My Go Card trial

[ozbob]

Everything went as planned.  Also did two interviews on radio 612 ABC Brisbane.
First as I hopped on board G1607 (111) at platform 2 Roma St, the dual rail and bus platform complete with live go card touch!  Now that might be a world first!   
And I was the only one on board the articulated bus G1607.  Great run!!
Second interview after I got back to King George Square Bus Station.

Still to check online transactions for go card but everything seemed to work fine on board the buses.

Photographs and further details to follow.

Thanks for the interest 612 ABC Brisbane in what is an important day for public transport in south-east Queensland.



See -->  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=899.0  for some photographs and further details.

[ozbob]

All went as it should on the INB trips this morning.  Three transfers maximum for a single journey.
Correct fares debited.

Transaction history.

19-May-08 06:53:09 AM     Touch Off     King George Square Station 2E [BT010788]     
19-May-08 06:48:04 AM    Touch On    'QUT Kelvin Grove' Busway Station (IB) [BT000884]         
19-May-08 06:44:28 AM    Touch Off    'QUT Kelvin Grove' Busway Station (IB) [BT000884]         
19-May-08 06:27:48 AM    Touch On Transfer    'Woolloongabba' Busway Station [BT010812]         
19-May-08 06:04:56 AM    Touch Off    'Woolloongabba' Busway Station [BT010811]         
19-May-08 06:03:35 AM    Touch On Transfer    'Mater Hill' Busway Station [BT010809]         
19-May-08 05:57:23 AM    Touch Off    'Mater Hill' Busway Station [BT010808]         
19-May-08 05:49:29 AM    Touch On Transfer    Roma St Bus Station Platform 1 [BT010793]         
19-May-08 05:30:03 AM    Touch Off    Roma Street
19-May-08 04:51:50 AM     Touch On     Oxley

[bladesplace]

Got a surprising phone call today.

Back in November 07, when the Smart Card Pilot was winding down, faulty equipment slugged me with a $15 failure to touch off fare. I reported it, hoped for the best and ignored it (that was what we did back then, cynical as it sounds).

I got a phone call today saying they tried to refund it back onto my card but they couldn't as the card is no longer valid (original pilot cards were canceled in 29 February 08, although my pilot card is still read at AVMMs).

I'm flabbergasted. Six months after the original stuff up! I honestly don't know whether to laugh or cry over this one.

Doesn't bode to well for the public, huh?

Cheers

MJ

[ozbob]

Glad to read you might finally receive a refund MJ.  About time!! 

Yes, last weeks stunning revelations re the secret 5 week policy for claiming refunds is the last straw no doubt for many. 

The roll-out of the go card  is now a major debacle, and attempts to screw the public of their hard earned funds will further erode confidence of many in the card.

[ozbob]

The latest bombshell is $25 touch penalty for the airport line.  Now how that is going to work should be interesting.

If you touch on say at Milton, then travel to the airport and forget to touch off.  How on earth is that any different than say forgetting to touch off at Roma St??

No problems on the go this week on rail for me.

Cheers
Ozbob

[haakon]

I wonder how many chepskates will by a unregistered go card (without topping it up) for a one shot on the Airtrain line?

[dwb]

not likely to happen as they have VERY restrictive conditions at the stations at the airport... you just wouldn't be able to get past the station guard and would have to buy a full ticket.

[haakon]

I mean you tag on at the airport station and then never tag off at the other end. The card will go into negative, but if it is never used again.......

[ozbob]

Another week on the go!  My, how time flies when you are having fun !! 
No issues last week with the go card for me on rail.

With the change of personnel at the top at Translink, it might be the perfect time to get some positive initiatives in place for go card. We can only hope ...

[ozbob]

Going well so far this week.  On the 50%, might have to rack up some trips over the long weekend (closures not withstanding).

I topped up with $40 this week, my largest amount yet.  How is that for a vote of confidence TL?     Bring on the innovative fares!!

[GOody]

Going well so far this week.  On the 50%, might have to rack up some trips over the long weekend (closures not withstanding).

