News   Jul 12, 2024
199 Church Showcases Heritage Facade and Artwork at Street Level
 1.3K     0 
News   Jul 12, 2024
Six Points Plaza Redevelopment Advances With 36-Storey First Phase
 1K     1 
News   Jul 12, 2024
Trading Spaces: Can Real Estate Conversion Help Boost Housing Supply?
 383     0 

Metrolinx: Presto Fare Card

nfitz said:
It's obscene that they have the gall to charge people $6 for a card to pay higher fares!
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that GO has been asked to decrease its subsidy, even though GO 2020 calls for an increased subsidy. Sigh.
 
DavidH said:
Keep in mind that GO has been asked to decrease its subsidy, even though GO 2020 calls for an increased subsidy.
Click to expand...
So basically it's a back-door ticket price increase.

I guess one day once they finally eliminate paper, they'll simply slide the cash fare up a $1 or so, and excuse it by noting that it doesn't really effect anyone, as all but the very occasional user would have Presto and continue to pay the same fare ...
 
nfitz said:
So basically it's a back-door ticket price increase.
Click to expand...
We can't say that unless we know what the total take is. If they take from people on this side and give to people on that side, it's not a general price increase.

nfitz said:
I guess one day once they finally eliminate paper, they'll simply slide the cash fare up a $1 or so, and excuse it by noting that it doesn't really effect anyone, as all but the very occasional user would have Presto and continue to pay the same fare ...
Click to expand...
Possibly, but if all but the very occasional user is using Presto, it wouldn't make much difference.
 
DavidH said:
Possibly, but if all but the very occasional user is using Presto, it wouldn't make much difference.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I thought so ... but in the meantime they have reaped the $ from those taking less than 20 rides a month (and if revenue neutral they have passed the money to the daily riders ...

Seems as biased as their normal "screw 416" policies such as lack of service in rush-hour, and the much higher % fare increases in the last few years for those travelling from 416 to downtown, rather than 905 to downtown. Free parking for those living in 905, but not even a parking lot for some 416 stations.

City of Toronto needs to start making some serious noise about these issues.
 
Last edited:
nfitz said:
Yeah, I thought so ... but in the meantime they have reaped the $ from those taking less than 20 rides a month (and if revenue neutral they have passed the money to the daily riders ...
Click to expand...

And I feel like I'm stealing GO's money, thanks to taking destinations which are not specifically marked on my pass.
 
Swarley said:
In actual news, the TTC is recommending adoption of PRESTO, subject to conditions. Haven't had time to read this to see if there's anything of substance in it.
Click to expand...

The following are the conditions:

PRESTO will deliver a system that addresses TTC business needs (current and future) in a manner that is acceptable to TTC from a customer, operational, and financial perspective.
• TTC must be able to participate and sign-off on processes and decision points during key stages in the project, including system development and design, procurement, and implementation.
• PRESTO must ensure that the procurement for TTC required equipment and services is conducted in an open and competitive manner and allows for participation by multiple vendors.
• TTC will need a governance and decision-making structure in place that allows the TTC to continue to meet its customer, business and financial needs.
• Funding must be provided to ensure that TTC involvement in PRESTO will be affordable for the TTC and City of Toronto from both a capital and operating perspective, and taking into account the long-term operation of the system.
• TTC and the City of Toronto must be able to take advantage of other opportunities (both transit and non-transit) that smartcard systems provide. • TTC and the City must be able to take advantage of advances in fare payment approaches (e.g. open payments; mobile phones).
Click to expand...

I say fine, whatever, approve and be done.
 
Trouble in smart fare card paradise...

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=90475&sid=26061438&con_type=1

MTR passengers taken for ride in Octopus fare glitch

Scarlett Chiang

Thursday, November 12, 2009


Human error caused about 2,000 Octopus card holders to be overcharged by a total of HK$5,000 while taking a trip on the MTR West Rail from November 6-10.

The MTR Corp found that its automatic fare collection system overcharged some passengers 20 cents to HK$2, instead of allowing them to enjoy a cash rebate promotion.

Those taking the West Rail after taking the Light Rail or MTR buses are affected, but not those whose West Rail trip was cheaper than the Light Rail or bus trip.

"For example, if the West Rail trip cost HK$3.40 and the Light Rail cost the client HK$3.70, the client would not enjoy the cash rebate of the HK$3.70 and lose 30 cents instead," the MTR spokesman explained.

He said the discrepancy was caused by human error during the programming process to upgrade the system to offer planned fare promotion.

The company apologized for the error.

A list of the affected Octopus card numbers will be available today on the MTR website, www.mtr.com.hk. Those affected may register their cards at special counters at Tuen Mun, Siu Hong, Tin Shui Wai, Long Ping, Yuen Long and Kam Sheung Road stations starting from today to next Wednesday, from 7am to 10pm.

They may have a free single journey ticket for each journey that was incorrectly deducted as compensation. Passengers may also call the MTR hotline on 2881-8888.

"This is a serious matter, and we have launched a thorough review of the process involved in upgrading the Automatic Fare Collection system software," said head of operations Choi Tak-tsan.

Legislator Wong Kwok-hing, of the New Territories East constituency, said the incident again showed the unreliability of electronic money.

"We are urging the government to have a penalty system for either MTR or the Octopus card company if there are any more wrong deductions," Wong said.
 
Swarley said:
In actual news, the TTC is recommending adoption of PRESTO, subject to conditions. Haven't had time to read this to see if there's anything of substance in it.
Click to expand...

Great! This is coming from a position of fiercely opposed to PRESTO and keeping the token and transfer system to embracing it with perfectly acceptable conditions.

When do we think this can be in operation?

This will have to be phased in unless there's money to retrofit every station with new turnstiles and every bus and streetcar with PRESTO card readers all at once.

How will both systems coexist?

Is PRESTO a contactless (RFID) system or do you have to swipe? Maybe phase in subway station by subway station, leaving a single token and metropass turnstile and once the entire subway system is finished, convert the remaining turnstiles... This is a gonna be a huge undertaking.
 
It is RFID, and since they are already wiring their fareboxes for that strange metropass validator system they were talking about last week it should reduce the overall cost of installing Presto. The main stumbling block is that the existing fareboxes do not have any electric components at all.

The validator itself is a bolt-on unit, so the two systems will coexist just fine.
 
You must log in or register to post here.

Back
Top