My Go Card trial

[justanotheruser]

on my second ever trip on the go card the card showed the same value when I touched off as when I touched on. It did however charge me the fare on the transfer leg.
Was advised when I called info that the GPS on the bus wouldn't have worked so it creates a dummy stop and doesn't charge a fare. (the touch off was seven minutes after touching on and cancelled the touch on. it listed the stop I got on at as the stop I got off at). I noticed the problem because on the way home it charged me on the first leg of the journey not the second leg which confused me.

[Emmie]

Also often you cannot read the information on the little screen due to: 

Pick the correct response:

a.   Moisture affected screen.

b.   Sun glare.

c.   Scratches and other damage to screen.

d.   All of the above.

I've found that wearing polarised sun glasses you can't see a thing!

[dwb]

yeah i think i've had a few dummy stops too, where it says it has charged me $0.00, but its hard to tell, mine is not registered so I can't check the history on the web.

[STB]

Had something weird happen yesterday. 

I touched off at the station's CID (SACID) and it gave me a blank screen instead of showing me the fare deducted and money remaining.  I touched it again just to ensure that I had indeed touched off successfully and it was a touch on, so waited 10 seconds for it to allow me to cancel the touch on.  It did prove though that I did touch off which is what I was checking, thank goodness.

[ozbob]

I was finally part of a ticket check on a Redbank service yesterday.  There was no sign of mobile go card readers and I just produced a grey go card holder, go card was not displayed.  This was accepted without hesitation as a valid ticket ...

Touching off at platform 1/2 Oxley east this afternoon I was reminded of the deplorable state of the go card equipment.  It is not possible to read any information on the little screen, it is almost translucent and obscured.  Touching on this morning east platform 3 the screen was badly moisture effected and not possible to read any information and the beep was just a barely discernible wimper!

How is the system going to cope with 100% of the punters on the go?      Go slow?  or no Go?   LOL

[justanotheruser]

yeah i think i've had a few dummy stops too, where it says it has charged me $0.00, but its hard to tell, mine is not registered so I can't check the history on the web.

my card isn't registered either but luckily for me I go through a train station and can look on the ticket machiness. I also asked the attendant to print out the recent history report from their machine which gave me a hard copy to look at when calling information.

[dwb]

I also asked the attendant to print out the recent history report from their machine which gave me a hard copy to look at when calling information.

Good to know you can do this, when I was in London you could go to the desk to inquire (which meant waiting in a massive queue) but they were extremely hesitant to print out a hard copy - it was rather frustrating, but I guess designed to protect my privacy if i'd lost my card or had my wallet stolen as the automachines only show you last 10 or so transactions on screen if I remember correctly.

[ozbob]

Sent a tweet to TransLink

@TransLinkSEQ Go card reader east platform 1/2 Oxley rail is unreadable. Screen gone white in the sun.  No beeps reader east platform 3 too.

[ozbob]

Go card reader east platform 1/2.

State of the art system ..



Photograph R Dow 12th November 2009

[#Metro]

I'm not surprised that it doesn't work; it is in the Public!
Look at how the machine is constructed- out of solid metal. The screen is cheap and tiny. The speakers are two dot-circles.

This thing is built like a tank. Even the ticket machines are gigantic metal monoliths, double the size of what the old TVMs were. I think it is deliberately like this so that if vandals damage it, oh well, who cares?

TL isn't going to put good stuff out there because people will destroy it. (Anyone seen how awful QR toilets are?)
So they put something out there that is not-so good. The side effect of this I guess is that it breaks down.

[ozbob]

The go card equipment is not user friendly.  Compared to other systems it is positively primitive.  Robust construction does not necessarily mean it needs to be user unfriendly.  

The fact that a user can not read the screen or hear beeps makes the use of the card much more difficult.  

The equipment is not fit for purpose.  Questions need be to asked of TransLink (the custodian of our the taxpayers monies) why the contractor has not been directed to fix the obvious defects?

[Nightwriter]

Long time lurker, first time poster - hey there

Just wanted to put in my two cents regarding the Go Card.

Unfortunately, Go Card has been implemented with the (now traditional) lack of foresight by the Queensland Government (through its representative, Translink).  When Go Card and its corresponding equipment were first rolled out amongst the network, Translink would have known that this would eventually become the only ticketing solution provided to the public.  Despite this knowledge, only a minimal number of equipment has been provided on the train platforms, which will cause a horrendous peak hour line up when Go Card is forced upon all of us!

One could give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they have only implemented minimal equipment in order to iron out the bugs before rolling out a larger number of card readers - however, it has been some time now that the clearly defective card readers have been put in place....with no hint on when the defects will be repaired or further card readers provided.

Translink and the Queensland Goverment should hang their heads in shame - they have tainted what could have been a great bonus for public transport with a shoddy product and then don't protect our rights as public transport users and taxpayers by demanding that the contractor fix the problems!

