erg--perth within weeks july 8th
States turn to smarter ticketing Simon Hayes JULY 08, 2003
SMART card vendors are champing at the bit as three more states consider replacing public transport magnetic stripe ticketing systems with smart cards.
Perth will announce a successful tenderer for its public transport ticketing system within weeks, while Hobart and Adelaide are looking at replacements for their ageing Crouzet magnetic stripe systems, installed in the mid-1980s and near the end of their lives. Moves by the three to consider alternatives to magnetic stripe tickets follow ERG winning the $320 million NSW public transport system contract, and Victoria's decision to allocate planning funds for a similar project.
Queensland is likely to be the first state to introduce smart cards, with preferred tenderer CuLic due to launch a new system in July 2004. The system will initially operate on paper-based tickets, switching later to smart cards.
Services of 18 public transport operators will be included in the new TransLink ticketing network. Planners are even considering frequent-traveller discounts.
While Victoria has allocated $3.9 million this year for planning a new system, it is likely to be one of the last to switch over to smart cards, as the contract for its existing ticketing system runs until March 2007.
"We are committed to introducing a smart card system," a spokesman for Transport Minister Peter Batchelor said.
"The money in the May budget was to make sure we're fully prepared."
Tasmania is well advanced in planning a replacement, with an extended trial of smart cards running on the Merseylink bus service between Devonport, Latrobe and Spreyton on the state's north coast.
Major public operator Metro, which runs buses in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie, has hired consultants to develop the system's specifications.
It expects to go to tender this financial year.
Metro business development manager Jack Lane said the new system would probably use smart cards, and incorporate GPS bus tracking and possibly even fuel monitoring.
"All the information will be downloaded from the ticketing system," he said. "The reason for getting all this at the same time is lots of operators overseas have built this into their systems.
"All this software is developed by the ticketing companies."
Developing a business case for a smart-card system had been difficult, given the strengths of the Crouzet magnetic stripe technology, he said.
"We have the best of the old systems, which makes it difficult to develop a business case to move," he said.
SA is hanging back and watching the other states. A spokesman for Transport Minister Michael Wright said a tender was not being considered at this stage.
"We are looking at smart card introductions in other states, and SA is certainly playing a role in the development of a national standard for smart cards," he said.
"NSW, Queensland and Western Australia are all on the verge of introducing them."
The spokesman said the Crouzet system - purchased in 1987 - would need to be replaced by 2007.
"By 2005 we will need to give serious consideration to what to do next," he said. "You do need to change as better technology comes on the market, but by then we would expect a standard to be in place, and the systems to be operating in at least three states."
The spokesman said it cost the state government about $300,000 a year to maintain the existing system. Vendors see opportunities around the country.
ERG card systems managing director Richard Fleming said some states would get in with tenders much faster than others.
"Victoria still has a very long way to go," he said. "OneLink has a contract for the current system until 2007. Australia usually waits for something to happen overseas and then follows suit, which is a very sensible strategy.
"Let these systems be tried out in the larger cities and then leverage what they've done, rather than be the first to market and put up with some of the pain.'
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