News & Discussion: Public Transport Contracts, Service & Policy

[skyliner]

From The AFR P19 10/4/12 "Transfield Hits Bumps In Adelaide'
Extract...
Adelaide citizens have been blogging publically on community websites like Sensational Adelaide.com about the poor quality of Transfield's bus services, complaining that they are late, miss trips and have drivers who go down wrong streets...the rest of the article deals with the complaints.

Sensational Adelaide must be being observed by more people than we think and also caries credibility enoughto be in thr AFR. V encouraging. I'm sure many planners have trawled this site concerning the new Adelaide CBD plan as well.

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

[metro]

metrocard machines on most buses, some trains and now going on the trams.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/shes ... 6327203240

THE first tram has been equipped with the new Metrocard machines as part of the rollout of a smartcard system across Adelaide's transport network.

A Metrocard validator has been installed on the 103 tram - used across all tram routes - and these will be installed on Adelaide's 18 remaining trams this year, allowing commuters to validate their current magnetic tickets and eventually the Metrocard when it comes into operation next year.

The system also features a mobile ticket vending machine that accepts coins and Eftpos.

Minister for Transport Services Chloe Fox said trials of the new validators had been successful, with no reported technological issues.

"This represents another milestone in the new smartcard ticketing system, which forms a key component of the $2.6 billion, decade-long investment in Adelaide's public transport network," Ms Fox said.

About 250 commuters, mainly from the Hills, outer north and outer southern suburbs have participated in the trial of the new metrocard system and the number of participants will be doubled in coming months, she said.

While single and day trip tickets will remain in the current magnetic ticket form, multitrip tickets will be phased out and replaced with metrocards.

Passengers can still use their normal magnetic tickets in the new machines.

The smartcard system is expected to be fully operational in 2013.

I guess this means no more conductors, but then a machine can dispense multiple tickets at once, recharge smart cards, accept coin, cash or card and speak 3-4 different languages easier and quicker than a person can.

[Omicron]

I used one for the first time yesterday - one of those 'ok Omi, concentrate and don't look like an idiot' moments.

I passed!

Incidentally, if they're not going to police fare evasion, I don't see the point in investing in a new ticketing system that doesn't compel the bums and freeloaders to validate before alighting. If memory serves, ticket revenue is a relatively dubious contributor to the total - either we all pay or we don't. I'm raising an eyebrow towards the 9 and 3 seniors' card exemption, too, especially given the ease with which some staff will fly off the handle at seniors without a card but wouldn't dare question the cocks without tickets.

[jk1237]

are roosters on the trams without tickets Omi?

[monotonehell]

I like the comedy splat sound the new validators make when the ticket is rejected.

This morning I got on a bus to work and the (new) validator was not working. Got on another bus to come back home tonight and that (new) validator was only working on the occasional ticket. I hope this is not a sign of things to come, but I did enjoy my free ride out of the city this morning.

I guess they'll be better with the cards.

[SRW]

This morning I got on a bus to work and the (new) validator was not working. Got on another bus to come back home tonight and that (new) validator was only working on the occasional ticket. I hope this is not a sign of things to come, but I did enjoy my free ride out of the city this morning.

I guess they'll be better with the cards.

Well, they've been operating on the routes I take for a few months now and I haven't yet seen them malfunction. Maybe a dodgy installation or people incorrectly inserting their tickets?

But yes, the cards can't come soon enough -- miles more convenient.

[crawf]

I haven't seen a faulty one yet so far. And here here, I can't wait for multi- tickets to be phased out

[Omicron]

are roosters on the trams without tickets Omi?

.........Yes, that'll do.

I like the comedy splat sound the new validators make when the ticket is rejected.

I like that too.

[crawf]

Oh and I was sitting directly opposite when this photo was being taken last weekend

metrocard machines on most buses, some trains and now going on the trams.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/shes ... 6327203240

THE first tram has been equipped with the new Metrocard machines as part of the rollout of a smartcard system across Adelaide's transport network.

A Metrocard validator has been installed on the 103 tram - used across all tram routes - and these will be installed on Adelaide's 18 remaining trams this year, allowing commuters to validate their current magnetic tickets and eventually the Metrocard when it comes into operation next year.

The system also features a mobile ticket vending machine that accepts coins and Eftpos.

Minister for Transport Services Chloe Fox said trials of the new validators had been successful, with no reported technological issues.

