My Go Card trial

[ozbob]

What happens if you commence a journey, say at Buranda (zone 2) and touch off at Windsor (zone 2)  like on the 77

Journey planner shows:

Adult  go card off-peak  $2.43
Adult  go card    $2.70

On Monday I will touching on at Oxley (zone 3)  off at Roma St rail (zone 1)  zone 3 fare debited


On Roma St Bus continuation (within transfer limit of one hour) ..  Off Buranda (zone 2)  Zero Charge 

On 77 Buranda continuation (within transfer limit of one hour) ...  Off at Windsor (zone 2)  Zero charge?  or a two zone fare ...  time will tell ...

[dwb]

Well the whole point of the tunnel is to be a bypass... and routes that bypass zone one shouldn't pay for it, just like say the 209 via the Green Bridge, should mean that if you were only travelling on the 77 they I think you could rightfully expect to only pay one zone fare if you got on and off in zone 2. The trip you propose should fit under transfer rules so I'm expecting it to be a zero continuation.

But like you say time will tell.

What happens if you commence a journey, say at Buranda (zone 2) and touch off at Windsor (zone 2)  like on the 77

Journey planner shows:

Adult  go card off-peak  $2.43
Adult  go card    $2.70

On Monday I will touching on at Oxley (zone 3)  off at Roma St rail (zone 1)  zone 3 fare debited


On Roma St Bus continuation (within transfer limit of one hour) ..  Off Buranda (zone 2)  Zero Charge 

On 77 Buranda continuation (within transfer limit of one hour) ...  Off at Windsor (zone 2)  Zero charge?  or a two zone fare ...  time will tell ...

[dwb]

ps, the timetable http://download.translink.com.au/timetables/100222_77.pdf shows bypass... ie no stops in zone one so should they really charge you for it?!

[somebody]

Real question would be what if it's not a continuation or a continuation of a trip which hasn't already entered zone 1.

I'd be very surprised if ozbob's 77 trip wasn't zero charge.  Maybe if you used the 598 from Sherwood to Mt Gravatt, then the 77.

ps, the timetable http://download.translink.com.au/timetables/100222_77.pdf shows bypass... ie no stops in zone one so should they really charge you for it?!

Don't see why not.  It's already a too good deal to go across town, why make it better?

[STB]

I would be fairly confident to say that it should be zero charge. 

Also, even though there are no stops in the tunnel, you still do pass through Zone 1, so a trip from Buranda to Windsor Rail on Route 77 should be a two zone fare.

[ozbob]

Zero charge for the Clem7 run ..

22-Mar-10 07:06:00 AM     Touch off     Roma Street         
22-Mar-10 06:42:31 AM    Touch on transfer    Windsor    

22-Mar-10 06:38:55 AM     Touch off     'Windsor Rail' Stop 13 Lutwyche Road [BT000470]         
22-Mar-10 06:27:20 AM    Touch on transfer    'Buranda' Busway Station [BT010814]
   
22-Mar-10 05:45:48 AM    Touch off    'Buranda' Busway Station OB [BT010813]        
22-Mar-10 05:36:25 AM    Touch on transfer    Roma St Bus Station Platform 2 [BT010792]        
22-Mar-10 05:32:47 AM    Touch off    Roma Street       *
22-Mar-10 04:50:15 AM    Touch on    Oxley
       

[stephenk]

Zero charge for the Clem7 run ..

22-Mar-10 07:06:00 AM     Touch off     Roma Street         
22-Mar-10 06:42:31 AM    Touch on transfer    Windsor    

22-Mar-10 06:38:55 AM     Touch off     'Windsor Rail' Stop 13 Lutwyche Road [BT000470]         
22-Mar-10 06:27:20 AM    Touch on transfer    'Buranda' Busway Station [BT010814]
   
22-Mar-10 05:45:48 AM    Touch off    'Buranda' Busway Station OB [BT010813]        
22-Mar-10 05:36:25 AM    Touch on transfer    Roma St Bus Station Platform 2 [BT010792]        
22-Mar-10 05:32:47 AM    Touch off    Roma Street       *
22-Mar-10 04:50:15 AM    Touch on    Oxley
       

Unless I'm mistaken, you've already travelled from Zone 3 to Zone 1 before travelling to Buranda and then through the Clem 7 to Windsor. So all zones travelled on the 77 were already covered in that journey. So of course it's not going to charge any extra!

A better test would be to start a new journey at Buranda, travel to Windsor on the 77, and see if it charges you for travelling through Z1.

[ozbob]

Yes normally that is how it would work.  There is some suggestion that the 77 may have been hard coded.  The journey planner is showing a zone 2 to zone 2 as a zone 2 fare eg. Buranda to Windsor ..  the next test will be cold start from say Buranda to Windsor.  Will it be a zone two or zone one fare?

