A few observations over a couple of days of Public Transport Travel

[Mozz]

I have been attending the Qld Law Society Symposium at the BCEC for the last couple of days, so I parked the bike at home and went back to public transport for a couple of days.

Friday 26th walked up the road to Oxley station and onto platform 3, went to use the eastern end go card reader, but it was unusable due to the screen being unreadable due to moisture. Went to the next one and bingo it worked. So there I waited for the 7.43am which runs express corinda to roma street stopping at toowong and indooroopilly. It's a very popular train as Ozbob can attest. 7.43am came and went, announcements coming over from station staff telling everyone the train was late - it arrived around 7.49am by this time there were seriously 200 - 300 people on the Oxley station platform 3 - so many people they were lined up backed onto the footpath. Train was very full at Oxley a 4.5 on the scale. Due to the very express pattern the train was only a couple of minutes late into Roma street nothing further to report, apart from a very pleasant 30 minute walk across the Kurilpa bridge, through southbank to the BCEC.

Upon leaving the conference event after the evening event I caught the ferry back to the Regatta terminal and then walked up to the Toowong station. The 8.14pm from Toowong was around 9 minutes late but only around 7 minutes late getting into Oxley. No go card issues.

Today, Saturday I caught the 8.10am from Oxley to Roma Street for another pleasant walk across the Kurilpa Bridge and then southbank to the BCEC. Train was only 3 minute late getting into Oxley and on time at Roma street. The go card gate I tried to use this morning didn't work so had to try another one. At Roma street you really have to have your wits about you when touching off, look, listen and check before going through the open gates otherwise a $5 sting will be there for you.

This afternoon caught the ferry again from southbank (hundreds of people using the ferries today lots and lots of people around 100 people getting off at southbank and around the same getting back on), touched on and wham $64 dollar deduction message on the reader (WOW)  Talked to the ferry staff who told me that lots of people were complaining about the readers giving error messages today but he couldn't help as he didn't know anything about the devices. Interesting ferry ride with me wondering what would happen when I touched off, would I have credit left on my card? When I touched off at the Regatta terminal it showed a $2.43 fare which was correct Train from Toowong was on time.

The reason for this story is that it highlights issues with go card equipment and probably software programming. If it happens to me then it happens to others and this is not good enough 

Secondly it comments on the ontime running of trains and the need to put more services on the Ipswich line morning peak. My Friday train the 7.43am is preceded by the 7.29am but when 6 minutes late this is a 20 minute period with no trains from a major and significant station on a very very busy train line.

Overcrowded and late trains + inconsistent go card equipment and outcomes does not make a conducive environment for attracting additional commuters indeed antecdotal evidence suggests that 40 - 45% fare increases, overcrowded and late trains and inconsistent gocard equipment are three significant factors in pushing some commuters back into their cars.

[ozbob]

Thanks for these observations Mozz.  

The $64 bug reappears.  It has been reported on ferry and even on bus before, so it is still lurking out there  

Yes, you do have to be alert.  Mrs Ozbob rang me the other day in a state of go confusion.  I suggested that the AVVM could be used to determine touch status, which was done.  A touch on, a cancel and a touch on.  The problem is of course it would be particularly inequitable if a punter received a fare evasion infringement for what is essentially 'go confusion' if they were off when they thought they were on.

There was a report of a go card user touching on and off and on and off and on and off (repeat until bored) at Central the other day.  Might have been testing? LOL  Oh dear ...

[Mozz]

I must stop catching the 7.43 from Oxley - today 15 mins late (probably due to bus v bridge but translink told me at 7.17am that all services were returned to normal?)

The train made it to Chelmer where it broke down. So everyone off (it was around a solid 4 in terms of passenger loading) and up the bridge to platform 2 where the next train arrived some 4 minutes later. Got on it and it was a solid 5. This train made it to Milton where it then took 10 mins to go from Milton to Roma street due to track congestion. Arrived at Roma street at 7.27am.