Conductors on Sydney Light Rail

["David Bennetts" <davibenn@pcug.org.au>]

Took a ride on the Light Rail last Tuesday, and was intrigued to note that
a roving "conductor" was now employed on the trams on the busiest section
between Star City Casino and Central.  Trams made a lengthy stop at the
Casino and waited for the opposing movement to arrive so that the conductor
could swap trams.  Conductor was equipped with a portable ticket machine
issuing paper roll tickets. 

Obviously SLR has been missing out on quite a bit of revenue from
passengers boarding without tickets.  The ticket machines on the platform
are fairly easy to use after you realise that a number of the press buttons
serve no purpose whatsoever - a few signs on the machines wouldn't go amiss
to show you which button you should use.  The machines also are a pain in
that they won't accept notes, only coins.

If a private company like SLR has seen profitability in employing
conductors, one wonders why Melbourne dispensed with them so hastily!

Regards

David Bennetts
Canberra