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Go Card Feedback - tell us of your Go Card experiences!!

Started by ozbob, January 28, 2008, 05:02:32 AM

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ozbob

Thanks for that feedback somebody, it confirms another report that the weekly journey counter is now not reset if a fixed fare is received for what ever reason.

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verbatim9

Quote from: ozbob on February 22, 2010, 12:09:02 PM
Thanks for that feedback somebody, it confirms another report that the weekly journey counter is now not reset if a fixed fare is received for what ever reason.


Yeah I realised that when I got fined with the go card when not touching off etc... due to tech glitches. Had to do extra trips for the week instead of the ten specified in the fare rules to obtain the frequent user gift of 50 percent off extra trips.

WTN

My bus trip home today was a shocker.  It was a squashy sardine can as it left Adelaide St and after we left Woolloongabba.  Caused noticeable delays whenever someone needed to squeeze down the aisle to get out.  Then the go card readers played up when we reached Stones Corner - no one could touch off at one stop.  At the next stop, one person got the fixed fare.  I used the same reader but got off at another stop and got the fixed fare.  What the???  I remembered I touched on!

If I get another fixed fare tomorrow morning I'll be on the phone to Translink.  And I'll keep an eye out for when the frequent user kicks in.
Unless otherwise stated, all views and comments are the author's own and not of any organisation or government body.

Free trips in 2011 due to go card failures: 10
Free trips in 2012 due to go card failures: 13

STB

WTN - Probably caused by a faulty/non-operating GPS, which can cause the system to stay fixed on whatever bus stop it's on, and if you touch on then touch off after 20mins when the GPS fails, then you are incurred a penalty fare.  It is recoverable though, so far, TL has had no problems refunding me when this has happened.

O_128

Well trans link must read this site because today a second reader was being installed at the northern stairs at manly. Isnt covered but station staff said they are investigation a cover for the whole stairs anyway
"Where else but Queensland?"

WTN

Quote from: O_128 on February 24, 2010, 17:49:06 PM
Well trans link must read this site because today a second reader was being installed at the northern stairs at manly. Isnt covered but station staff said they are investigation a cover for the whole stairs anyway

Will be interesting to see which is the next station to get more readers.  

I didn't get any more penalty fares since that last one, so I'm fine with that.  I had a look at my history and indeed, it showed I touched on and off at Buranda Busway.  My bus doesn't stop there at all!

The buses are definitely more crowded lately though.
Unless otherwise stated, all views and comments are the author's own and not of any organisation or government body.

Free trips in 2011 due to go card failures: 10
Free trips in 2012 due to go card failures: 13

WTN

Pinged with penalty fare again!  And not the only one.  That's twice within 7 days!   :pr
Unless otherwise stated, all views and comments are the author's own and not of any organisation or government body.

Free trips in 2011 due to go card failures: 10
Free trips in 2012 due to go card failures: 13

Sir Loin

Any other train commuters get a wet backside this week by having to line up at their station to swipe off. >:(

There's always one person that waits until they are at the front of the line to search around in their handbag to find their Go Card. :-\

#Metro

Ha ha!

Another free ride for me today on the bus! Thanks Ms Nolan and Qld Government!
I've never attempted to dodge fares in my life, but now the government is helping everyone to to avoid paying via malfunctioning go card or malfunctioning readers...

The second best thing to free public transport is pay-transport where the fare system which handles payments crashes and doesn't work!
Negative people... have a problem for every solution. Posts are commentary and are not necessarily endorsed by RAIL Back on Track or its members.

somebody

22 trips last week for a total of $38.94
A 3 zone weekly would have been $37.60
A 2 zone weekly + 2 extensions would have been $33.20

The first time go has proven more expensive for me.  But then I didn't have the inconvenience of heading up to the railway station on Monday morning to buy my weekly either.

WTN

Noted one rear reader on the bus covered up with paper today.  Saw it happen last week as well.  Good for getting folks away from busted readers! 

I can also confirm that penalty fare trips don't count towards the frequent user discount, but the discount doesn't reset either. 
Unless otherwise stated, all views and comments are the author's own and not of any organisation or government body.

