Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your
contribution is not tax-deductible.)
PayPal Acct: 
Feedback: 
Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):
| Monday, May 18, 04:11:02am | [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, [7], 8, 9, 10 ] |
| Subject: Transport smartcard for all capital cities The nation's transport ministers have agreed | |
|
Author: Chris Jones 02jul03 |
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: Wednesday, July 02, 08:30:17am In reply to: Joint Communique - 8 August 2002Australian Transport Council 's message, "commitment to national interoperable standards/ticketing/tolling" on Saturday, February 01, 11:13:53am Transport smartcard for all capital cities ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chris Jones 02jul03 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMMUTERS would be able to use the same smartcard to ride public transport in any Australian capital city under reforms being pursued by state and territory governments. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The nation's transport ministers have agreed to introduce a compatible smartcard system on all modes of metropolitan public transport across Australia. Some believe the same card should also be used to travel on long distance rail services. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A consistent nationwide electronic tolling system also will be introduced as part of the reforms, meaning the same transponder fitted to the car's dashboard would automatically deduct the relevant fee when driven through any e-toll booth across the nation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ministers have endorsed a memorandum of understanding on the issues, which includes a commitment to ensure the smartcards used for transport are compatible with services in other sectors such as banking, retail and telecommunications. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Australia's first smartcard-based integrated ticketing system will be rolled out across southeast Queensland over 18 months from September 2004, allowing commuters to pay their fare simply by swiping their wallet over a sensor. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transport NSW's smartcard system will be fully operational by late 2006, the West Australian project has a similar timeframe, and the Victorian Government expects to introduce a smartcard ticketing system from 2007. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The ministers agreed it was important their systems were compatible from the first stage of the process. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transport Minister Steve Bredhauer's spokeswoman yesterday said Queensland Government experts had been appointed to a national working party set up to establish the basic rules of interstate "interoperability" for smartcards. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The aim of the decision taken by the ministers is to have a public transport passenger from Queensland . . . be able to use the same smartcard to board a tram in Melbourne's Bourke St as they would catching a bus or train from Brisbane city to their home in the suburbs," the spokeswoman said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southeast Queensland's public transport smartcard would have similar attributes to a credit card and ultimately it is expected it could also also be used to pay for groceries, highway tolls, retail goods, online shopping, phone bills and movie and concert tickets. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Similar smartcard systems are already in place in such major cities as London, Washington DC and Shanghai. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An e-toll system which allows vehicles to travel through the toll plaza at speeds of up to 30km/h was introduced 18 months ago on the Gateway and Ipswich motorways. Similar systems are in place on toll roads in other capital cities. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brisbane and Sydney tollways became fully standardised in May, Melbourne and Sydney's systems will soon be compatible, and the ministers have agreed a nationwide e-toll system is necessary. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |