Re: Automatic Fare Collection

[world@pickle.com (Erkcle Diprospanotsu)]

This isnt so much a quirk with the AFC but rather the dopey retards
who designed the station. Give credit where credit's due, thats what I
say.

Erkcle D.

On 24 Jan 1998 04:58:42 GMT, "Robert Parnell"
<rparnell@netspace.net.au> wasted our time and oxygen by typing thus:

>The AFC in use by CityRail has some strange things as well as Melbourne.
>At Blacktown (junction of main Western line and Richmond line) the Richmond
>line platforms have been slightly isolated from the main station, when
>rebuilt in 1995. To change trains to/from platform 1/2 (Rich. line) to plat
>3/4/5/6, you have to leave the "paid area" (the area that you are required
>to be in posession of a valid ticket), hike to the main concourse (about
>100m along the bridge) then re-enter the paid area. This involves using the
>automatic gates twice. At times when trains are cancelled or other reason
>to change platform, there is a good change that the gates will capture the
>ticket without the user even catching a train!


> I've had an experience where I had to pass through the barrier 5 times to
>catch 1 train. I was required to change platforms due to altered running, 
>After passing through the first barrier (1st time) to platforms 1/2, an
>announcement was made that the train would be now departing from platform 3
>in one minute. So back out past the barrier (2nd time) and through the next
>one to the main concourse.(3rd time) As I can't walk about a total of 150m
>in lightning speed, I just missed the departing train. So back up, out
>through the barrier (4th time) to the destination indicators to determine
>the next fastest train to the city. It was plat. 4, so back through the
>barriers for the 5th time! Lucky I didn't use the automatic barriers at all
>(used the staffed manual gate) - I would have been stopped after a couple
>of times (its happened before while working at stations). If a paying
>passenger had used the auto gates, they would have lost their ticket for
>sure!
>I bet the consultants who designed this station have never caught a train. 
>Is this why the auto gates at Sydney Terminal are often left in the
>emergency open position? Why do people with lots of luguage always stand
>blocking the manual gate asking questions with train loads of people trying
>to get through such a small number of gates?
>Robert Parnell
>SRA-Railcom Technician, Electronics Enthusiast,
>Lachlan Valley Railway member,  NSW HO scale modeller
>E-mail:<rparnell@netspace.net.au>