Comments on: Funding for Integrated Ticketing Confirmed

By: admin

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:08:32 +0000

Time for a big campaign to make sure it’s fully complete by the 2011 Rugby World Cup. I mean heck if we can build the $430 million Victoria Park Tunnel in only two years, surely we can roll out this project in that time?

By: Jeremy Harris

Jeremy Harris — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:00:11 +0000

Phew, it starting to sound like the card that will trigger the rapture…

By: Brent C

Brent C — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:57:25 +0000

These cards will apparently work in Parking buildings and with Parking Meters. This will mean more people will have the card in their wallet. Drivers will have to use them as well, meaning more people will be easily accessible to public transport shall they choose to use it.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:19:13 +0000

I agree Nick. I have also thought that when the new smart-card is launched there should be a free card sent to every household in Auckland, loaded up with $10 and a letter explaining how to use the card.

Sure it would cost a lot, but it would get a LOT of people giving public transport a go (after all, what have they got to lose?), and it could lead to some big benefits in the long run.

By: Nick R

Nick R — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:03:27 +0000

A fantastic RWC option would be to use the same contactless card system for the tickets themselves, like was done for the Syndney Olympics. That way tickets could be sold with a small public transport levy included in the ticket price meaning for the end user they basically have ‘free’ public transport on the day of the game. Something innovative like that is going to be necessary to get people onto buses and trains for the big games, if we are to avoid an embarrassing traffic gridlock situation.

Plus the RFiD system would make it very hard to forge tickets, and would allow for electronic checking to prevent scalping. People with season passes or finals tickets could even get a card with their name and photo id on it.

Plus when the cup is over, that is maybe 100,000 transport cards floating around the country. A good way to get them out into peoples wallets and kitchen drawers.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:14:44 +0000

I’d also expect to see a special Rugby World Cup pass providing unlimited transit for the duration of the Cup for a set fee. Would be pretty awesome if it was valid in all cities games are going to be played in.

By: apl

apl — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:48:25 +0000

It will be nice. I’m carrying 4 cards/tickets around at the moment for the various operators I use to get around.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:11:12 +0000

Brent, hopefully most of the answers to your questions will be “yes”. I think that on the rail system we will see ticket gates at the major stations (Britomart, Newmarket, Papakura, New Lynn, Henderson etc.) and then ticketing “posts” at other stations, when you “tag on” when arriving at the station.

You would have ticket checkers on the train occasionally, making sure people had tagged on. Apparently they can carry a machine around that looks much like a cellphone to check on the smart-cards.

I think that there will be a range of ticketing options – hopefully something like the system I outlined in this previous post: http://transportblog.co.nz/2008/11/19/ticketing/

By: Brent C

Brent C — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:02:24 +0000

There are so many questions now people are going to want answers for now integrated ticketing has been approved….
- How will we use a smart card to get on a train from a suburban station?
- Will the smart card work on Taxis?
- How will the smart card system be introduced in Wellington where the snapper is currently operating?
- Will it include services such as McCarthur Buses?
- Will it be cheaper than a monthly ticket?
- Will a smart card allow people to hire bikes through the next bike scheme?
- What about long distance commuters? (Waikato Connection train – if it ever gets started up)

The I’m sure there are so many other things people are wondering. I hope we find them out from NZTA and ARTA.

In Wellington when snapper smart card was introduced, NZ bus found the drivers had been helping themselves to the ticket money. I hope this doesn’t happen in Auckland, but some drivers could be caught out if it does.

By: Luke

Luke — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:35:41 +0000

and how many games are they going to play at Albany?
on a more serious note will a new zoning system be introduced at the same time as integrated ticketing or will the current confusing fare system remain for the time being?
I notice that some really silly things come up if you play with the Maxx site, like a trip from Manurewa to Manukau can cost either $1.60 or $3.20 depending on who operates the bus, and what number bus that is.
Also there is a price difference between bus and train which also needs to go.
This is a complete joke and needs to be sorted out asap. I guess the problem is that in the short term this will result in a reduction in fare-box revenue which means a bit more subsidy will need to be payed out, although the increased patronage that will result will cancel out this problem within a year or so.