I am making this post just to let you know some of the...

I am making this post just to let you know some of the difficulties all companies in this sector face.....


Queensland.............CUBIC

THE State Government's $200 million smartcard public transport ticketing system is under attack even before it is up and running.

Several of the ticket vending machines – which have sat unused at train stations for months – have been damaged by vandals on Brisbane's northside.

The Sunday Mail discovered equipment at several stations had been smashed.

The vandalism is another blow to an already trouble-plagued plan.

The $200 million scheme – first suggested by Government in 1999 – was supposed to be operational across the southeast by 2003.

The attacks have prompted TransLink to remove the glass viewing panels and board them up until the integrated ticketing scheme has been rolled out.

TransLink general manager Luke Franzmann said the silver boxes had been installed at more than 120 stations, with about 20 more to go.

"There have only been a few reported instances of damage, most of which have been minor," Mr Franzmann said.

"In some cases where they're not being used in the pilot, the windows have been covered to protect the machines from possible vandalism.

"This is a major infrastructure rollout involving more than 140 stations in the Citytrain network and all TransLink buses and ferries.

"It's a major undertaking and that means that the equipment has to be installed now, in readiness for switching to the smartcard system."

Trials of the new TransLink smartcard have only just started with 1000 people in Redcliffe who use buses or buses/trains. The full rollout won't happen until December at the earliest.

"Vending machines are being progressively installed across the TransLink network in preparation for the rollout of the smart card technology," Mr Franzmann said.

"The smart card system is being piloted on the Redcliffe peninsula as the first stage before the full rollout across southeast Queensland."

Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas told an Estimates Committee hearing in July that rigorous testing of the smartcard would determine the start date.

"There have been problems in other places with smartcards," Mr Lucas said.

"We want to make sure that technology is absolutely 100 per cent to our satisfaction before we go live.

"We make no apologies for setting high standards during the testing stage to ensure the system we roll out meets the needs of our customers."

More than 8000 smartcard-readers eventually will be installed on trains, buses and ferries throughout the southeast Queensland network.

Smartcards would work in similar fashion to bank debit cards, with commuters swiping them through the readers when their trips begin and end.

Travellers will be able to top up their smartcards using cash or eftpos, including over the internet, by telephone, or at fare machines, ticket offices and retailers.

Mr Lucas said the customer trial in Redcliffe followed field testing of smartcard equipment by research staff.

"We're doing this so that we can iron out any glitches. We want to give people a world-class system and I've made it clear that I expect 100 per cent compliance."

The State Opposition criticised the Government for taking so long to implement a system it first floated more than seven years ago