Free trips in 2011 due to go card failures: 10
Free trips in 2012 due to go card failures: 13

stephenk

Still no correction to my fare from last Wednesday (cause by faulty bus readers). Translink must be making a healthy profit from the interest on the 60c they owe me. 
Evening peak service to Enoggera* 2007 - 7tph
Evening peak service to Enoggera* 2010 - 4tph
* departures from Central between 16:30 and 17:30.

WTN

Translink now owes me 90c.  Third week in a row that I've had a penalty fare.
Unless otherwise stated, all views and comments are the author's own and not of any organisation or government body.

Free trips in 2011 due to go card failures: 10
Free trips in 2012 due to go card failures: 13

WTN

I introduced one of my elderly relatives to the go card last week.  We bought a preloaded Senior's card from the local newsagent, but they did not have top up facilities.  I told her she'd have to travel into the city or to a shopping centre to do that.  She understood, but a slight inconvenience nonetheless.

We caught a bus nearby to show her how to use it (and to go shopping).  She had no problems touching the card to the readers and watching for the amber lights, but she obviously has trouble reading the screen.  She always asked me to read the fare/balance. 

Whilst we were on the bus, I told her watch other passengers touch off so she can do the same.  She had no problem touching off when it came to our turn.  In fact, she even highlighted how similar it was to other systems she used whilst overseas!

But there was one thing that stuck on my mind.  Those dreaded red lights.  I simply told her it meant a problem.  It was hard to explain what to do because she couldn't easily read the screen.  With a bit of afterthought, it would be better if the "already touched" message simply gave a green or amber light because it's not a problem.  It would also stop people repeatedly touching simply because there were red lights.  Red lights should be reserved for "try again" or "try another reader" purposes only.
Unless otherwise stated, all views and comments are the author's own and not of any organisation or government body.

Free trips in 2011 due to go card failures: 10
Free trips in 2012 due to go card failures: 13

rob2144

A Surfside bus yesterday on Rt 765 was telling everyone they had over $140 credit!  :-w

Otto

Quote from: WTN on March 12, 2010, 21:26:39 PM


But there was one thing that stuck on my mind.  Those dreaded red lights.  I simply told her it meant a problem.  It was hard to explain what to do because she couldn't easily read the screen.  With a bit of afterthought, it would be better if the "already touched" message simply gave a green or amber light because it's not a problem.  It would also stop people repeatedly touching simply because there were red lights.  Red lights should be reserved for "try again" or "try another reader" purposes only.

Exactly my thoughts... That would save a LOT of confusion for those who cannot read the screen.
7 years at Bayside Buses
33 years at Transport for Brisbane
Retired and got bored.
1 year at Town and Country Coaches and having a ball !

dwb

Late last week I stayed on the 385 to Cultural Centre and watched 4/5 of the bus get off at King George Square. It was all very orderly, quick and efficient. People were barely stopping, the machine was beeping and displaying balances... it was one of those moments when you think to yourself "oh, so that is how it is meant to work". Hardly any customers had paper tickets!

Emmie

Quote from: dwb on April 06, 2010, 19:05:27 PM
Late last week I stayed on the 385 to Cultural Centre and watched 4/5 of the bus get off at King George Square. It was all very orderly, quick and efficient. People were barely stopping, the machine was beeping and displaying balances... it was one of those moments when you think to yourself "oh, so that is how it is meant to work". Hardly any customers had paper tickets!
I agree, DWB.  There are lots of problems still - but when the system works, it's a hell of an improvement on the old way of doing things!  About 90-95% of passengers from UQ use GO, and it has speeded the buses up remarkably.

dwb

3 out of 4 readers with host error messages and non functioning on inbound bus 383 this morning (both when I boarded and disembarked).

amazes me how ALL the passengers seem to not believe the customer in front of them and repeatedly try tapping their card despite the error message and it not working for anyone else rather than just go to the working reader at the front of the bus. despite this though, all four readers should work 100% of the time!

ozbob

I assume 3 out of 4 readers failed?   I think part of the problem is Dwb that punters regularly see someone touch not successfully and they follow often and it works.  Seen that a bit on rail too, exact thing happened this morning on the gates at Roma St.  

But the bottom line is why the constant equipment failures?

Also some feedback today about cracks on the edge of go cards rendering it failed.  Despite due care and attention of the cards.

