Cubic to implement national ticketing solution

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cshwone

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#301999 21-Oct-2022 09:08

................... so the government announces a unified public transport payment system.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130221756/major-change-coming-to-how-kiwis-pay-for-public-transport

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#2985744 21-Oct-2022 09:30

Won't happen in Auckland.

AT don't even follow their own rules, so don't see them following anyone elses.

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Stu1

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#2985747 21-Oct-2022 09:35

As long as not snapper I’m happy

wellygary

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#2985751 21-Oct-2022 09:47

Basically this is an announcement that Cubic have the Contract.. and not much more

All they are currently "promising" is to roll it out in Canterbury ( one region, with one transport type) in 2024, "with the rest to follow" No further dates have been announced,

This is project NEXT, which has already been hugely delayed, rescoped and revisited and its still not clear when we will actually see it cover more than one region and most importantly more than one set of fare types...

There is still a whole lot more water to flow under this bridge yet....

xlinknz

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#2985758 21-Oct-2022 10:05

wellygary:

Basically this is an announcement that Cubic have the Contract.. and not much more

All they are currently "promising" is to roll it out in Canterbury ( one region, with one transport type) in 2024, "with the rest to follow" No further dates have been announced,

This is project NEXT, which has already been hugely delayed, rescoped and revisited and its still not clear when we will actually see it cover more than one region and most importantly more than one set of fare types...

There is still a whole lot more water to flow under this bridge yet....

Indeed, and how many millons has Waka Kotahi spent to date and what have we tax and rate payers got for it, one wonders what the pay back is including based on what has been spent to date?

Obraik

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#2985780 21-Oct-2022 10:59

Good. It's about time this happened. The easier it is to use public transport, the better.

Having to figure out what method of payment the city I'm visiting uses for their public transport or fumbling around with cash to hand to the driver is dumb and a waste of everyone's time. Tapping my watch against the terminal as I enter the vehicle is far superior and convenient.

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johno1234

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#2985787 21-Oct-2022 11:31

The frequency of people using PT outside of their own city is? And the cost of this implementation is?

My bet is it would be cheaper to provide helicopter shuttles with onboard wet bar and massage table to out of town PT users.

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Obraik

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#2985796 21-Oct-2022 11:43

So we should keep things as they always are because improvements cost money? 🙄

People my age and younger frequently don't even carry their wallet with them anymore - my wallet mostly lives in my work bag or car. I use my phone/watch to pay for things wherever possible and the only reason I have my wallet in my bag/car is because of my license and the shrinking number of stores that don't have paywave. With the digitising of licenses, reduction of paywave fees and now adding public transport passes to paywave, I see there being a time very soon where I and the many people like me no longer need to carry my wallet with them.

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PolicyGuy

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#2985798 21-Oct-2022 11:50

Obraik:

Good. It's about time this happened. The easier it is to use public transport, the better.

Having to figure out what method of payment the city I'm visiting uses for their public transport or fumbling around with cash to hand to the driver is dumb and a waste of everyone's time. Tapping my watch against the terminal as I enter the vehicle is far superior and convenient.

Yes, but no

The Right Answer is to make urban public transport free to all users.

Yes, it makes the funding cost higher for the funder, but it:

entirely removes cost as a barrier to using public transport;
hugely incentivises moving from private to public transport;
improves safety for drivers / conductors - no money to be stolen / demanded with menaces;
reduces hardware and real estate requirements & costs - no more 'tag on / tag off' machines, no more ticket offices; and
sharply reduces administrative costs - no more accounting for tickets or money, no more fraud / loss prevention systems or people

Obraik

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#2985800 21-Oct-2022 11:56

PolicyGuy:

Obraik:

Good. It's about time this happened. The easier it is to use public transport, the better.

Having to figure out what method of payment the city I'm visiting uses for their public transport or fumbling around with cash to hand to the driver is dumb and a waste of everyone's time. Tapping my watch against the terminal as I enter the vehicle is far superior and convenient.