Maybe try the airtrain if you don't mind paying the ~$13-$15 for the return journey (after the 50% discount)? I'm off to the airport tomorrow and would have given it a go, but already have spare discount tickets and getting a lift anyway!

I wonder if a short return journey would only clock one single trip (ie valid transfer) or 2 journeys.

Good luck with the journeying!

[ozbob]

Didn't get out to the airport as planned due to family commitments.  Always next weekend 

No problems on the go card  last week (all rail journeys).

I am really keen to see if any improved ticketing options on the go card from 1st July.  I am sure fares will go up then, based on fuel and CPI increases.

[ozbob]

Another week of my go card trial.  This trial is ongoing until the all the issues including fares are fixed! 

No problems with the GO on rail for me last week, or so far this week.  If time permits I hope to get out on some buses too as reports of some issues following a software upgrade.

[ozbob]

Well we heard this week no fare increases and presumably no changes on 1st July.  Time to allow the TransLink Transit Authority to put their stamp on things no doubt.  This is sensible.

No problems with the go card on rail this week for me.

[ozbob]

GOing well this week so far.  I have done some interesting transfers and that and all has worked correctly (on rail only though).

Reports still of time issues on some buses.  The GO card is being launched today on the Gold Coast.  With Go card enabled bus travel from Monday 30th June 2008.

So that is good, hope the buses have the right time!

[ozbob]

The big news was FU2.  Still a need for off peak, differential fare pricing to encourage early/late peak travel and hopefully capping!

Meanwhile my go card is going well. No issues for me.

The thought has occurred me to though that TTA will need to conduct some proper user education campaigns for the go card. Fix up the flawed promotional material so that it is easy to follow.  Streamline the refunds etc.  Have go card help booths at key rail and bus stations (a suggestion from QR Passenger Services) and generally get with it!   

[haakon]

The last refund I had processed 1 to 2 weeks ago, only took 2 days from notifying Translink to the top up hitting my card. They still quoted me the standard up to 10 working days over the phone however.

[ozbob]

Thanks for that Haakon. It does seem that the refund process is occurring much quicker these days, someone has reported a couple of hours.  With the big increase in bus go card users following the withdrawal of the BT ten trippers, they will really have to be on the ball as no doubt many will get hit initially.

[dwb]

Hopefully with the TTA now empowered, the call centre and email people will be working round the clock ie rather than clocking off at 5pm. This will hopefully mean they'll be able to clear a backlog of not only system refunds, but also addressing customer complaints and handling enquiries.

I might even try calling them at midnight tonight to complain about my late bus driven by the maniac driver through two very yellow lights and which had stuffed brakes this morning!

[ozbob]

GOing well so far this week.

Only thing I have noticed is that the new web sites seems a bit slow?

Other than that I am a happy camper!!   

[ozbob]

This is the direct link to go to straight to go to your go card management.  Bookmark this it makes a lot quicker to get to your online card management.

-->  https://www.seqits.com.au/webtix/common/main.jsp?title=title.default&body=/welcome/welcome.jsp

[ozbob]

I am GOing along no problems.

The countdown is on ...  August the 4th looms!

I haven't noticed a significant increase in go card users on my travels. 

On the buses it will be interesting to note what happens after August the 4th. No doubt some commuters will stock pile enough ten trippers for the next few months or so ...  others will take up the go card.

[ozbob]

The touch device at the western end of the platform at Oxley near the lift is red lighting.

It looks OK but no one can touch on and off. It just 'red lights'.  Hope this is not a harbinger of GO times to come! 

I submitted a feedback form to TransLink today. Also mentioned that at times the new web site is a bit slow.


Other than that, GOing well this week!

[ozbob]

Feedback from TransLink today that matter with the touch device referred to 'Infrastructure Department'

Three days for a response.  Suppose that beats the standard ten days ....

[ozbob]

I travelled into QUT Kelvin Grove earlier today.

Used go card for rail to Roma St.  Then I caught the 333 bus to QUT Kelvin Grove from platform 1.  Touch on fine. When I touched off at the rear reader it was lightening. I presented the card and it seemed to touch off then 'redlight' almost instantly, with the 'seek assistance' message. I presented the card again and it said already touched. I assumed that I had touched off correctly.   When I checked my transaction history all in order.

