News & Discussion: Public Transport Contracts, Service & Policy

[Pants]

So, unfortunately; in typical Adelaide fashion, we are getting a half-arsed attempt in the reform of our ticketing system, as the metrocards are only going to be replacing the Multitrip tickets. Daytrips and those other sort of tickets will still use the Crouzier system.

Sighs. No wonder its only $42m. Done on the cheap as per fucking usual.

I would have thought that's the smart way of doing it. If the existing tickets can be included in a cost of $42m for single and day-trippers, then I think they've done very well (I also can't see how it's doing it on the cheap – wouldn't it be more expensive to have a dual system machine?). It's a big ask to expect tourists and in particular, infrequent users of public transport to buy a metrocard and have it with them all the time. I can't see how the best of both worlds and more choice is a problem.

[mattblack]

So, unfortunately; in typical Adelaide fashion, we are getting a half-arsed attempt in the reform of our ticketing system, as the metrocards are only going to be replacing the Multitrip tickets. Daytrips and those other sort of tickets will still use the Crouzier system.

Sighs. No wonder its only $42m. Done on the cheap as per fucking usual.

I would have thought that's the smart way of doing it. If the existing tickets can be included in a cost of $42m for single and day-trippers, then I think they've done very well (I also can't see how it's doing it on the cheap – wouldn't it be more expensive to have a dual system machine?). It's a big ask to expect tourists and in particular, infrequent users of public transport to buy a metrocard and have it with them all the time. I can't see how the best of both worlds and more choice is a problem.

London also uses a dual system with paper tickets and the Oyster Card. Oyster cards are only really used by frequent travellers even there. How expensive would it be to have to issue millions of cards per year to people that will only use them a few times?

[Aidan]

London also uses a dual system with paper tickets and the Oyster Card. Oyster cards are only really used by frequent travellers even there. How expensive would it be to have to issue millions of cards per year to people that will only use them a few times?

Tens of thousands of dollars per year, though we would have the option of including them in the 10¢ deposit recycling scheme alongside drink cartons.

The real problem with the Crouzet system is its unreliability, which was not a problem shared by London.

[The Scooter Guy]

The Noarlunga branch line reopens on July 24th!
So before that, I'll probably head to Oaklands and take a few last rides on the Mercedes former O-Bahn buses before they're retired!
Long live Mercedes O-Bahn buses!

[AG]

The Noarlunga branch line reopens on July 24th!
So before that, I'll probably head to Oaklands and take a few last rides on the Mercedes former O-Bahn buses before they're retired!
Long live Mercedes O-Bahn buses!

I've been hearing that they're going to be used again later this year when the Gawler Line is shut north of Mawson Lakes for rebuilding.

[metro]

So, unfortunately; in typical Adelaide fashion, we are getting a half-arsed attempt in the reform of our ticketing system, as the metrocards are only going to be replacing the Multitrip tickets. Daytrips and those other sort of tickets will still use the Crouzier system.

Sighs. No wonder its only $42m. Done on the cheap as per fucking usual.

In Typical Adelaide fashion? On the cheap? would you prefer the government spend over a $1bil like Melbourne and end up with exactly what Perth has and exactly what Adelaide will have. Only the Melbourne one "the troubled myki ticketing system" is still full of problems, almost as if it was done on the cheap. Also i dont think Melbourne will be phasing out Met Card anytime soon.

[mattblack]

London also uses a dual system with paper tickets and the Oyster Card. Oyster cards are only really used by frequent travellers even there. How expensive would it be to have to issue millions of cards per year to people that will only use them a few times?

Tens of thousands of dollars per year, though we would have the option of including them in the 10¢ deposit recycling scheme alongside drink cartons.

The real problem with the Crouzet system is its unreliability, which was not a problem shared by London.

i lived for years in London and I had more problems with their tickets than with the ticket I use here on a daily basis. Sure there are the odd hickups or bent tickets but is it really worth the massive expense to overhaul the Crouzet system when it isnt entirely nessesary? I think not.

By the way I think that your 'tens of thousands' of dollars would be closer to hundreds of thousands.

[Pants]

So, unfortunately; in typical Adelaide fashion, we are getting a half-arsed attempt in the reform of our ticketing system, as the metrocards are only going to be replacing the Multitrip tickets. Daytrips and those other sort of tickets will still use the Crouzier system.

Sighs. No wonder its only $42m. Done on the cheap as per fucking usual.