Also some reports of folks using go cards like weekly tickets. They budget with a go card.  End of the week throw it away and get another. Odd I know but it is happening.  The numbers of go cards issued is not a measure of much ..

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Golliwog

Quote from: ozbob on April 14, 2010, 20:33:46 PM
Also some reports of folks using go cards like weekly tickets. They budget with a go card.  End of the week throw it away and get another. Odd I know but it is happening.  The numbers of go cards issued is not a measure of much ..

Wait.....what? How does that make any monetary sense?
There is no silver bullet... but there is silver buckshot.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.


WTN

Quote from: Golliwog on April 14, 2010, 20:54:47 PM
Quote from: ozbob on April 14, 2010, 20:33:46 PM
Also some reports of folks using go cards like weekly tickets. They budget with a go card.  End of the week throw it away and get another. Odd I know but it is happening.  The numbers of go cards issued is not a measure of much ..

Wait.....what? How does that make any monetary sense?

Obviously not.  Why not just put $20 on it each week.  But I wonder if they go anywhere near a top up machine.

I've had 2 buses this week where 1 rear reader was taped up.  Today's trip home required the driver to manually activate the system after I walked to the front.  And I had a free BUZ last week!
Unless otherwise stated, all views and comments are the author's own and not of any organisation or government body.

Free trips in 2011 due to go card failures: 10
Free trips in 2012 due to go card failures: 13

STB

Feedback received from some friends of mine about why they haven't switched to Go Card.

Lack of information available.
Incorrect information being given out by transport customer service (QR, BT etc)
Unable to top up on BT Buses
Having to pay for multiple journeys - wish to have unlimited travel (even if it's still cheaper than a paper ticket)
Ability to get away with using a 1-2 paper ticket on the buses to somewhere outside those zones as the drivers don't care about checking the tickets properly.
Distrust with equipment and with themselves to remember to touch on/off.  Would prefer not having to touch off.
Says that unless the issues are resolved they will return to cars once paper tickets are gone.

FYI, they live within the inner city area.

dwb

Lack of top up on BT is going to become a major issue... I'm yet to notice my card tell me it is low on balance yet, despite religiously watching the screen... perhaps I'm concentrating on the amount too much to see the warning. Either way I've been caught a few times and haven't wanted to use my credit card on the net. For lots without credit cards or internet, or who prefer not to do these payments this will be an issue if you can't buy a paper ticket or charge up on the bus!

somebody

Quote from: dwb on April 20, 2010, 19:50:37 PM
Lack of top up on BT is going to become a major issue... I'm yet to notice my card tell me it is low on balance yet, despite religiously watching the screen... perhaps I'm concentrating on the amount too much to see the warning. Either way I've been caught a few times and haven't wanted to use my credit card on the net. For lots without credit cards or internet, or who prefer not to do these payments this will be an issue if you can't buy a paper ticket or charge up on the bus!
If there are enough AVVMs it shouldn't be too much of a problem though.

dwb

QuoteIf there are enough AVVMs it shouldn't be too much of a problem though.

Hardly. I'm talking about when you've hopped off in the afternoon going outbound and the next morning or on the wkend you are in the burbs coming in. But your card is in the negative. There are no machines to add value at my local bus stop, from what I've read there are likely to only ever be 40 or so of them in the network in addition to the rail stations. There is no 7/11 near me.

I can't top up at a servo or Woolies, Coles or IGA or my local convenience store (like you can on Optus and just about every other telco out there).

So, somehow I have to teleport myself into to town to charge up my card. Remember not everyone has, or can use, or feels safe using the internet. What about if my internet service is down bc there has been a storm recently?

I could go on...

Golliwog

I agree, while providing more ticket machines further out in the network could help, expanding the number of stores that offer go card top ups, etc needs to be done. Or signed better? Do stores that offer top ups and go cards have a sign saying they do so? I've never checked.
There is no silver bullet... but there is silver buckshot.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

somebody

This year you can pay a cash fare, but it seems that there is no plan to handle this situation with the planned obsolesence of paper tickets.

Otto

7 years at Bayside Buses
33 years at Transport for Brisbane
Retired and got bored.
1 year at Town and Country Coaches and having a ball !

Otto

.
.
GO Card verses PAPER OFF PEAK TICKET

The statement below speaks for its self..