Yes, but no

The Right Answer is to make urban public transport free to all users.

Well yes, free public transport would be the ultimate solution.

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DS248

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#2985802 21-Oct-2022 12:02

Agree that a nationwide card makes a lot of sense. The sooner the better.

In Japan recently my Pasmo card worked for fares on suburban trains operated by several companies in both Tokyo and Kyoto (though ~4 years ago, I couldn't use it in Shikoku!). Basically a cash card plus. Can use it for small purchases at multiple outlets. Also used it as a door security card for access to the office where I was working. There are alternatives such as Suica though I have no experience with them.

The cards can be loaded onto recent vintage mobile phones and smart watches, though I gather easier done on iOS than Android so I didn't bother. On a watch makes life easier if you have one that is compatible (mine isn't - too old)

timmyh

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#2985805 21-Oct-2022 12:09

johno1234:

The frequency of people using PT outside of their own city is? And the cost of this implementation is?

My bet is it would be cheaper to provide helicopter shuttles with onboard wet bar and massage table to out of town PT users.

Well when it's a faff then sure, not many people use PT outside their home city. But if it was much easier and there was a single mobile app that gave you all the info you needed, timetables, payment etc then surely it would take off. I recently visited QTown and purchased a BeeCard on the bus which came free with cost of the first ride and could be used for more than one traveller but it still took some effort to understand how it worked and what it would cost. I've still got some credit left on it but will I remember to take it or be able to find it next time I visit?

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freitasm

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#2985809 21-Oct-2022 12:16

Press release:

Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) announced its selection of Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) to provide a National Ticketing Solution (NTS) for Aotearoa New Zealand. This approach to public transport ticketing is one of the first global models, and when completed, it will cover 13 regions across New Zealand and enable seamless travel on bus, rail and ferry services.

The NTS will make public transport a more convenient, reliable and cost-effective choice for riders, encouraging Kiwis to use bus, rail and ferry options more often.

“When we remove barriers and make public transport easier to use, we can improve safety and reduce road congestion and emissions,” said Yogesh Anand, Waka Kotahi NTS executive sponsor. “We also understand that accessible and affordable public transport options are key to helping cities grow sustainably and become more liveable and connected.”

”We’re confident that partnering with Cubic, a leader in Account Based Ticketing solutions, is the right choice,” said Mr. Anand. “Their vast experience is integral to delivering a seamless experience to New Zealanders. Between Waka Kotahi, our Public Transport Authorities and Cubic, we’re looking forward to creating an easy-to-use system for all Kiwis.”

Added CTS President Jeff Lowinger: “This is an exciting project for Cubic. We’re proud that Waka Kotahi chose to leverage our innovative products and proven track record in delivering complex solutions for the world leaders in public transportation, including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Queensland and London. Our Account Based and Open Payment Ticketing solutions are trusted by transport agencies globally and the millions of passengers who use Cubic’s systems every day.”

The new Account Based Ticketing solution, which will roll out across New Zealand, will provide riders with a consistent and reliable customer experience no matter which part of the country they are in or whether they travel by bus, train or ferry.

The solution is similar to systems that Cubic has deployed in New York, London and Brisbane. It provides a future-proof backbone for the whole country’s public transport payment system, which can grow with the needs of New Zealand and seamlessly integrate with the existing operators and authorities in each region.

By choosing an Account Based solution, Waka Kotahi will enable “open loop” payments on credit and debit cards and digital versions such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. In addition, it will maintain other payment options to ensure that passengers can choose their preferred payment method and be confident that they will receive the correct fare — even for multimodal journeys.

“We are proud to partner with Waka Kotahi and the public transport authorities to deliver the National Ticketing Solution,” said Simon McLevie, VP & managing director for CTS Asia & New Zealand. “We look forward to working with Waka Kotahi and the regional councils on enabling innovation in customer experience through easier payments for public transport that will improve the lives of all Kiwis.”

