^ It’s a good location as it should encourage people not to hover around the doors, but enough people need to know it’s there for this to work. The new GBV buses on the GC appear to have a similar setup - as do a lot of buses in Opal territory.
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Are the GBV buses down there those ones that look like they have a pompadour?
Some of the BCC buses have this as well as the the new eBuses on the Sunny coast
It looks like smart ticketing is already activated on Clarks.
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I saw a post on threads saying it was activated, although that is only anecdotal and there is no primary source confirming this afaik.
Yes, mostly anecdotal and no mention of the route they were on etc… If true, we may see a Translink post on Monday or Tuesday next week?
Yes indeed.
Over on Skyscrapercity, a few people have made mention of the readers showing the Smart Ticketing icon on their screen, rather than the Go Card icon. However, I have a feeling that the readers have been showing that icon since the start of the year at least (I vaguely recall touching on one morning late last year and noticing something different, but couldn’t put my finger on what it was) . All the buses I’ve been on since I saw that post (and actively started checking them) have all displayed the Smart Ticketing icon
Some others have said that they’ve successfully tapped on with their credit card/etc. I imagine that means that the system is technically live, but maybe hasn’t received it’s final certification?
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Smart ticketing is officially available on Clarks! Signage up and “Go Card Only” stickers removed (and actually replaced with a new sticker showing the credit cards and a Go Card - the actual printed frame shows a future Translink Card).
EDIT: Photos:
New reader sticker with Go Card.
Clarks really need to better curate their Facebook posts. The regular dozen or so missed morning services are neither new, nor exciting.
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That brings us to… about 28% of bus services with full Smart Ticketing then. (If my stats are correct TfB is over half of all SEQ bus trips in a typical week, and then Kinetic Gold Coast is about 17%, with everyone else in single digits).
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Gold Coast by Easter I reckon and then Brisbane in May?
The new Translink card is meant to be in place by Christmas.
Is most of the Gold Coast’s 17% on the HF routes?
Some people on the Skyscraper Forum have be told that Smart ticketing will be active on GC buses by April. Marketing going up as we speak.
Looks like the contactless payment feature was switched on on the Gold Coast buses yesterday. Although official Translink announcement pending similar to activation on Logan buses.
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I’m heading down there tomorrow, so I might give it a try.
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Boarded a 704 at Helensvale, and tapped on with my phone. Looks like Smart Ticketing is (unofficially) live on Kinetic!
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That’s great to hear! Only BCC to go. Couldn’t come sooner!
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I wonder if we will find out in time that BCC slowed the rollout to make Miles Govt look bad.
I highly doubt BCC can slow the rollout for the other operators. I think it’s really just that BCC, Clarks, and Kinetic make up a huge portion of the PT patronage. I can understand why they would want to spend more time crossing their T’s and dotting their I’s before rolling out to them.
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