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Metrolinx: Presto Fare Card

That's probably why they aren't activated yet; they want to get them all installed first.

I've been using Presto for about a month between Port Credit and Exhibition and it works perfectly for me.
 
ShonTron said:
I spotted the Presto readers on Mississauga and Brampton buses today. It seems that only some buses are fitted with the machines so far. There's two components: the tap readers at the front door for customers to use, and a display/status machine for the driver, fitted next to the current GFI coin/ticket machines the suburban systems use.
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It's random which buses have them.

I asked a girl at the Zum Zone in Brampton. They're hoping to get Presto up by November. It's all back end stuff they're worrying about.
 
Tuscani01 said:
Apparently it is only available in Durham Region, due to a partnership between GO and DRT....
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Exactly. DRT is allowing CNIB cardholders to ride for free, and their fare agreement with GO (that lets you ride GO buses within Durham for a DRT fare) carries it onto GO in Durham.

Don't expect this program to last more than a few years. It is almost certainly going to be discontinued when DRT gets their Highway 2 "BRT" up and running and GO discontinues its route 94. Durham is ONLY providing this program to make up for the fact that DRT stil has a very incomplete set of cross-regional routes.
 
I made a payment to my Presto card via Mastercard, and it has still has not shown up 8 days later. I *have* used Presto on the TTC swipe turnstyles in the intervening 8 days, but have *not* used it on GO. Do I have to go to Union to activate each individual payment? If so, this card is much more useless than I realized.
 
Sigh

Should have read the instructions on the website. You need to touch a Presto reader at a GO station to push the balance to the card. Blame whoever you want, but they've been saying this for weeks.

It will get fixed in the near future. In the mean time, stay calm - your blood pressure will thank you. Don't panic. Don't forget your towel.
 
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RedRocket191 said:
It will get fixed in the near future. In the mean time, stay calm - your blood pressure will thank you. Don't panic. Don't forget your towel.
Click to expand...

I think we are on month three of "the near future".
 
According to the person I just talked to on the Presto customer service line, it was the TTC's decision to disable the ability to push through payments by use of the TTC swipe machines. Not sure whether to believe this; if true, this is infuriating.
 
Another question: does using the autoload feature get around the difficulty of going to Union every time to "push through" payments?
 
Padraic said:
Another question: does using the autoload feature get around the difficulty of going to Union every time to "push through" payments?
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Good question. I got it to work the first time using Union. I'll see what happens when the Autoload triggers again ... might take a while though, as I'm using a Metropass for most TTC trips, my regular GO trip doesn't have Presto for a couple of months yet, and I set the autoload for $40.
 
Transfer window issue update: I received a phone call this morning from Garrick McIntoish, Media Relations and Issues Specialist for PRESTO. It went to voicemail and he followed up with this emai which is a summary of what he said:

Good morning Mr. XXXXXXXXX,

I work with the PRESTO project office and in following up with my voicemail from this morning, I wanted to update you with regards to your inquiry into transferring vehicles & transit systems using PRESTO. Right off the bat, we'd like to offer an apology for the inconvenience caused to you by this issue. One of the goals of the PRESTO card is to provide simplicity and convenience to customers - something that clearly was not provided to you in this instance.

We absolutely appreciate your feedback and assure you that your comments have been heard as we work to improve the customer experience of using PRESTO. This transfer window issue has been escalated to the top of our organization and we've flagged it as a priority to address. I am hoping to have an update by tomorrow morning and I will communicate it to you as soon as possible.
Again, thank you for your time and feedback. We hope you'll continue to use PRESTO as we work towards making it as convenient for you. If you'd like to discuss further, please don't hesitate to call or email me directly at your earliest convenience.

Regards,


Garrick McIntosh
Media Relations & Issues Specialist
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I am guessing they realised the two hour "tap on to tap on" rule will simply not hold up and are trying to now figure out how to adapt the system to make it work. I imagine someone's head exploded when I pointed out some GO train trips themselves are more than two hours. I am also wondering if this rule is the result of a system design for GO trips that assumes if you do not tap off within two hours that you must have forgot and then it dumps your card into the dreaded "underpayment" mode.

I am pleased by this response but await word from him tomorrow on how they will address the problem.
 
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I was on GO twice this weekend and was fare checked both times. I showed my PRESTO card and the guy nodded and walked away. Uh... did they implant readers in the brains of fare inspectors, or are they just short of portable ones?
 
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