It seems there might have been some software improvements to help reduce double touches and the like?

I touched off at the device back at Oxley railway station  that I reported as having a few problems last week. Seemed ok today.

[Otto]

I caught the 333 bus to QUT Kelvin Grove from platform 1.  Touch on fine. When I touched off at the rear reader it was lightening. I presented the card and it seemed to touch off then 'redlight' almost instantly, with the 'seek assistance' message. I presented the card again and it said already touched.

That is very common . I see a message on my DCU " CID #x touched again ". I tell the passenger it has worked as they often don't notice the green/amber light before the red lights up.

[ozbob]

Thanks Otto.  Here is another funny one from today.

I travelled from Mater Hill to the Gabba.  No problems there.  Short appointment, and then I got back on a bus to go back to Mater Hill.  Correct as a transfer, but I find the dummy stop interesting.  Was there something wrong with the bus system?

28-Jul-08 11:58:33 AM     Cancel Touch On     Dummy Stop [BT000000]           
28-Jul-08 11:56:37 AM    Touch On Transfer    Dummy Stop [BT000000]

I got on the bus at Woolloongabba bus station and travelled to Mater Hill.  Both registering as dummy stop and although I travelled to a new location was interpreted as a cancel.

[Otto]

28-Jul-08 11:58:33 AM     Cancel Touch On     Dummy Stop [BT000000]           
28-Jul-08 11:56:37 AM    Touch On Transfer    Dummy Stop [BT000000]

Simply a driver error.
When we blank run eg, Depot to Valley to commence a service, The Cubic console will show this as a "dummy stop". It has no specific location. We can sell paper tickets using the "dummy stop" in special circumstances. However, as it has no location, a person using a smartcard will be boarding and departing from the same stop as far as the DCU can tell, thus it cancels your touchon when exiting.

I would think in your case, the driver has forgot to change the console to his service trip. Most likely a gocard holder has boarded and the driver has manually turned on the CID's to allow a touchon (possibly thinking the GPS coords are out). You would have noticed the CID's would have remained open instead of closing between stops. Hence the cancelled trip when exiting.
If the driver had realised he had not changed to his trip and then changed it to his correct service during mid trip, any gocard holder would have ended up with a penalty for not touching off I assume..

[bladesplace]

I won't swear to this, but I suspect it ALSO has something to do with a Manual Override on the DCU (aka a 'manual off-stop procedure').

When I was in the pilot and I've had to request an off-stop (and when the driver actually knows what that is), I'm positive that's what appeared in my transaction history. I also have vague memories of this changing at a later date when I checked my card history on an AVMM, but I'm not 100% positive on that one either.

Cheers

MJ

[ozbob]

Thanks Otto, that explains it!

[Otto]

28-Jul-08 11:58:33 AM     Cancel Touch On     Dummy Stop [BT000000]           
28-Jul-08 11:56:37 AM    Touch On Transfer    Dummy Stop [BT000000]

Simply a driver error.
When we blank run eg, Depot to Valley to commence a service, The Cubic console will show this as a "dummy stop". It has no specific location. We can sell paper tickets using the "dummy stop" in special circumstances. However, as it has no location, a person using a smartcard will be boarding and departing from the same stop as far as the DCU can tell, thus it cancels your touchon when exiting.

I would think in your case, the driver has forgot to change the console to his service trip. Most likely a gocard holder has boarded and the driver has manually turned on the CID's to allow a touchon (possibly thinking the GPS coords are out). You would have noticed the CID's would have remained open instead of closing between stops. Hence the cancelled trip when exiting.
If the driver had realised he had not changed to his trip and then changed it to his correct service during mid trip, any gocard holder would have ended up with a penalty for not touching off I assume..

More information has come to light..

Seems Cubic have omitted some drivers shifts during the last DCU software update.
What I have quoted above still holds true, but now it seems OzBob has caught one of the buses affected by the latest Cubic blunder !!

