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| Subject: More than 750,000 people catch trains in Sydney each day. | |
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Author: Another 750,000 catch buses.12/8/01 |
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Date Posted: 07:17:20 02/09/03 Sun In reply to: Previous bottom S&P 500 775.68 July 24th 2002 's message, "Re: off subject of syd · 7.94.10 Oct4thU.S. S&P 500 775.68 July 24th" on 07:00:05 02/09/03 Sun Posted By Subject Post Time Post ID pourquoi5 (ID#: 224751) Sunday Tele : ERG Wins Sydney 12/8/01 10:48:14 AM 3998080 « Prev Msg Thread Next Msg Thread » Gotta be true! (!) A card that may change all our lives EXCLUSIVE By chief writer NATHAN VASS 12aug01 A REVOLUTIONARY commuter "smartcard" with the potential to create a cashless society in Sydney will be introduced by the State Government. A consortium headed by ERG Ltd and Motorola has been chosen to design and build Australia's first mass-market smartcard system at a cost of more than $100 million. Up to 1.5 million public transport users will be using the plastic cards by 2005, enabling them to travel on all modes of transport without having to stop and buy a ticket. Once the smartcard is in widespread use, the corporate sector and other government agencies will become involved. This means one card will pay for bus, train and ferry trips, highway tolls, groceries, retail goods, online shopping, phone and utility bills, movie and concert tickets, traffic fines and professional services. A Transport Department spokesman said the smartcard would encourage people to leave their cars at home and catch CityRail, light rail, monorail and private and public bus and ferry services. "One-card integrated ticketing will make it easier, safer and much quicker to access all forms of public transport," he said. "A key benefit of having just one ticket will be that, instead of queuing up for a ticket, your fare can be automatically loaded onto your smartcard when it is required. "The smartcard will not need to be removed from a wallet or bag, it only needs to pass the validator, which will signal acceptance of the fare. "That means people don't have to fumble for their tickets – they just walk through the validator with the smartcard." Taxis have not agreed to take part in the scheme at this stage. The smartcard will apply to all public transport in the greater Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra regions, reaching as far as Lithgow in the west and Goulburn in the south west. It will be phased in from 2003 and is expected to be fully operational by 2005. More than 750,000 people catch trains in Sydney each day. Another 750,000 catch buses. The decision has been anxiously awaited by the information technology sector. Perth-based ERG has already installed transit smartcard systems in Hong Kong and aims to have more than 100 million smartcards issued around the world within three years. It is also vying for a public transport tender in Brisbane. But it is the sheer size of the Sydney public transport market which experts believe will provide the "critical mass" needed to expand the use of smartcards. Smartcards contain microprocessors and memory for storing data and are activated by passing through an electronic field. They can be linked to a bank account so the card automatically "tops up" without the user ever having to go to a bank. The card could also become a driver's licence and Medicare card. Commuter Amelia Alderson said she hoped the Smartcard would reduce the hassle of travelling on public transport. "I hate queuing for tickets. It's such a hassle," Amelia said. « Prev Msg Thread Next Msg Thread » This message has been viewed 270 times Report a BullBoards Violation Ignore pourquoi5 Post Non-Threaded View [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| Subject | Author | Date |
| 28/3/01 10:59:49 PM 3356870 | Cubic already plays a major role in Sydney's transport | 07:21:43 02/09/03 Sun |
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