In Typical Adelaide fashion? On the cheap? would you prefer the government spend over a $1bil like Melbourne and end up with exactly what Perth has and exactly what Adelaide will have. Only the Melbourne one "the troubled myki ticketing system" is still full of problems, almost as if it was done on the cheap. Also i dont think Melbourne will be phasing out Met Card anytime soon.

Just on the cost - why the massive discrepancy? Surely it doesn't come close to being fully explained by the difference in stock numbers between the cities?

[fabricator]

London also uses a dual system with paper tickets and the Oyster Card. Oyster cards are only really used by frequent travellers even there. How expensive would it be to have to issue millions of cards per year to people that will only use them a few times?

Tens of thousands of dollars per year, though we would have the option of including them in the 10¢ deposit recycling scheme alongside drink cartons.

The real problem with the Crouzet system is its unreliability, which was not a problem shared by London.

i lived for years in London and I had more problems with their tickets than with the ticket I use here on a daily basis. Sure there are the odd hickups or bent tickets but is it really worth the massive expense to overhaul the Crouzet system when it isnt entirely nessesary? I think not.

The Crouzet system has NO support from its manufacturer anymore. The only reason we still have ticket machines on the extra buses we bought is simple, the SA government bought up Tasmania's old Crouzet system when they were throwing it out. Not to mention the lack of ticket checks due to the portable readers being worn out and unreliable.

We need a new system because the old one is screwed.

[AG]

I've been on buses three days this week, and on every single day at least one bus I rode rocked up with a faulty validator, and so I got three free bus rides. Screwed could almost be a conservative description of the state of the Crouzet ticketing system.

A new smartcard system shouldn't operate by itself, as this would discourage tourists and other infrequent users from using public transport by having to pay for the reusable card. There should certainly be a replacement for the Crouzet either in the form of direct payment or other tickets in conjunction with the smartcard system.

[Aidan]

London also uses a dual system with paper tickets and the Oyster Card. Oyster cards are only really used by frequent travellers even there. How expensive would it be to have to issue millions of cards per year to people that will only use them a few times?

Tens of thousands of dollars per year, though we would have the option of including them in the 10¢ deposit recycling scheme alongside drink cartons.

The real problem with the Crouzet system is its unreliability, which was not a problem shared by London.

i lived for years in London and I had more problems with their tickets than with the ticket I use here on a daily basis. Sure there are the odd hickups or bent tickets but is it really worth the massive expense to overhaul the Crouzet system when it isnt entirely nessesary? I think not.

I too lived for years in London, and the only problems with the tickets I had were due to human error. I've been sold a ticket for the wrong day in London, but only in Adelaide has a machine automatically set the validity of a ticket to the wrong time and day. And unlike in London, the magnetic strips on Adelaide's tickets are so weak that not only are they easily accidentally erasable, but sometimes some of the validators fail to recognise the validity of tickets that have nothing wrong with them.

By the way I think that your 'tens of thousands' of dollars would be closer to hundreds of thousands.

It could be, depending on how many tickets are sold. Smart tickets can be cheap, but nowhere near the fraction of a cent our existing tickets cost.

[Aidan]

In Typical Adelaide fashion? On the cheap? would you prefer the government spend over a $1bil like Melbourne and end up with exactly what Perth has and exactly what Adelaide will have. Only the Melbourne one "the troubled myki ticketing system" is still full of problems, almost as if it was done on the cheap. Also i dont think Melbourne will be phasing out Met Card anytime soon.

Just on the cost - why the massive discrepancy? Surely it doesn't come close to being fully explained by the difference in stock numbers between the cities?

It's the difference between buying off the shelf and reinventing the square wheel.

[metro]

A new smartcard system shouldn't operate by itself, as this would discourage tourists and other infrequent users from using public transport by having to pay for the reusable card. There should certainly be a replacement for the Crouzet either in the form of direct payment or other tickets in conjunction with the smartcard system.

As it turns out, i was wrong, Melbourne are planning on removing the Met Card system by 2013 which will either force tourists and occasional PT users to get a $10 myki and add some value and possibly refund it when they leave.

A stupid decision, i hope Melbourne's tourism dies if they go ahead with it.



Perhaps Adelaide could steal the metcard system from Melbourne to replace the Crouzet system in 2013.

[[Shuz]]

At least the Metcard would be better than the Crouzier system.

[Hooligan]

Wait a minute, we get a new ticket system and all you do is complain about the graphic on the card.

We really have it far to good here if thats the biggest fucking issue around town.