Brisbane will be cash-free from November, after successful trials on five routes from Sunnybank Hills, Loganholme, Springwood, Runcorn and Aspley.

TransLink said there would be a two-week amnesty, allowing passengers to purchase tickets on board the cashless routes, before the services were made completely cash-free on November 27.

"The amnesty ensures passengers have enough opportunity to buy a Go Card or valid ticket and find an alternative service or ticket retailer," the spokesman said.

After November, cashless services will still make up only 6 per cent of Brisbane's 45,000 weekday buses services.

The new routes, mostly high-frequency "rocket" services, will run across the city, including Mt Gravatt, Browns Plains, Holland Park, Carindale, Wynnum, Paddington, The Gap, Forest Lake, Chapel Hill, and Riverhills.

Commuters at Chermside, where one pre-paid service will run, had a mixed response to the rollout yesterday.

"Sometimes you are in a hurry and you do not have time to buy a ticket, and some of those machines don't work," single-pensioner Dorothy Kennedy said. "To be told to get off the bus and wait for the next one ? I have never heard of something so silly."

But other commuters were happy the pre-paid services would reduce time spent queuing to get on buses.

Commuter advocacy group Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said the move would improve running time on the services.

"Pre-paid bus routes are a good thing ? the only caveat is people must be able to access tickets," he said.

[ozbob]

These will be additional to the well established practice of pre-paid platforms at peak.  It is essential though that tickets be accessible for all.  This means a wider distribution of go card outlets and top-ups, and more ticket machines out on the bus network.  There is a committment to start rolling out ticket machines in the major bus stations/change points from early 2010.

http://www.translink.com.au/prepaid.php

Some of TransLink's busway stations operate pre-paid platforms during peak times. At these stations, tickets cannot be purchased on board buses during peak.

You must have a valid ticket or go card to enter a pre-paid platform. Tickets are available from ticket sellers located at entrances to the platform.

Pre-paid busway stations include:
Station    Pre-paid times
Roma Street (Platforms 1 & 2)    3pm to 7pm
King George Square (Platforms 1 & 2)    3pm to 7pm
Cultural Centre (Platform 2)    3.30pm to 7pm
South Bank (Platform 2)    3pm to 6.30pm
Mater Hill (Platform 2)    2.30pm to 6pm

Please note: Passengers with go cards are still required to touch on and off using the go card readers at the front and rear doors of each bus.

[Derwan]

My Comment:

Great idea but once again, where is the planning?  There are 2 things that need to be done BEFORE introducing cashless buses.

First, ticket machines (AVVM's) need to be installed at all bus stops (at least the major ones) on the cashless routes.  Second, the fare structure needs to be modified to provide a monetary incentive to use Go Cards.

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/prepaid.php

Pre-paid routes starting Monday 16 November 2009

From Monday 16 November 2009, TransLink will introduce additional pre-paid services across selected bus routes around Brisbane to get you to your destination sooner.

    * What routes will be pre-paid?
    * What if I don't have a pre-paid ticket or go card?
    * Where can I get a pre-paid ticket or go card?

What routes will be pre-paid?

Pre-paid services will be identified by the letter P next to the route number on the destination board or on signage in the bottom corner of the front window.

Brisbane south
Route    Description    Alternate bus route
119    Garden City to Brisbane City via Tarragindi    120
129    Algester to Brisbane City    130
133    Sunnybank to Brisbane City    130
137*    Sunnybank Hills to Brisbane City    130
141    Browns Plains to Brisbane City    140
142    Browns Plains to Brisbane City    140
151    Calamvale to Brisbane City    150
157*    Runcorn to Brisbane City    150
173    Mt Gravatt Central to Brisbane City    172, 170
176    Garden City to Brisbane City via Logan Road    170, 171, 175
179    Garden City to Brisbane City via Mansfield    180
189    Holland Park to Brisbane City    180
569*    Loganholme to Brisbane City    571
581*    Springwood to Brisbane City    551, 561

* existing pre-paid route.