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Scott3

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#2985812 21-Oct-2022 12:18

Kinda a pity to throw away the Auckland system. Not sure what the total cost came to, but it was at least $9m (spent in 2010 / 2011). With the design intent, it could be rolled out nationwide if wanted.

Obviously, that system lacks stuff like NFC phone compatibility and credit card tap-and-go functionality, so I can see why the decision was made.

Obraik:

Well yes, free public transport would be the ultimate solution.

Should note that free public transport has drawback's.

My opinion is that public transport should be very cheap, but not free. Copy past from wikipedai:

"Several large U.S. municipalities have attempted zero-fare systems, but many of these implementations have been judged unsuccessful by policy makers. A 2002 National Center for Transportation Research report suggests that, while transit ridership does tend to increase, there are also some disadvantages:[16]

An increase in vandalism, resulting in increased costs for security and vehicle-maintenance
In large transit systems, significant revenue shortfalls unless additional funding was provided
An increase in driver complaints and staff turnover, although farebox-related arguments were eliminated
Slower service overall (not collecting fares has the effect of speeding boarding, but increased crowding tends to swamp out this effect unless additional vehicles are added)
Declines in schedule adherence

This U.S. report suggests that, while ridership does increase overall, the goal of enticing drivers to take transit instead of driving is not necessarily met: because fare-free systems tend to attract a certain number of "problem riders", zero-fare systems may have the unintended effect of convincing some 'premium' riders to go back to driving their cars. It should be kept in mind that this was a study that only looked at U.S. cities, and the author's conclusions may be less applicable in other countries that have better social safety nets and less crime than the large U.S. cities studied."

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#2985813 21-Oct-2022 12:18

From NZ government:

Whether it’s on the bus, train or ferry, New Zealanders will soon be able to use a singlepayment system across Aotearoa, with today’s signing of the National Ticketing Solution contract with supplier Cubic, Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced.

“This is a key milestone in the journey to grow public transport use by providing a single payment system and a range of easy-to-use payment methods, no matter where you are in the country,” Michael Wood said.

“Our government is committed to making it more affordable, easier and attractive for Kiwis to use public transport. Through our investments we are delivering linked up public transport networks across the country that help people get to where they want to go.

“When implemented, the NTS will offer a wide range of benefits to public transport users. The payment system will be convenient, easy to use, and offer a consistent customer experience.

“Customers will be able to choose what payment method works best for them. They will be able to pay for public transport using contactless debit or credit cards, as well as digital payment methods like Apple Pay or Google Pay, while still offering the option of using a pre-paid transit card.

“This new technology will allow daily weekly and monthly fare caps to be applied to travel automatically, meaning customers will be charged the best possible fare at the end of each day. It will also mean that when travelling to a new town, people will be able to pay using what’s already in their pocket, rather than having to buy a transit card specific to that region or fumble for cash.

“The NTS will be an enabler for change. To encourage public transport as the preferred travel choice for more people, more often, we must invest in modern technologies to improve the customer experience.

“Cubic have the proven experience of delivering this solution, meaning New Zealanders can have confidence that they are getting a platform that works,” Michael Wood said.

As well as the contract between Waka Kotahi and Cubic, a participation agreement has also been finalised between Public Transport Authorities, Auckland Transport, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Environment Canterbury, and a Regional Consortium of ten smaller councils, to deliver the solution.

“The local authorities saw the benefits that the NTS can provide to the decarbonisation and economic development of their regions.

“Through improved access and increased patronage of public transport, roads will become less congested, safer and we will reduce our emissions,” Michael Wood said.

The National Ticketing Solution will be rolled out in a stage process across the different public transport authorities, starting with Environment Canterbury in 2024.

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johno1234

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#2985817 21-Oct-2022 12:34

Obraik:

So we should keep things as they always are because improvements cost money? 🙄

Depends how much money. There are other PT projects that also cost money that might be more important than this one. This project will take away money and resources from them.

If the amount of out-of-town use is relatively low then the benefit will be low and it should be de-prioritised to 'nice to have'.

History of previous PT smartcard project roll-outs makes me very wary of this one.

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