[ozbob]

Welcome Nightwriter! 

Thanks for your comments.  Yes, it is time the deficiencies were sorted or there is a lot of grief heading our way.

[WTN]

Nightwriter covers the issues quite well, particularly with rail. 

I was at Beenleigh station yesterday and saw a notice board saying go card transactions will be cash only.  Are we going backwards again?

[justanotheruser]

on my second ever trip on the go card the card showed the same value when I touched off as when I touched on. It did however charge me the fare on the transfer leg.
Was advised when I called info that the GPS on the bus wouldn't have worked so it creates a dummy stop and doesn't charge a fare. (the touch off was seven minutes after touching on and cancelled the touch on. it listed the stop I got on at as the stop I got off at). I noticed the problem because on the way home it charged me on the first leg of the journey not the second leg which confused me.

Further to this post. On all the trips I have done now I have never been charged once for this leg of the journey. maybe I should use my Go card on the weekend instead of buying a paper ticket!!! I certainly will next year when they bring in the off-peak prices for the cards and hike paper ticket prices way too high.

Also I was talking to a bus driver and he was shocked and surprised that the Go card does not have off-peak prices. he just assumed they did. They really should educate the drivers about these things.

[justanotheruser]

In Go card documentation it says that your card will be replaced if damaged within a certain time frame provided it is kept in a go card holder (plus a few other conditions). Perhaps they could make sure they actually have card holders to give to people. I wasn't given one and have asked in several places going out of my way. Why does nobody have the holders if they are required for the guarentee?

[p858snake]

The go card equipment is not user friendly.  Compared to other systems it is positively primitive.  Robust construction does not necessarily mean it needs to be user unfriendly.  

The fact that a user can not read the screen or hear beeps makes the use of the card much more difficult.  

The equipment is not fit for purpose.  Questions need be to asked of TransLink (the custodian of our the taxpayers monies) why the contractor has not been directed to fix the obvious defects?

They can be both, pretty and secure, think of ATM machines. And they are more accessible to elderly or disabled people as well.

Issues restricting use (of the AVMs):
* No closed system hearing aid loop (aka "T" mode), Most ATMs have a little plug to plug head phones into these days to help with that
* No tactile interface for blind/vision impaired people (think of metal buttons along side the screen at a atm (can have braille letters printed on them and the voice assistance can pronounce "press button A for <option>"))
* Ticket/Change section is way to low, making it had for those people with mobility issues to bend over
* Need correct change, for example if you have a $20 note, you have to put that one, you can't select say $10 and have it give you change.
* Doesn't accept coins, The main reason when I buy paper tickets is that i've no credit on my gocard and that i've got nothing other than coins on me and you can't use them if the station is un-attended.

[ozbob]

For the second time in over 20 months of constant go card use I was checked on board with a mobile go card reader by TOs.  

On the 2.53 Redbank service ex Roma St.

They have it down to a quick process, just present the reader and clear direction just touch the card on the touch area (obvious with the little logo) time only a couple of seconds.  Pleased to see this as I am sure there are more than a few using go cards in a 'show and go' mode ... (not actually touching on and off).

The reader east Oxley platform 1/2 is still not readable.

Other than that GOing along fine.  

[ozbob]

Went for a few rides on bus with the go yesterday, no problems, all continuations of travel and so forth worked as planned. Some touches on bus were silent, other than that no issues.  Was on 111 mainly.

[ozbob]

Went for a hop on the 467 this evening, no GO worries.

These local bus routes are a treasure. 

More folks should and will make use of them as fuel prices, tolls and parking escalates.

[justanotheruser]

In Go card documentation it says that your card will be replaced if damaged within a certain time frame provided it is kept in a go card holder (plus a few other conditions). Perhaps they could make sure they actually have card holders to give to people. I wasn't given one and have asked in several places going out of my way. Why does nobody have the holders if they are required for the guarentee?

translink has posted out go card holders for me. they also said they have asked QR to make sure they have holders for people and they are given out.

[STB]

For the first time in a long time today.  The TOs didn't have Go Card reading equipment to check my Go Card on the train this morning, just show and given the ok by them.  The last time that happened was back before it was officially released to the public.

[dwb]

Bob - saw you on the news last night at Oxley, good highlighting issues but only thought it was too bad they had people swiping their cards really quickly to try and make it malfunction... kind of undermines the case for better equipment if they only way the news cameras can get it to malfunction is by being obviously silly (yet not obviously enough for some people to think this is how they should tag on/off).

[ozbob]

I wasn't there, but I understand they just filmed randomly.  What was important was the demonstration of the reader screens.

I have just attended a forum on  disabled rail access.  There is much concern from users with a range of impairments and the ability to use the go card as it is.  I think something will need to be put in place for an affordable (at least equal to go card) for users who for various reasons cannot use the present system.

