New logic on Metcard

[p.edwards@its.unimelb.edu.au (Paul Edwards)]

I've just caught a tram from Collins St up to the University terminus. Part
way up Swanston St, an announcement (presumably from depot? -- guess so as
the driver was very good, announcing streets etc and the quality of this
announcement was *very* crackly) on why people should validate their
metcards.

Get this:

You should validate your metcards to allow Swanston Trams to improve the
scheduling of the service.

On the face of it, seems reasonable, but a little careful thought seems to
indicate the logic behind this statement is flawed.

The validating of the cards is done *on board* the tram. So if the schedule
is not good now, how is registering how many people are on each tram going
to improve matters.

Even installing validators at tram stops is useless, as arrival times of
people at tramstops are predicated by the existing timetables (which are
due for improvement).

Then again, this sort of logic is the same behind the idea of splitting one
corporation (with one centralized management structure) into six
corporations (each, presumably with their own management structure) and yet
managing to gain greater efficiencies. Ideology blinds logic again.

Cheers,
Paul