On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:38:20 GMT, Olof Lagerkvist
wrote:

There is a similar smart card system being introduced in western Sweden
where I live and one of the big differences I have noticed is that here
the card readers are always on the vehicle (on the bus, tram, train,
boat etc). We only have season tickets on smart cards right now here but
it is said that within a few months pre-pay value will be introduced too
and that it will always require touch-in when boarding any public
transport vehicle and touch-out when leaving it, no matter if it happens
to be a bus, train or something else. There will be no special rules of
validating on special card readers on platforms when changing trains or
interchanging between train/tram or something like that. It is always
the same rules, touch-in and touch-out on the vehicle you are using.
That said, I still think that the London model is better in many ways,
especially I find it quite reasonable to not require touch-out on buses
(it will be very interesting to see if that rule will really work here).

I obviously don't know the precise details of the Swedish scheme but I'd
guess you do not have the immense complexity and long standing rules
that London's cash fare system has. Establishing a pre-pay system
alongside such complexity is immensely difficult and will always result
in anomalies which then result in complaints and confusion.

The only place in the world that has regular smart card validation on
exit from buses is Singapore [1]. I have just been catching up with how
their system works and it seems rather clever. You validate on entry
where a maximum fare is deducted. The on vehicle validators are only
enabled for a short time prior to arrival (within 100 metres) at a stop
and 20 seconds after departure. The validator by the driver can work in
entry and exit mode - to deal with those people who may need to exit via
the front door but exit mode is only set for a very short time before it
reverts to entry only. There are dire warnings about double deduction of
fares if you exit via the front if the validator has gone into entry
only mode. Most "end of trip" validation is expected via the exit
validators which calculate your fare and then add back any value due for
the journey undertaken. Now I accept Singapore is a far more
controlled society than the UK will ever be but it seems that they have
achieved on buses what TfL is trying to provide on its rail network and
is using exactly the same model.

I agree with you that it will be very interesting indeed if the Swedish
scheme can get high levels of exit validation on buses (or any other
vehicle for that matter). I'd certainly love to know what the fare based
incentives are to ensure that people validate (assuming, of course, that
they opt to have them).

[1] there is a very limited scheme within the HK Octopus scheme for
buses that travel from central HK to Stanley (Citybus route 6 group)
where there are intermediate fares rather than a taper as you approach
the destination. IIRC max fare is deducted on entry and an add back is
made for those people who alight at intermediate points.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!