[dwb]

It's my understanding (although I may be incorrect) that heavily VIP (vision impaired people) get free travel and as such do not need to use the go card payment system.  I believe similar is true of mentally disabled people - free travel and their minder 50%... or did I fully just imagine reading that someplace!?

Although yes, elderly and all others still need to be able to read the tiny screens and have an easy to use system!!

[ozbob]

Legally blind free rail travel, but many folks who are having problems are not legally blind as such.
Some of our members who have some vision issues have reported going back to paper as the present system was too hard as well (private communications).

I will need to look it up later for the complete information but the system has to be fixed.

(Presently on IMU165 tracking along around 130K heading for town ex Robina).

The old reverse ticketing arrangements used to allow for a person unable to use a ticket machine to reverse ticket at a staffed station ...

[ozbob]

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/Assistance_and_services/Concessions/Person_with_vision_impairment_travel_pass/

Person with a Vision Impairment Travel Pass

This pass entitles holders to free travel on all participating urban public transport services including bus, rail and ferry within Australia ...

Document

See above document.  Application form details the requirements (must be legally blind to obtain the pass).

-----------

The National Companion Card scheme brings together state and territory programs that enable eligible people with disability to participate at venues and activities without incurring the cost of a second ticket for their attendant carer.

http://www.translink.com.au/concessions.php#vision

----------------

For folks who have hearing impairment how on earth can they reliably use the go card system if screens can not be read or lights noted due to glare etc.   

Many folks with acceptable hearing and vision have problems ...

[ozbob]

The go card readers east platform 3 and platform 1/2 Oxley have had new screens fitted.

[justanotheruser]

[quote ]
It's my understanding (although I may be incorrect) that heavily VIP (vision impaired people) get free travel and as such do not need to use the go card payment system.  I believe similar is true of mentally disabled people - free travel and their minder 50%... or did I fully just imagine reading that someplace!?
[/quote]
I know disabled people who do not get free travel. I am aware there is a mobility allowance that gives discounted taxi fares (govt puts in the difference). I am not sure why they don't get that despite being on a disability pension. It is possible they just haven't applied for it.

[ozbob]

The various concessions available on public transport for the TransLink network are listed here

--> http://www.translink.com.au/concessions.php

[ozbob]

Touched on at the reader east platform 3 Oxley this morning. Despite the new screen, the beeps are still 'missing in action' ...  a little moisture build up too.

[ozbob]

Still no beeps reader east plat 3 Oxley. Also the top line east side of eastern PID platform 3 dead.

Tweet to TL

Robert_Dow
 
@TransLinkSEQ PID plat 3 east Oxley east side top line dead, go reader east plat 3 beeps dead

[Mozz]

I reported the no beeping reader a couple of days ago - via online web form via my iphone - got a voice message yesterday from TL saying they had received it and it would be fixed by friday.

[ozbob]

Have activated auto top up for my go card, see --> here for the details etc.

[dwb]

Two red flashes then one successful tag on, then when I tagged off (successful lights once) it said I'd been charged the penalty fare.
No idea why, not happy and where's my frequent user discount gone?

Once paper is forcibly removed (ie weekly and monthlies) the proverbial is going to hit the fan!

[ozbob]

Go reader east platform 3 Oxley, beeps are back! 

[justanotheruser]

Two red flashes then one successful tag on, then when I tagged off (successful lights once) it said I'd been charged the penalty fare.
No idea why, not happy and where's my frequent user discount gone?

Once paper is forcibly removed (ie weekly and monthlies) the proverbial is going to hit the fan!

similar thing happened to me the other day. touched on and off correctly on first bus and as per usual I was not charged for trip. Got on second bus touched on and then charged penalty fare when i touched off. Called translink was told system was down for maintenance. It shouldn't but I wonder if it had anything to do with problems. I do this trip twice a day two days per week. Never had problems before.

[Emmie]

The same thing happened to me at Sandgate the other day too.  I've learned that one side of the reader occasionally flashes red, so usually avoid it, but forgot.  Two red flashes, so went to the other side to read, flashed green, but still got a penalty fine.

And because the difference between fine ($5) and fare ($3.04) is slight, I don't bother ringing about it - which means that 1) this is probably happening to lots of others as well, since nobody alerts them to the problem; and 2) Translink gets LOTS of extra $2s.

[Derwan]

And because the difference between fine ($5) and fare ($3.04) is slight,

I think this is a BIG reason why more people aren't applying for refunds.  Have you noticed how TransLink reports statistics on requests for refunds - rather than penalty fares applied?  They would have stats on both.

[ozbob]

Indeed Derwan, meanwhile noted the second gate in from the right main gate array off direction Roma St  had a case of the flaps this morning ... stays open then suddenly decides to close and so forth.  State of the art equipment; knows when to wave ...