Seems that about 6 driver shifts ( out of a couple of hundred ) are missing from the latest trip data downloaded to the DCU's on saturday at Carina Depot. Not sure if any other depots are affected.
I just happened to have one of the shifts with the missing data today. Anyway, I was informed to use the "Dummy Stop" and to open the CID's for people to use their gocards. I had doubts about this proceedure in regards to gocard users as I know "dummy Stop" has no set location. So I thought I would test my suspicions with my own gocard. Seems my concerns are founded.

What's happing ?
If you board one of the bus trips on an affected shift, your statement will show the following.

29-Jul-08 11:30:24 AM Cancel Touch On Dummy Stop [BT000000]     
29-Jul-08 11:20:40 AM Touch On Dummy Stop [BT000000]     
29-Jul-08 08:34:18 AM Cancel Touch On Dummy Stop [BT000000]     
29-Jul-08 08:33:53 AM Touch On Dummy Stop [BT000000]      
29-Jul-08 07:24:26 AM Touch Off Dummy Stop [BT000000] -3.00 * 
29-Jul-08 06:35:35 AM Touch On Dummy Stop [BT000000]

Looking at the green hilighted transactions,  a passenger has boarded an affected run and has not been charged a fare. There  are 2 trips there. This will be the result if your trip is LESS than 20 minutes. Result : Cancelled Trip {no charge}

Looking at the red hilighted transaction, a passenger has travelled on the same trip for LONGER than 20 minutes. This person will be charged a $3.00 penalty. It must be remembered that it is likely that some passengers will be on a service longer than 20 minutes travelling only 1 zone ($2.30) on some routes. This is of concern to me ( and it cost me $3 to prove it as a driver )..

So, Check your statements for any "Dummy Stops" and call TL if you have been over charged.

[ozbob]

Thanks for the additional information Otto.  Good to know what is going on.

Again, it reinforces why it is best to register card and check transactions regularly online.

[ozbob]

August the 4th!!

Used my go card early this morning (I caught the 5.38 am service from Oxley to Roma St), correct new fare taken off on touching off at Roma St


Happy GOing!!

Cheers
Bob

[ozbob]

Just did a quick interview with Phil Smith on the 612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast show (Spencer Howson is having a few days off), where I was able to mention the need for an amnesty.

Thanks for the opportunity 612 ABC Brisbane!

Overall, with the new fare in place I gave the go card a score of 8/10.

The last remaining issues are to address off peak fares, provide weekly and/or monthly capping and fix the remaining problems with the buses, expedite the refunds and all will be well!!

Lets GO!

[ozbob]

No problems with the new fares so far this week for me.  Everything seems to be GOing OK!

Anyone had any issues?

Happy travelling!

Cheers
Bob

[mrciclismo]

New fares working ok for me also ozbob (I use the train mostly though).

[ozbob]

The problem with double touches using the go card is well documented ..

How about this?  Double top ups!!

I topped up my card online just now and wow,  I get a double top up!

I think there are some serious issues with the software ....  simple logic traps would stop this ...

Pending Top Up Amounts
Transaction Date    Action    Top up amount    Expires
07-Aug-08 04:17:03 AM    Add    $40.00    06-Oct-2008
07-Aug-08 04:17:03 AM    Add    $40.00    06-Oct-2008

[Derwan]

How about this?  Double top ups!!

Did your balance actually go up by $80 - or $40?

[ozbob]

I now have $100 plus on my go card!  I broke through the $100 barrier on touching off at Oxley this evening.

Well, I guess I won't have to top up for a while .....

I must be a genius to do two topups at the same instant!!   

My credit card has been debited with two by $40 debits (below).  Guess I have some travelling to do!!

07/08/08 PURCHASE AUTHORISATION 40.00 DR  72.42 DR
07/08/08 PURCHASE AUTHORISATION 40.00 DR  32.42 DR

[Derwan]

My credit card has been debited with two by $40 debits (below). 

This suggests it was an error when doing the top-up online.  The obvious question is, "Are you sure you didn't accidentally hit the submit button twice?"  Might be a glitch with their online top-up system.