Cubic Transportation System: A Case Study

In 2003, Cubic Transportation Systems signed a contract with the Queensland Government, which called for an upgrade to the existing transportation ticketing system, similar to those implemented in New South Wales and Victoria. The terms of the contract called for the installation of tap-and-go ticketing machines on busses, trains, and ferries throughout Queensland, and to complement said machines, customers of the public transport network would be required to purchase a “Go-Card” from either Translink or selected retail stores, for which they could use as a substitute to said paper ticket. To support the use of said card, physical machines and a web backend would also be supplied for customers to be able to check their card’s balance, see where …show more content…
The child card is designed for children aged between five and fourteen, and includes concession fares, the adult card for persons fifteen years of age and above and charges standard rates, the concession card pension card holders, secondary and tertiary students, and defence force veterans, and a senior card with concession rates. Translink also offer a combined Senior Card + go which consists of both a Go-Card, and a Senior Citizens card. Although paper tickets are currently still available, the cost of a trip is 30% more expensive than the same trip with a Go-Card would be, and only single-trip tickets are available.

The technology acceptance model provides a suitable scaffold for the growth of the Go-Card to be placed upon. At the public launch of the Go-Card, many commuters were disgusted with the news that they were being forced to use a new system when the current one was supposedly working just fine (FIND SOURCE). Additionally, due to online banking systems being leagues behind the pleasant experience many are to use today, many believed it was a con by the government to force people into a system that they were unfamiliar with, and prone to make mistakes costing them money.