Our Mystery Contributor argues that in using smartcards simply to record concessionary journeys, the UK’s missing out. See his most recent previous contribution to this blog
ITSO the integrated transport smartcard organisation may be on the verge of a breakthrough but nevertheless it seems that the UK is lagging behind many other countries in the introduction of smart card technology. I visited Hong Kong and was able to purchase an ‘Octopus’ stored value card and use it on 80 per cent of the public transport… in 1997!
A visitor to HK today will find that not only do all modes of public transport accept Octopus – but so do most convenience stores, coffee shops and fast food chains, meaning that worries about strange currency and holding up other customers every time you want to make a purchase disappear. Put simply, it gives an irregular user who may be unfamiliar with ticket procedures, or even their destination, the confidence to use public transport.
That alone should increase passenger numbers, and there are the advantages of rapid boarding times and less cash to handle. Even with so many transport and retail participants, a breakdown of a day's transactions is available by 1200 noon the very next day.
So why is there no similar national scheme in the UK? TfL obviously leads the way with ‘Oyster’ – but it's yet to be generally valid on National Rail and hasn't become a payment mode for other impulse purchases that it could and should be. How often do you see someone paying under £10 with a cash card, needing to verify with a PIN and await verification before they can leave? In Hong Kong, tap your Octopus, the value is deducted instantly and you're on your way. And in the rest of the UK, magnetic cards linger on in some places, but are horribly slow and unreliable, whilst ITSO-compatible smartcards just aren't available. Oyster & ITSO are sill working hard at integration.
I believe that the current e-ticket and m-ticket initiatives are all well and good, but for simplicity and ease of use the Hong Kong route is definitely worth pursuing.
And why should an infrequent London visitor have to go to the trouble of obtaining an Oyster, just to avoid rip off cash fares? Better to have a card that is multi-purpose and countrywide.
ITSO the integrated transport smartcard organisation may be on the verge of a breakthrough but nevertheless it seems that the UK is lagging behind many other countries in the introduction of smart card technology. I visited Hong Kong and was able to purchase an ‘Octopus’ stored value card and use it on 80 per cent of the public transport… in 1997!
A visitor to HK today will find that not only do all modes of public transport accept Octopus – but so do most convenience stores, coffee shops and fast food chains, meaning that worries about strange currency and holding up other customers every time you want to make a purchase disappear. Put simply, it gives an irregular user who may be unfamiliar with ticket procedures, or even their destination, the confidence to use public transport.That alone should increase passenger numbers, and there are the advantages of rapid boarding times and less cash to handle. Even with so many transport and retail participants, a breakdown of a day's transactions is available by 1200 noon the very next day.
So why is there no similar national scheme in the UK? TfL obviously leads the way with ‘Oyster’ – but it's yet to be generally valid on National Rail and hasn't become a payment mode for other impulse purchases that it could and should be. How often do you see someone paying under £10 with a cash card, needing to verify with a PIN and await verification before they can leave? In Hong Kong, tap your Octopus, the value is deducted instantly and you're on your way. And in the rest of the UK, magnetic cards linger on in some places, but are horribly slow and unreliable, whilst ITSO-compatible smartcards just aren't available. Oyster & ITSO are sill working hard at integration.
I believe that the current e-ticket and m-ticket initiatives are all well and good, but for simplicity and ease of use the Hong Kong route is definitely worth pursuing.
And why should an infrequent London visitor have to go to the trouble of obtaining an Oyster, just to avoid rip off cash fares? Better to have a card that is multi-purpose and countrywide.
Image: Octopus reader on a Sanpan in Aberdeen Harbour, Hong Kong
2 comments:
We are a long way from the HK Oyster card in this country. I was engaged in talks on Smart cards some six or seven years ago and ITSO was the supposed way forward.
It would seem that the major ticket machine manufaturers then each went their own way and never the twain shall meet. My company uses smart cards on Wayfare TGX machines, our local competition have no smart card technology apart from driver sign on, on thier ticket machines despite their machines being capable. Wayfarer have not been a great help with the product. The cards cost £3 each the printers cost an arm and a leg and are expensive to keep in ink. We wanted a bureau system whereby we could take a laptop to an employer who wanted to set up a green travel scheme and take all of the relevant photographs to place on the card. Wayfarer do not support this so anyone who wants to go smart has to come into our shop to have their picture taken. I know that this is the same at Lothian. As a company we would love to be able to offer stored value for use in shops, etc but the ticket machine manufacturers are the major stumbling block. Any change to the macine configeration costs a minimum of £2K and the annual licence fee is likely to increase. Unfortuanetly there is not a lot better on offer in Europe and to be honest how many operators can afford to change their complete ticket machine and back office equipment in the curent economic climate. I won't mention the fuel prices!! Ironically it will take some form of nationalised company working with the current machine makers to come up with the right product. And even then they will have to have guns held to their heads. Each wants to be the leader in the field but does little to assist an operator who is moderately successful with smart card products. Talk to each other to share best practice - in two commercial companies - hardly likely. Oh and the new OAP concessionary passes were supposed to be IPSO complaint. Well our Wayfarer won't read them if they are. This country is just so far behind in public transport it is now beyond a joke. It's also ironic that with potentially many more passengers coming to the buses as they are forced from their cars by the fuel prices and recession we cannot offer them the fares solutions that would make them bus passengers for life.
if you dropped the photo, all your concerns about haviong to go into the travel centre are gone. what extra do you think a photo gives anyway? transferability is generally a good thing - don;t be frightened of it!
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