Brisbane east
Route    Description    Alternate bus route
201    Carindale Heights to Brisbane City    200
206    Carindale to Brisbane City    202, 200
207    Carina to Brisbane City    200
208    Carindale to Brisbane City    202, 200
211    Cannon Hill to Brisbane City    210
216    Tingalpa to Brisbane City    215
221    Wynnum to Brisbane City    220, 227
222    Carindale to Roma Street station    200
231    Balmoral to Brisbane City via Riding Road    230
236    Balmoral to Brisbane City via Thynne Road    235

Brisbane north
Route    Description    Alternate bus route
331    Bracken Ridge to Brisbane City    330
332    Chermside to Brisbane City via Spring Hill    333
339    Taigum to Brisbane City via Kirby Road    340, 325, 335
341    Carseldine to Brisbane City    335, 340
343*    Aspley to Brisbane City    345
344    Carseldine to Brisbane City    345
356    McDowell to Brisbane City    353

* existing pre-paid route.

Brisbane west
Route    Description    Alternate bus route
374    Paddington to Brisbane City    375
384    The Gap to Brisbane City    385
426    Chapel Hill to Brisbane City    425
443    Moggill to Brisbane City    444
455    Riverhills to Brisbane City    453, 454
456    Mt Ommaney to Brisbane City    453, 454
457    Riverhills/Mt Ommaney to Brisbane City    453, 454
458    Mt Ommaney to Brisbane City    453, 454
459    Riverhills to Brisbane City    453, 454
461    Forest Lake to Brisbane City    460

Bus routes changing to pre-paid are commuter services operating in peak times only. Therefore there is at least one alternative bus option for passengers who do not have a go card or other valid ticket.
What if I don't have a go card or other valid ticket?

Passengers without go cards or other valid tickets may continue to buy tickets onboard other bus routes.

To help commuters during the change over period, there will be an amnesty in place up to and including Friday 27 November 2009.
Where can I get a pre-paid ticket or go card?

Passengers may wish to purchase a go card for convenience.

You can buy and top up a go card online, at go card retailers including most 7-Eleven stores, at selected QR stations or by calling TransLink on 13 12 30. You can also top up your go card using the fare machine at most train stations.

You can buy a paper ticket at most train stations, selected busway stations and from selected agents.
Pre-paid platforms

Some of TransLink's busway stations operate pre-paid platforms during peak times. Tickets are available from ticket sellers located at entrances to the platform. Pre-paid busway stations include:
Station    Pre-paid times
Roma Street (Platforms 1 & 2)    3pm to 7pm
King George Square (Platforms 1 & 2)    3pm to 7pm
Cultural Centre (Platform 2)    3.30pm to 7pm
South Bank (Platform 2)    3pm to 6.30pm
Mater Hill (Platform 2)    2.30pm to 6pm

Please note: Passengers with go cards are still required to touch on and off using the go card readers at the front and rear doors of each bus.

[#Metro]

Cash phaseout... this is good.
It will also be safer for drivers because in the future, they won't have to haul around lots of $$$, and people with $50, $20 (or even the prankster with a $100 legal tender coin) won't be a problem.

Once ticket machines/Go Card vending machines are at all busway stations (and working), all busway stations should automatically become pre-paid platforms. Non-prepaid routes would sell tickets in the suburbs, but once on the busway, it would be prepaid all the way.

You could even put GoCards in the pre-existing cookie/junk food machines already at busway stations.

I was thinking this morning that if this works, the idea that goCard could be used in Taxis should be floated (for late nights, when you miss the bus etc). It would be the next best thing since cash.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Cash free zones: buses to go card-only

Cash free zones: buses to go card-only
MARISSA CALLIGEROS
September 30, 2009 - 8:32AM

A move to cashless buses in Brisbane should be met with a range of incentives for commuters to tackle congestion, including cheaper early-bird and off-peak fares, according to a commuter advocacy group.

Commuters on Brisbane peak-hour bus services will be forced to use Go Cards or pre-paid tickets as high-frequency "rocket" services become cash free from November 16 in a bid to curb waiting times and improve service efficiency.

Public transport lobby group Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said the cashless bus system, to be introduced across 36 keys routes, was "sensible" but should be bolstered by competitive fare structures for Go Card holders.

"This is a good move by TransLink, but there's more that can be done with the Go Card," Mr Dow said

"The Go Card can be used as a congestion management tool by having discounts for early, late and off-peak travel on the Go Card, which doesn't exist at the moment."

He cited the success of free early-bird train travel in Melbourne, introduced to encourage rail commuters there to start work before 7am.

"It is pretty seamless to introduce those sort of things on the Go Card. They've got to be innovative with fares and encourage uptake of the Go Card for the cashless buses to be successful."

