erg is profitable in 2003, page-2

re: erg is profitable in 2003vic oct30 Hi Michael--one thing I notice that is changing--if you go back just say 6 months--it was fairly hard to find (unless you went to specific sites that specialised in smartcards) to find something that wasn't dated--now articles are popping up all the time--in mainstream papers as well--smartcards--the sector is back--down below is one just found on Victoria--seeing you have brought the subject up.---bell.
Vic integrates transport data
Chris Jenkins
October 30, 2003

HAVING developed possibly the most complex public transport system in Australia, Victoria is taking steps to ensure that the sector makes best use of the information and data passing around its disparate systems.

The state's Department of Infrastructure is calling for a strategic assessment of all ICT systems used in the public sector with a view to developing a comprehensive strategy for the industry, which is a hybrid of public and private organisations. More than 20 organisations provide public transport services in metropolitan Melbourne alone.

"Consistency of underpinning systems and data management, efficient and effective information traffic between the linked components, (such as ticketing) real time service information across a range of operation and traffic prioritisation systems will become increasingly critical for improvements in service delivery," the department says in its call for proposals to conduct the study.

However, the Department stresses that Victoria is not looking at developing a single, unified public transport data network. "Further, the project does not intend to promote a universal 'do everything' solution for technical data collection, transmission and storage."

Instead, the state aims to harmonise data guidelines across transport service providers, developing a "framework of rational, technically based guidelines, to maximise the efficiency, cost effectiveness and value add of any proposed ICT developments which may be proposed or developed over time".