19-Apr-10 05:07:47 PM Touch off Stradbroke Street [11186] -1.80  * 
please note.. Due to traffic accident at Mt Cotton, Bus was detoured via Capalaba resulting in service arriving at R.B. 30 minutes late 
19-Apr-10 03:44:42 PM Touch on transfer Griffith Uni Bus Station P2 [50049]     
19-Apr-10 03:36:07 PM Touch off 'Griffith University' Busway Station [BT010819] -0.81  * 
19-Apr-10 03:10:25 PM Touch on transfer Queen Street Bus Station - Platform A8 [BT001004]     
19-Apr-10 02:11:16 PM Touch off Edward St F/S Queen St (Stop 142) [BT000142] -2.07   * 
19-Apr-10 02:06:25 PM Touch on 'Fortitude Valley' St Paul's Terrace (St 240) [BT000240]     
19-Apr-10 01:55:08 PM Touch off Fortitude Valley
please note.. I travelled from Shorncliffe to Taringa, then back to Fortitude Valley Station   
19-Apr-10 12:12:48 PM Touch on transfer Shorncliffe     
19-Apr-10 11:33:47 AM Touch off Shorncliffe     
19-Apr-10 10:09:56 AM Touch on transfer Roma Street     
19-Apr-10 10:08:51 AM Touch off Roma St Bus Station (SEB IB Services) [BT010794] -1.17  * 
19-Apr-10 09:42:30 AM Touch on transfer 'Eight Mile Plains' Busway Station [BT010824]     
19-Apr-10 09:41:47 AM Touch off Eight Mile Plains Bus Station P1 [50051] -3.24  * 
19-Apr-10 09:03:21 AM Touch on Stradbroke Street [11187]


A whole days travel around Brisbane from Redland Bay to Shorncliffe using a variety of Bus and Trains..

Total cost of fares using GoCard was $9.09

A paper Off Peak Ticket would have been $11.00

A paper Daily Ticket would have been $14.60

Go Go GoCard !!!!!
7 years at Bayside Buses
33 years at Transport for Brisbane
Retired and got bored.
1 year at Town and Country Coaches and having a ball !

dwb

Otto, you are indeed right in that due to transfer rules it is unlikely that you'd ever get more than 4 journeys in a day on go card (as many are transfers). And now that paper offpeak and peak dailies have increased significantly, its still relatively comparable to use Go card, even if it does charge your for each journey you make.

BUT, this is more than vague amnesia. It is only so bc they jacked up the cost of paper tickets so incredibly in Jan that it is the case.  I like 2004 as a basis cost & product range to compare to cos this was what TL came in with... they came in and growth has been 10% per year, in large part due to the prices and products available on the integrated ticket.

I still strongly believe we need some sort of formal daily cap and/or monthly cap. Forget annual, most people can't afford to pay in such a big chunk.

People like fixing their cost in some form or other and it is great to promote PT usage. I've never argued that the Go card cap should necessarily be 2x single, however one should exist.... and it shouldn't simply be all of the max number of journeys you can physically do added up.

somebody

Quote from: Otto on April 20, 2010, 21:53:46 PM
Go Go GoCard !!!!![/b][/size]
Hear here. Not having the hassle of visiting a train station to buy a weekly/monthly ticket is also good.

ozbob

Providing you are in the transfer window fine.  Many folks are not able to travel in the transfer window (students, seniors, unemployed and volunteers) and a daily cap and periodical option is essential.  I am pretty sure that an opposition that wants Government would have that as policy.  So it might be a few years coming but it will come.

Price comparisons with a paper product which was disproportionally price increased is not valid on a direct comparative basis.  The thing with the daily paper ticket is you could have repeated the same sequence for no extra cost?  Go card would be double cost.

:is-

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Otto

Quote from: ozbob on April 21, 2010, 04:27:39 AM
Providing you are in the transfer window fine.  Many folks are not able to travel in the transfer window (students, seniors, unemployed and volunteers) and a daily cap and periodical option is essential.  I am pretty sure that an opposition that wants Government would have that as policy.  So it might be a few years coming but it will come.

Price comparisons with a paper product which was disproportionally price increased is not valid on a direct comparative basis.  The thing with the daily paper ticket is you could have repeated the same sequence for no extra cost?  Go card would be double cost.