Only 35 per cent of all public transport journeys in Brisbane were made with a Go Card, although most card holders travelled on peak-hour, high-frequency bus services, Mr Dow said.

"It's the local commuter in the suburbs that are paying cash," he said.

There will be alternate cash-friendly services running before and after cashless bus services, although pre-paid buses could be rolled out across South-East Queensland if it can successfully cuts boarding time from an average of at least 11 seconds to six seconds.

"We have found that Go Card holders want to swipe on, sit down and get going. They don't want to be waiting around for people fumbling for change, especially on peak-hour services," a TransLink spokesman said.

The pre-paid system will be trialled on routes from Sunnybank Hills, Loganholme, Springwood, Runcorn and Aspley before it is introduced on peak-hours services across the network.

TransLink said there would be a two-week amnesty for passengers on pre-paid services from November 16 travelling from Mount Gravatt, Browns Plains, Holland Park, Carindale, Wynnum, Paddington, The Gap, Forest Lake, Chapel Hill, and Riverhills, allowing passengers to purchase tickets on board.

Drivers will stop accepting cash from November 27, although TransLlink is yet to confirm exactly which routes will be effected.

[Jon Bryant]

Great to see this being put in place.  I also think al major roads should have a Bus Lane both ways 24 x 7 to allow the buses to avoid congestions (other than their own).

Also agree that the options for topping up a Go card needs to be broadened, innovated pricing and new technologies to allow people to use mobile phones, vredit cards, etc as a Go Card.  It all exists and being used in major cities across the world.

[ozbob]

Just completed a short interview with 612 ABC Brisbane Richard Fidler Host, congratulated TransLink and the operators on this further ramp up but mentioned the need for more go card agents and ticket machines in bus stations and some other major bus change points eg. UQ Lakes.  Also spoke briefly about further incentives for go card uptake, and how that once usage is high all bus runs are virtually pre-paid by default.   

Good to see some progress!

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 30th September 2009 page 2

Pre-paid all aboard

[beauyboy]

While I welcome this I feel it is also a possible cost cutting measure. The fact that we are yet to see ticket machines placed at one single bus station, it all sounds iffy to me. I believe the Ticket machines should of been installed at Busway stations and major interchanges before they rolled out Pre-paid routes.
I would be very surprised if the time line fore the installation of the ticket machines did not get pushed back even further.

I also want to know what upgrades are going to occur with this Pre-paid change over?

Donald

[david]

The CityCat situation also still puzzles me. There is ample room at each terminal to fit a ticket machine and several Go Card machines/fare gates, similar to train stations. Why do we still have people buying tickets on CityCats? They should be permanently prepaid. Might even decrease boarding times (although unlikely).

[#Metro]

I welcome this measure. Having two duplicate ticketing systems with effectively different pricing schemes to do exactly the same job is completely bizzare. 

Yeah. Pre-pay the Citycat too. I reckon some people don't pay, and just sit down.
I have also NEVER EVER seen a transit officer check tickets on any citycat or ferry.
Once or twice I have seen them at a ferry stop exit, and that is about it.

Pardon me, but I think the loo should be GoCard activated too (free to use though) to stop vandalism and actually get some nice facilities that look like quality, not something out of a jail cell. 

[STB]

Yeah. Pre-pay the Citycat too. I reckon some people don't pay, and just sit down.
I have also NEVER EVER seen a transit officer check tickets on any citycat or ferry.
Once or twice I have seen them at a ferry stop exit, and that is about it.

I have, several times.

[ButFli]

My Comment:

Great idea but once again, where is the planning?  There are 2 things that need to be done BEFORE introducing cashless buses.

First, ticket machines (AVVM's) need to be installed at all bus stops (at least the major ones) on the cashless routes.  Second, the fare structure needs to be modified to provide a monetary incentive to use Go Cards.

It was my understanding that pre-pay platforms were manned by ticket sellers. They aren't AVVM's to be sure, but they can at least sell a ticket.

[ozbob]

Media Release 1st October 2009

SEQ:  Pre-paid bus ramp up welcome

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has welcomed the increase in pre-paid bus routes from the 16th of November (1). There is a need though to improve ticketing options to further consolidate improvements in public transport efficiency and now is the time for a revised and improved fare structure for the go card.

