Re: Public transport making money (Was: Re: Metcard Xpress and Plastic Tickets (was: Metcard Machines and Tickets))

["Switched On" <yaropolk@hotmail.com>]

Actually, there are change machines at some stations (Salisbury has one for
sure). They are slowly being introduced all over the place.

Unfortunately for ticket sellers, there was only one of them, and they carry
cash on them, so they can be targets for gangs. I don't know if this has
ever happened, but the idea is to get the cash off the train and somewhere
safe where no one would get injured for it.

canetram59 <canetram59@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:37f28d7b@grissom...
>
> Liz Irwin <eirwin@alphalink.com.au> wrote in message
> news:37F1E66D.AC7E11A3@alphalink.com.au...
> > I like what happens on the Brisbane trains (at least it did a few years
> > ago when I was last there).  A ticket seller walks up and down the
> > train,  At the same time he provides security (he had a walkie-talkie
> > etc), sells the tickets, checks the tickets (selling tickets is the next
> > logical step for someone minus a ticket), gave directions and generally
> > made life better for travellers.  I would assume that his presence would
> > also put off the messier types.  Oh, and I nearly forgot - food and
> > drink of any kind were not allowed to be consumed on the trains there.
> > No wonder they were so clean!
> >
> > Liz
> >
> The roving ticket seller does not exist in Brisbane now. They have been
> replaced by a machine on each platform which dispenses tickets. You now
must
> have a valid ticket before boarding a train. The trouble is, that the
ticket
> vending machines can only handle coins so if you don't have sufficient
coins
> and the remainder in notes, tough you have to go somewhere else to get
> change (there are no change machines at suburban stations). The roving
> ticket seller would not travel on the one train all the time. They would
> sell tickets on one train, get off at a station along the route and then
> catch the next train either going in the return direction or going the
same
> way as their previous train. If you were late for your train you could get
> straight on and purchase your ticket at your destination (eg Central) or
off
> a roving ticket seller.
> Now that you must have a valid ticket before boarding we have roving
ticket
> inspectors. These travel in pairs and inspect tickets (obviously). If you
> are caught without a valid ticket it can mean a $120 fine. You now have to
> arrive at your boarding station in plenty of time to catch your train and
> you must have plenty of change in your pocket. If there is a que of people
> waiting to use the ticket vending machine you'd better hope that they all
> know how to use it and don't dither about as this can also cause you to
miss
> your train as you will be still trying to buy a ticket.
>
> canetram59
>
>
>