"This represents another milestone in the new smartcard ticketing system, which forms a key component of the $2.6 billion, decade-long investment in Adelaide's public transport network," Ms Fox said.

About 250 commuters, mainly from the Hills, outer north and outer southern suburbs have participated in the trial of the new metrocard system and the number of participants will be doubled in coming months, she said.

While single and day trip tickets will remain in the current magnetic ticket form, multitrip tickets will be phased out and replaced with metrocards.

Passengers can still use their normal magnetic tickets in the new machines.

The smartcard system is expected to be fully operational in 2013.

I guess this means no more conductors, but then a machine can dispense multiple tickets at once, recharge smart cards, accept coin, cash or card and speak 3-4 different languages easier and quicker than a person can.

[PeFe]

Latest issue of New Connections

http://dpti.sa.gov.au/?a=77044

[metro]

Latest issue of New Connections

http://dpti.sa.gov.au/?a=77044

that link didnt work for me, is this the one? http://dpti.sa.gov.au/newconnections

[Norman]

The new format is terrible, they should have left it in PDF format.

[jase111]

Mobile purchasing systems based on NFC have a way to go before they become ubiquitous, but other types of mobile payments already here. A great example is the Starbucks app that can be used as a virtual reload-able gift card. When you want to pay with the card, a barista scans a code on your iPhone’s screen.

Starbucks may have made this technology a part of every day life for millions of people, but it isn’t the only company to do. Some airlines offer a virtual boarding pass as part of mobile check-in features.

The same iPhone/smartphone screen as digital token approach may soon extend to your commute as well as your morning coffee or air travel. A pilot project in Boston plans to bring the same NFC-less mobile payment technology to the city’s commuter rail service.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), which operates mass transit in and around Boston is teaming up with London-based Masabi, a company that has been rolling out similar technologies on the other side of the Atlantic. The service, which will reach full deployment this fall, will allow commuters to purchase their fare directly on their iPhone or other mobile device. To show proof of purchase that app will display an onscreen color good for that day’s travel. The system will also display a bar code that can be scanned by MBTA staff if additional inspection is needed. The system will also integrate with existing contact-less payment systems and monthly pass programs.

One advantage of the system for MBTA is that it won’t require a large investment in vending machines and other costly hardware. Even the scanning devices used by MBTA staff will be smartphone-based.

The ability to service a range of phones already in use rather than waiting for or requiring NFC-enabled phones should give the system a boost in overall use compared to a similar pilot being run in New York by that city’s Metro Transit Authority (MTA). The MTA pilot, which will run on Long Island Railway lines, will require NFC capable devices.

The MBTA/Masabi pilot will be open to iPhones, Android devices, and BlackBerry handsets. The MBTA estimates that 60% of its riders use a smartphone of some kind.


Does our ticket system have the technology to be like these

[fabricator]

I've had the new ticket dispenser fail on me, seems it refuses to take your coins if its out of change (or maybe it was full). The only sign that its in this state is the 'cash' button on the last screen is greyed out, the two ticket inspectors next to the machine at the time had to conceed that I get a free trip.

[fabricator]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-01/b ... section=sa

Some Adelaide bus operators are to have their payments reduced over failures to meet timetable obligations.

Transport Services Minister Chloe Fox will make an announcement in coming days and says she is getting legal advice on one contractor which has defended its performance between January and March.

Ms Fox says there has been some ongoing underperformance by some bus contractors.

"Last time the fee reductions that they received were fairly much, you know, I'd call them moderate," she said.

"Obviously that might not necessarily be the case this week.

"We recognise that there are issues with congestion, we recognise that there are issues with movement through the city, all those things but these companies need to remember that they are operating on timetables that they bid to deliver."

Almost $40,000 of fines were paid by public transport bus companies last year for poor performance.
Audio: Minister says Adelaide bus operators to face penalties (ABC News)

"There has to be even further incentive for them to get it right," the Minister said.

The Opposition said fines issued in the past had been weak, but Ms Fox said that was not the view of the bus contractors.

"None of these companies were particularly happy with the very moderate fines they got the last time and I can tell you that if you'd been a fly on the wall during some of those post-fine conversations you would have been fairly astonished by the vehemence of their views about what they were fined," she said.

Ms Fox said the next round of timetable changes would be made in July.