TransLink sells 34,000 smartcards in nine days

 

Commuters embrace Go card despite distribution and security issues.

The Queensland Government has countered Opposition criticism by revealing 34,000 public transport smart cards were distributed to commuters in the past nine days.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan and the Go card's operator TransLink was under pressure after revelations that commuters were being slugged an extra 20 percent for using paper tickets because Go cards weren't available at most stations.

Nolan said last night that the cards were now available at all 123 staffed train stations.

"These extra sites weren't due to come on line until March," she said.

"I told TransLink to pull out all stops and I'm pleased that we've been able to deliver these early."

Nolan said the State had added more than 150 outlets since last month, bringing the total to 359.

Go cards could also be bought by phone or online, she said.

"This means our smart card retail network is almost six times the size of any other state allowing it to meet demand for go cards, with 25,000 cards distributed last week and a further 9000 distributed on Monday and Tuesday this week," Nolan said.

"It's been encouraging to see the way customers have been embracing the technology in large numbers."

Nolan also announced 17 "new-generation" ticketing machines at bus stations and major bus interchanges were "undergoing final testing".

"By the end of this month, for the first time, customers will be able to purchase an adult go card from one of these ticket machines," she said.

The Opposition branded the announcements a "scramble" by Nolan "to cover up her mistakes".

"Cards, retailers and top-up facilities should have been widely available before the punishment fares were introduced - the Minister knows [this]," Opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said.

Simpson said while "the Bligh Labor Government had been embarrassed into rolling out go card facilities belatedly at some additional train stations, there were still Go card blackspots in suburbs across South East Queensland.

"The vast majority of suburbs across Brisbane have a single newsagent or convenience store selling go cards while many more are without any facilities to top up the cards," Simpson said.

The distribution problems with Go card were exacerbated last week by a security breach involving the card system.

Two call centre agents were stood down over the incident pending investigation.


TransLink sells 34,000 smartcards in nine days
"I have sent the below letter via the translink feedback option on the site, awaiting a reply due to their inept and incompetent nature, I don't expect anything exciting. To Whom It May Concern: ..."
By WherestheBus
 
 
 
Comments: 1
WherestheBus
Feb 22, 2010 10:32 AM
I have sent the below letter via the translink feedback option on the site, awaiting a reply due to their inept and incompetent nature, I don't expect anything exciting.

To Whom It May Concern:

I know you place tremendous value on your time so I’ll be brief. The fare increases to facilitate the additional services that are soon to commence are ludacris, if not blatant fallacies, considering that there are already services scheduled that aren't running on which people are dependant. [ie the last service listed at most of your stops.] (Not to mention the countless times your gocard has charged an additional fare when it should've been a continuation. when will this fault be fixed?)

Naturally, I’m furious having to pay an annual rise in our fares when there is no improvement of the services plus the empty promise of "more and better" on your part. Also, the consistency in using the go card is non-existent with connecting services in most cases charging in excess.

“We’ll take this under review,” “we’re constantly seeking eco-friendly options,” and other vacuous corporate blow-offs won’t cut it.

I understand if you’re too busy to answer in depth or would prefer not to discuss the topic put I'd like an answer if not remuneration for the countless times I have been abandoned (didn't Daniel Morcombe go missing due to your staff's incompetence?) due to relying on a simple bus service that was scheduled to run thereby making promise with the public that there will be transport there at the specified time.

However, if the person in you has any pearls of wisdom or specific thoughts, they would be greatly appreciated considering the amount of times I've experienced the dissapointment of forking out for a taxi when the scheduled services aren't running.

Any answers (or lack thereof) will be published on at least one top-1000 blog in association with your company for the world to see, and I encourage that you take this complaint seriously.

Thanks in advance and I hope we can connect.

Sincerely,
Commuter X
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