[STB]

Gained 4 transfers instead of the meant to be 3 transfers yesterday as follows:

22-Mar-10 08:46:06 AM Touch off South St F/S Langodn St [18231]     
22-Mar-10 08:35:08 AM Touch on transfer Woodlands Drive [30273]     
22-Mar-10 08:25:20 AM Touch off Springacre Road [11084] -0.25  * 
22-Mar-10 07:56:31 AM Touch on transfer Eight Mile Plains Bus Station [8234]     
22-Mar-10 07:42:20 AM Touch off 'Eight Mile Plains' Busway Station [BT010823]     
22-Mar-10 06:59:06 AM Touch on transfer 'Chermside (Hamilton Road)' Hamilton Road [BT010103-3]     
22-Mar-10 06:51:19 AM Touch off 'Chermside (Hamilton Road)' Hamilton Road [BT010103-3]     
22-Mar-10 06:27:15 AM Touch on transfer 'Buranda' Busway Station [BT010814]     
22-Mar-10 06:06:03 AM Touch off Buranda -1.80  * 

[islander]

Just watched People's Question Time online. The premier stated that 3 extra cars were being introduced to the network every month to provide extra services. I'm sure we were promised 83000 extra seats this year as a dividend of fare increases. I haven't done the maths but I don't think we are going to make the number of seats promised!!!

[#Metro]

3 car units once a month?
Rarely do 3 car units run, 6 car units are the way to go. So that is one train every 2 months.

So we will have 5-6 extra trains by December.
Will this actually keep up? Aren't there 1500 people moving to Queensland every week?

[islander]

My thoughts exactly. OK...you have to multiply the cars by the number of services to get the total seat increase, but no mention was made of the lines that they would be used on and of course the length of the trip dictates how many services can be achieved in a day. Also no mention of when these new seats would start to be added.

[mufreight]

Ok so they have taken delivery of additional rollingstock but we are yet to see any additional services, more spin and no substance, another con.

[WTN]

Had a free trip today to work!  No tickets or cards on the bus. 

I also rode the 77 yesterday with no additional cost (all zone 1-2).

[WTN]

Another free trip to work yesterday.  Good to see free trips instead of silly penalty fares.  Lots of seats available too.  The big bendy bus just behind could be the reason.

[stephenk]

My thoughts exactly. OK...you have to multiply the cars by the number of services to get the total seat increase, but no mention was made of the lines that they would be used on and of course the length of the trip dictates how many services can be achieved in a day. Also no mention of when these new seats would start to be added.

I think you are getting a few calculations wrong.

There could theoretically be the promised service delivery, without any new trains if the new services were all off-peak, which can be provided by existing trains. Also, if one new train made for example 6 journeys a day, then that one new train would provide 3000 seats/day, or 21,000 seats a week.

[dwb]

There could theoretically be the promised service delivery, without any new trains if the new services were all off-peak

Indeed. Personally I think significant offpeak improvements are desperately needed, especially on the weekend and late at night, however it would be slightly disingenuous if all of the 301,000 seats were as such because they're selling them with "busting congestion", enabling more commuters etc.

Also, 301,000 is presumably going to include CityGlider, so I'd like to know how much that is soaking up.

[ozbob]

Check out this in Melbourne --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3637.0

[ozbob]

GOing along fine this week.  Anyone know if the CityGlider is going to be normal TransLink zones, transfers etc. or flat fare?  I recall the initial moves was for a flat fare but not sure how a flat fare would work with the go card. 

[somebody]

Just went back to this thread: http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3441.0
Seems that it's not actually confirmed that it will be standard translink fare structure.  But wouldn't having it have a different fare structure be a real pain for the software?  Let's hope there hasn't been an awful mis-allocation of resources.

[ozbob]

Thanks for jogging my memory.  The mX article in that thread seems imply normal TL zones etc.  Let's hope so!

[ozbob]

GOing along fine on rail, all the family is on auto topup,  my CC of course     that works well.

[dwb]

Host offline error today. Took several minutes to sort out. Outbound 385 first stop at Paddington around 715pm. I waited (as I often make >10trips/wk) as did two others, two passengers didn't however.

What is really frustrating is that everytime this happens it could end up costing ME quite few more bucks that week, and giving both Translink and possibly Cubic a profit. Where's the incentive to fix it when a whole lot less passengers travel shorter trips than longer trips??

[Jon Bryant]

Is it time to retire the My Go Card Trial discussion?  I think our trials are long over and we are living with it.

[ozbob]

No, it is my documented experiences with the go card, and the trial is not over for me.  As recent experiences with go gates have shown, for me at least the trial continues.  I am waiting for a revised fare structure too thanks.

[ozbob]

The reader east platforms 1/2 Oxley is a bit temperamental of late. Touching off yesterday there was a momentary light flash and the screen went blank.  After about 10 seconds it came back on.  I touched again and it responded with a continuation.  So I had successfully touched off despite the failure.  I then cancelled the touch on platform 3.  Bit tricky for new users ...