Robert Dow, spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Increases in the number of pre-paid bus routes is a good move.  To further drive positive change there is a need to ensure that ticket machines are placed sooner than later in the bus stations and major bus change points.  The number of go card agents also needs to be increased to provide public transport commuters with more local options for go card purchase and top-up."

"If go card uptake can be increased to over 90% of all public transport journeys the bus network will become almost exclusively pre-paid by default and this will lead to much better bus run times over the whole network around the clock."

"It is clear from public feedback, our observations and actual go card experience that the major stumbling block for uptake with the go card is the fare structure. It is time that our investment in the go card system is turned into continuing improved public transport efficiencies. To drive go card uptake a fare structure for the go card that matches and betters the present paper tickets in innovative ways is needed.  Early, late, and off peak discounts with capping to match daily, weekly and monthly tickets is needed to drive uptake and continued use of the go card. Such a fare structure will also assist in congestion management."

"A high uptake of the go card will reduce overall ticketing costs and provide more funding for urgently needed services.  Accurate real time loading data will be available which will also allow TransLink and the operators to fine tune timetables to match services with the actual demands.  Reduced loading times for bus particularly will assist greatly in speeding up overall route journey times."

"Let's go!"

Reference:

1.  http://www.translink.com.au/prepaid.php

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

A TransLink spokesperson commented on 612 ABC Radio Brisbane yesterday that ticket machines are to be placed in bus stations.  This is a good move and folks will be available to purchase tickets and or top up go cards whilst waiting for buses around the clock.  The ticket sellers during peak pm on the platforms are very necessary too.  Be interesting to see if they are retained in the longer term, particularly once the ticket machines are well established.

Many comments on the Courier Mail blog yesterday also highlighted the need for ticket machines and more top up facilities for the go card.

[somebody]

It was my understanding that pre-pay platforms were manned by ticket sellers. They aren't AVVM's to be sure, but they can at least sell a ticket.

Are the ticket sellers able to handle a go card top up?

Ticket machines in bus stations seems to be a long time in coming.

[#Metro]

What is the deal with GoCard only being available at certain outlets?
Why can't they be bought at Woolies or Coles where ~90% of people go shopping, and which are located at every major shopping centre where, incidentally, most buses pass or leave from?

[WTN]

Are the ticket sellers able to handle a go card top up?

Ticket machines in bus stations seems to be a long time in coming.

What is the deal with GoCard only being available at certain outlets?
Why can't they be bought at Woolies or Coles where ~90% of people go shopping, and which are located at every major shopping centre where, incidentally, most buses pass or leave from?

Excellent points.  That would greatly help make go cards and paper tickets more accessible.  The irony is that both Coles and Woolworths both promote petrol discounts.

Having the CityCats (and ferries) prepaid is a great idea.  Makes it easier for tickets to be checked on boarding, rather than have people file past the ticket counter (or just sit down unchecked).  Again, there's the need for tickets to be more accessible, particularly with some of the long queues.

[somebody]

Re: Prepaid ferries,

Last time I got on a ferry, the fares were paid while the ferry was underway IIRC.  This is not possible for a bus because the driver can't (easily) drive and take fare payments.

[#Metro]

Excellent points.  That would greatly help make go cards and paper tickets more accessible.  The irony is that both Coles and Woolworths both promote petrol discounts.

Sacrilege!

Beat them at their own game. Spend $X at the supermarket and get $1 extra (or whatever they work out for the gimmick) on your GoCard.

[O_128]

Excellent points.  That would greatly help make go cards and paper tickets more accessible.  The irony is that both Coles and Woolworths both promote petrol discounts.

Sacrilege!

Beat them at their own game. Spend $X at the supermarket and get $1 extra (or whatever they work out for the gimmick) on your GoCard.

why not say a 25% discount per zone traveled.

[somebody]

why not say a 25% discount per zone traveled.

In addition to the 20% discount for using a go card or instead of it?

A couple of strange omissions from the list of western buses which are going pre-paid: 446, 431, 382, 383.  I believe making these four pre-paid would mean every rocket/city precincts bus in the west would be pre paid, unless I'm forgetting one.

[O_128]

why not say a 25% discount per zone traveled.

In addition to the 20% discount for using a go card or instead of it?