Very true ozbob....
I set myself a challenge on monday to see that it was possible to travel all day and pay less than an off peak ... In reality, this would be most unlikely for the average commuter as work commitments would not fit the conditions of transfer windows..
We still need to get daily caps on GoCards to make it fair for the average punter....
My challenge was a success and I futher confirmed in my own mind how the GoCard works which for me is a good thing as I use this knowledge to help me in my job to answer the many questions I get from day to day about GoCards..

I get the impression that I must be the only driver in BT that wants to know and test all the theories in real life about GoCard at my own expense.
7 years at Bayside Buses
33 years at Transport for Brisbane
Retired and got bored.
1 year at Town and Country Coaches and having a ball !

somebody

Quote from: ozbob on April 21, 2010, 04:27:39 AM
Price comparisons with a paper product which was disproportionally price increased is not valid on a direct comparative basis.  The thing with the daily paper ticket is you could have repeated the same sequence for no extra cost?  Go card would be double cost.
I don't know ozbob.  First we say that the fare structure is unattractive for go card, then they make it more attractive and we say that the go card is unattractive for 4 trips a day.  Those doing that many trips will likely qualify for frequent user, so dailies are still unattractive to most of them.

ozbob

Not necessarily.  I know of a lot of people who planning doing multiple daily journeys on a particular day go for a paper daily. They do their sums and work it out, and for them it is the best option.  Most of these folk don't reach a 10 journey threshold on the go card.  


Some feedback, fire alarm this morning at Roma St during morning peak.  Many folk unable to touch off ... gates open and are put of service during alarms.  Can take some time to restart the system too, there was a major failure at Central a few months back result of an alarm.  Times like these a web based claim form would be handy (under development is the latest advice ..)
Half baked projects, have long term consequences ...
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somebody

#397
Quote from: ozbob on April 21, 2010, 11:43:07 AM
Not necessarily.  I know of a lot of people who planning doing multiple daily journeys on a particular day go for a paper daily. They do their sums and work it out, and for them it is the best option.  Most of these folk don't reach a 10 journey threshold on the go card.  
I would point you to the following post on the previous page of this thread:

Quote from: stephenk on February 14, 2010, 16:33:35 PM
Using Go-Card + paper daily ticket for 5 journey day = $22.82 + $7.80 = $30.62
Using Go-Card only would have cost = $30.11
Z1,2 Weekly Ticket = $31.20
14 journeys, but 3 Z1 only, and 7 off-peak (of which 2 were Z1 only).
5 journeys with paper daily (Z1-2peak, Z1peak, 2 x Z1off-peak, 1xZ1-2off-peak)

So in fact it would have been cheaper to have used the Go-Card and run into the 50% frequent user discount, than buy a paper daily ticket for the busy day. Still even with Go-Card, the week cost 30% more than 2009.

Even one of our illustrious members thought it would be cheaper to by a daily on a busy day, but got it wrong.  If you have a 4 journey day and you don't go into frequent user then you aren't using PT to get to/from work.  That would be an unusual usage of PT, I would think.  Perhaps if you are unemployed!?

ozbob

It depends on an individual's circumstances, personally I am happy with go and I don't worry about paper. Others do their sums and not all find it better and even with the huge cost disparity for paper still find it cheaper and for them convenient.
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dwb

Public transport is not about monday to friday commuters!

It's that simple. The current pricing only has regard to M-F commuters. This is a failing.

In 2004 a weekly ticket for three zones cost 8x single of $2.80 adult, ie $22.40. It now costs $37.60 on paper (ie 2010 ticket is 168% cost of 2004 ticket). CPI in that period (6yrs) is roughly 20%, so it is a real increase of say 48%.

If you travel on a Go card, and you assume you are only a M-F commuter and you make every trip by PT then you'll pay $3.20x10 = $32.00.

If you travel more often on Go card you then keep paying more but at 50% frequent user discount (assuming of course you don't have any malfunction on the equipment that means you lose a frequent user discount!).  $32 is already $5.10 more than what the 2010 CPI adjusted 2004 weekly cost of $26.90 should be and every journey (granted not trip, depending on your travel pattern) costs... .when on paper it was free.

I'm honestly yet to see justification for such an increase in ticket costs.... service hasn't increased by 48% that is for sure!!

🡱 🡳