> So why exactly don't the tram machines sell daily tickets? Are
> they trying to encourage people to buy tickets from shops?
> Will those be electronic, or scratchies? If the latter, surely
> the PTC will lose all the statistical data they've spent all
> this time building the system to collect!
For that matter, why DON'T they sell scratchies at railway stations? My
local station (East Ringwood) is rarely attended these days, and it would
be more convenient for me to get them at the city end (or any other manned
station for that matter). They even refuse to sell normal tickets
(suitably validated) for the next day! And as for those ticket machines,
well that's another story....
> As far as fare evasion goes, perhaps they ought to get
> people to show their tickets to the drivers when leaving
> the tram, to discourage people from riding without a ticket?
> Letting the driver ensure that people have tickets as
> they get off would be almost as fast as people getting on
> board driver-only trams or buses now, who already
> have a ticket.
Ever caught a Swanston St tram on a Fri or Sat evening? OK when there is
a conductor, but driver-only trams are a nightmare if you are in a hurry.
Some places such as Seattle have
> passengers exiting the front door and paying
> the driver on the way out (on trips away from the city
> centre, at least).
But what happens when someone refuses to pay the fare, or hasn't got any
money (or only has a $100 note)?
>
> But if tram drivers will take no part whatsoever in fare
> collection, will we eventually see W class trams with
> no conductor and a ticket machine?
When was the last time a ticket inspector was seen on a bus or tram? I
haven't seen one on either in at least 20 years! These days, they are
only seen on trains or at stations (especially on weekends when it is
hardest to buy tickets).
Mind you, it never ceases to amaze me how many people do get caught when
they COULD have obtained a ticket - the 7:32am City to Lilydale on
Sundays is a good example - ticket inspectors hit this train almost every
week. The ticket offices at FS open with plenty of time to get a ticket,
and there is normally an announcement over the P.A. system to announce
this. And yet many people get caught without a ticket before the train has
got even as far as Richmond!. I remember one day there were 15 people in
just one carriage alone who got caught - and there were only 16 (including
me) in it! And no, I WASN'T one of those who got booked :-)
Some of the excuses for not having tickets put 'Worlds Dumbest Criminals'
TV show to shame! Maybe this would be an idea for a TV special! :-))
Mick.
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| email: mzs@eastwood.apana.org.au |
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