News & Discussion: Public Transport Contracts, Service & Policy

[Splashmo]

At least we have a ticketing system - on the Gold Coast you get printed out a receipt that looks like a shopping docket.

[DM8]

Ah yes, I remember when we had that here

[monotonehell]

At least we have a ticketing system - on the Gold Coast you get printed out a receipt that looks like a shopping docket.

Yes but you can't buy a bus ticket here that also gives you entry into a theme park

[The Scooter Guy]

Sometimes when ticket validators accept a bus ticket, it doesn't come out and the red X lights up continuously!

[crawf]

At least we have a ticketing system - on the Gold Coast you get printed out a receipt that looks like a shopping docket.

Ha, thats what they have here in Darwin!. Where a adult bus ticket costs $2.00, concession 50c.

[DM8]

Sometimes when ticket validators accept a bus ticket, it doesn't come out and the red X lights up continuously!

I've only ever seen the machines do that when two tickets go in at once (did that myself once many many years ago .... two multitrips down the drain)

I recall it disabling the machine too - the X remained lit and wouldn't accept any more.

[Norman]

The Summer 2009/10 edition has been posted out to residents and should be online soon as well.

[Norman]

... and here it is:
http://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/__d ... lowres.pdf

[Port Adelaide Fan]

COMMUTERS can expect better scheduling of public transport services "early in the new year" because of a major overhaul in the management of the network.

Transport Minister Patrick Conlon told The Advertiser the Government planned a "fundamental restructure" of public transport organisation, so buses, trams and trains operated under one umbrella.

It would be the biggest overhaul in management of the network since TransAdelaide was formed in 1994.

At present, TransAdelaide manages trains and trams while the Transport Department's Public Transport division is in charge of routes and schedules for buses.

The changes also are expected to provide money savings through more efficient management.

"We want to restructure it so one organisation is responsible for the provision of public transport," Mr Conlon said. "The key point is it doesn't make any sense for there to be two separate public agencies."

Mr Conlon said the Government "would have more to say about the restructure early in the new year."

Tourism and Transport Forum Australia executive director Brett Gale said integrating management of all public transport had been successful interstate.

"We've seen that sort of model work quite well in Victoria and in New South Wales, where they moved about eight months ago to put in an integrated transport department and brought the roads department under that as well," he said. "It's about efficiency of planning and expenditure."

People for Public Transport Secretary Margaret Dingle said the restructure would be positive move if it ensured an "overall vision for the public transport system".

"Buses, trains and trams should be regarded as one whole system," she said. "As long as it helps co-ordinate everything and gets services where they need to be, it could be good."

Dean Brown's Liberal government created TransAdelaide through its controversial Public Transport Bill passed in May 1994, which also gave private operators access to 50 per cent of the public transport system.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 82,00.html

[muzzamo]

The sooner they eliminate Transadelaide completely the better, in my opinion.

You just need to take a walk through Adelaide railway station to get an idea of how much dead wood they have lying around, hopefully they can trim some or all of that too.

[metro]

There isnt really anything wrong with the rail/lightrail services TransAdelaide provide, in the last 2 years it has been fairly reliable.

But I hope it leads to our rail system looking a bit more professional because at the moment it looks very rag-tag. Better uniforms for railway staff would be a good start, followed up with better signage/brand identity and more superior passenger information at stations like LCD screens to replace "railrealtime" (at the main stations) and loudspeaker announcements to replace the talking box (at ALL stations). Combine all of the above with some serious station improvements and railcar refurbishments and then there will probably be a lot more people ready to take the train.

[cruel_world00]

"early in the new year"

Code for "election imminent".

Good to see movement on the superficial transport aspect front. It's all well and good to have new electric trains and expanded trams but if we don't get the little things sorted, no one will want to use them.

[DM8]

Patrick Conlon announces public transport smartcards

* From: AdelaideNow
* February 08, 2010 2:18PM

ADELAIDE'S public transport tickets will be replaced with a smartcard system - but not for another three years.

Transport Minister Pat Conlon today announced the $30 million contract had been awarded for the ATLAS system, which would be introduced by 2013.

The system has previously been used in cities including Montreal and Houston.

Travellers can "top up" the cards, which are then swiped against onboard validators.

Mr Conlon said the Government was confident of overcoming technical problems associated with the changeover witnessed in other states.

He said the current cardboard ticket system had "served us well", but that change was necessary as the Government continued upgrading the public transport network.

He deflected as "cynical" suggestions the announcement and looming completion of the Entertainment Centre tramline extension were timed as pre-election vote winners.

Mr Conlon said the current tickets would remain valid after the introduction of the new system and the smartcards and magnetic tickets could be used on the same machines.

Lets hope it works just as well as the Perth system when fully in place. Sounds like they might be building the cardreaders in to the existing Crouzet reader machines

[Xaragmata]

They reheat these leftovers every so often and present them as news:

http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/s ... 670,00.htm

SA to join Myki, Tcard smart card ticketing party
By Suzanne Tindal, ZDNet.com.au
06 June 2008 02:32 PM

South Australia is following NSW and Victoria down the path of cashless smart card ticketing for public transport, with AU$29 million laid
out in its budget over three years to kick start the system.

Ticketing for the state public transport system's 812 buses, 99 trains and 15 trams will be automated by the scheme, with implementation
due to begin in 2009/2010. However, it is unlikely to be operational until 2013 when a new block of funding will be approved, according to
a spokesperson for the South Australian Transport Minister, Patrick Conlon.

[...]

"Cynical"? Me?

[Hindley Street Alley]

From searching for "ATLAS ticketing system" (there's very little info on that phrase)... looks like the company behind it is ACS:
http://www.acs-publictransport.com/
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FROM ACS WEBSITE:

Cards and tickets
ACS systems offers all combinations for both occasional and frequent riders:

* Paper ticket
* Magnetic ticket
* Contactless tickets
* Contactless memory cards
* Future virtual ticket (e.g. mobile phone)

................................
"Expertise and action are what you’d expect from the world’s most capable operations

ACS is expertise in action®"
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Anyway - correct me if I'm wrong but looks like this is the company they're talking about. Cheers to ACS, our new ticketing gods