[dwb]

Why didn't you cancel on the same platform?

Insert Quote
The reader east platforms 1/2 Oxley is a bit temperamental of late. Touching off yesterday there was a momentary light flash and the screen went blank.  After about 10 seconds it came back on.  I touched again and it responded with a continuation.  So I had successfully touched off despite the failure.  I then cancelled the touch on platform 3.  Bit tricky for new users ...

[ozbob]

Because:

1.  The reader on 1/2 was faulty.

2.  I had to walk over the bridge anyway and walk past the reader at the foot of the stairs on 3.

3.  I also wanted to test the reader on three in the direct sunlight (font is already fading, very difficult to read for me).

[ozbob]

Was checked with a mobile card reader by a TO on the way back to Corinda today.  This makes number 3 from memory ..

No evidence of no one not touching that I saw on board.

[ozbob]

Mrs Ozbob reported power outage at Corinda, unable to touch on.  Was told NOT to touch off at Central.   First free trip for the good lady ... 

[ozbob]

Coming through the main gates at Roma St this morning around 6.55am, on small gate being worked on.  This means major issues of course as no redundancy in the 'cattle corral' at the main exit.  One gate out of action is a major issue. Hopefully they might retrieve some of the gates from the other end to give some urgently needed gate capacity.  Fun watching the advertisements for smooth flow with the go overhead whilst queuing to touch ....   F A R C E !     Oh dear ...

[awotam]

We should get one of the TV current affairs shows to come along and film this pantomime in action, just so the voters of Queensland can see their "Smart State" government's ideas in action... 

[ozbob]

The second large gate from the left, main array Roma St had a case of the flaps this morning (again) ...   go card advertisements still rolling overhead ... Pantomime is an apt description ...

[ozbob]

Came through in the middle of the morning peak at Roma St this morning. Noticeable queuing, despite most people streaming (quick touching, gates not closing).  System is not used as it is designed, if it was the delays would be a lot worse.

I am starting to question mentally if we need gates at all.  Just watch peak streams, the gates are redundant already. The gates are slow and often unreliable.  Just remove the  swinging gates themselves but keep the rest intact.

Some changes will be made to the main gate array at Roma St, some additional gates I hope.  Possibly moved from the Parklands exit.

It is a beautiful moment waiting to pass through the gates watching the go card ads on the bright new LCD screens ...   

[ozbob]

Bit foggy this morning.  Go card reader west platform 3 Oxley not readable, go card reader far east platform 3 not readable, both due to moisture.  The second one east, under cover was readable.

[Mozz]

I have said it before and I will say it again - given translinks inability to manage the readers which exposed to the elements, the only solution available appears to be to replace each reader every couple of months with a brand new one. Problem solved. Expensive but in the absence of any attempt to fix problems associated with these readers. The reader at platform 3 oxley east has been non functional for months. Not good enough.

[ozbob]

Mrs Ozbob's go card got damaged last night due to a misadventure at Central.  QR staff instructed her to travel for free home. Fortunately I have a spare which I registered and set up auto top up last night.  Will see if it works this morning on my perambulation.  It is a lot easier to set up (register) a new card now, no need to ring up.  Have filled out the transfer form and will post that in. 

[ozbob]

Checked the new go card on the AVVM, topup on checking on the AVVM,  no deposit card ..

[ozbob]

Mrs Ozbob's go card.

No deposit, just set the auto topup for $20.

Card balance:     $14.24

16-May-10 12:30:49 PM     Touch off     Oxley      -2.88     *
16-May-10 11:42:31 AM    Touch on    Central        
16-May-10 09:07:32 AM    Touch off    Central    -2.88    *
16-May-10 08:24:29 AM    Touch on    Oxley        
15-May-10 05:58:08 AM    Activate auto top up    Oxley        
15-May-10 05:58:08 AM    Top up/Adjustment    Oxley    20.00    

This is not consistent with

Before you start using your go card, you will need to top up your card and pay a refundable deposit. This deposit is like a safety net which allows you to finish your journey even if you have insufficient funds on the card (as long as your balance is positive at the start of your journey).

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

[ozbob]

A senior Citizen spoke to me at the newsagent this morning.  She had some problems touching at Central with her go card.

She was advised to ring TransLink.  She did that after travelling home.  She said she spent 45 minutes on the phone to seek an adjustment for the $2.50 fixed fare incorrectly debited as a result of red crosses on gates at Central.  She was amazed at the process.  I assured her, she was not alone and we continue to press for improvements.

A web based claim form is being developed.  Apart from that, any notion of a call back service for mobile users is just dismissed.  Customer focus?  Hardly likely ...

If a web based claim form is brought in, then a snail mail version should be available as well. We can but hope ..