A couple of strange omissions from the list of western buses which are going pre-paid: 446, 431, 382, 383.  I believe making these four pre-paid would mean every rocket/city precincts bus in the west would be pre paid, unless I'm forgetting one.

in addition. for example it would be like buying phone credit. for 20$ you pay $15

[ButFli]

It was my understanding that pre-pay platforms were manned by ticket sellers. They aren't AVVM's to be sure, but they can at least sell a ticket.

Are the ticket sellers able to handle a go card top up?

No. But Go Card top up at bus stations is a completely separate issue to prepaid ticketing. Passengers can't top up Go Cards on buses anyway so making buses cashless will have no effect in this regard.

[#Metro]

You can top up your go card on a bus. Just not a BCC bus.
I think this is to keep the network running.

Something interesting from Cubic's website.
You can get a GoCard vending machine.
And also, I think you can have the goCard top itself up when you pass through a fare gate, and it senses that it is low.

[ozbob]

Another example of how wrong the roll out of the go card is, is the fact we are STILL waiting for the auto-top up function to be enabled.

Auto top up will only work if you set it up with a registered card online by the look of things, but it will help many to avoid the need to top up either online or via go card agent or AVVM or a non BT bus ...

Have received some assurances that it won't be too far away .....  but then again so is the railway to Kippa-Ring  

Footnote:  I have just sent a tweet to TL asking when the auto topup will be implemented.

[dwb]

What about small top up machines on board buses and trains!

[longboi]

Cubic is the problem - They have complete control over the system and any change is done by them, on their terms and at their price.

QG should have just bought their own system and given TransLink full control.

[somebody]

Cubic is the problem - They have complete control over the system and any change is done by them, on their terms and at their price.

QG should have just bought their own system and given TransLink full control.

Was probably significantly cheaper than developing the system from scratch.  I'd expect that it was a choice between such a deal or no such system.

[#Metro]

We'll they'd better know for next time!

[ozbob]

What about small top up machines on board buses and trains!

I had a look at Cubic Dwb --> http://cubic.com/cts/datasheets.htm

They don't seem to have small top up machines, although I am sure something could be developed.  Comms could piggyback on the real time video set up thing, which allegedly will have internet as well.  Be cool topping up your card as you travel.  One can do this now with a mobile internet device  but most punters don't have that.

[STB]

I have heard that they, TransLink, were investigating smaller machines for top up only, however I don't know what happened about that.

[ozbob]

TransLink have ignored my first tweet.

Just sent another following up the first ...

@TransLinkSEQ first asked this 5 days ago .. repeat request, when will auto-topup on go cards be available please?

[ozbob]

Received a tweet in  response from TransLink, thanks.

An auto top-up option is currently being looked into. At this stage it is too early to give specific timeframes.

[#Metro]

  Oh. All this really should have been done and sorted before the introduction of the GoCard. On one hand it makes sense to make adjustments as you go. On the other, it seems to be like they are making up the rules as they go.

Is there a reason why autotop up was not considered at the start of the GoCard rollout?
Or getting the fare structure settled?
Or ticket machines at busway stations?
Or phasing out dual paper ticketing

They are doing an improving job, but its put the public through what could be seen as unnecessary pain.

[STB]

I'd say it was considered when it was planned, but they took a more tentative approach for it, for several reasons.  One of them would've been the sheer geographical coverage that the system was going to cover, it would've been a level of unknown on how well the system would work on that scale.  I know there is the same/similar system in other cites, but in terms of geographical coverage, SE Qld has one of the largest, if not the largest smartcard system in the world, covering thousands of Sq KMs. 

Don't forget that the fare structure among other things were thought out a long time before the actual implementation, between QR, BCC and the Department of Transport...take note that I didn't exactly say TransLink, as that was simply a detailed idea way back when, and not an actuality, like today. 

They did take it over when they first started up, but being a new organisation, needed time to find it's feet and become aware of how this would work in an integrated transport network.  Among many other things, including, I would say, internal issues, that happens in any new place.

It's a slow process, but personally, I'd rather them take their time and implement a properly working, or near properly working system, than one that causes massive problems.

[ozbob]

From The Satellite 7th October 2009 page 1

Cashless buses arriving

[ozbob]

From the Northside Chronicle 7th October 2009 page 5

Seniors' no cash bus woe

[ozbob]

From the Northside Chronicle 14th October 2009 page 3

Cashless Confusion