GRAMPIAN REGIONAL LTD. FLEET WIDE USE OF A MAGNETIC TICKETING SYSTEM. TRRL PUBLIC TRANSPORT SEMINAR ON MAGNETIC TIKCETING FROM PRINCIPLE TO PRACTICE, JUNE 21-22, 1989

This article describes the trial of the mark i farecard system which used a prepaid stored value magnetic ticket on grampian regional transport limited buses. The method of introducing the card, the passenger information and advertising campaign, the market research programme and the results 10 months after fleet wide introduction of farecard are all presented. Extensive driver training and advertising were undertaken 3 months before the scheme was introduced. Advertising included: (a) a press release; (B) poster campaign; (c) a direct mail campaign involving 10000 complimentary 50p farecards being sent to existing known regular customers. A market research survey was undertaken to examine passenger attitude and behaviour with regards to bus travel and how these are being influenced, if at all, by the new ticket and the associated marketing campaigns. During the trial period, machine performance was monitored very carefully, as was the effect of the system upon boarding times, and use of the system. The market research showed that there was a high awareness of farecard, with 87% of households being interviewed being aware of the system, of which almost a third had used farecard. 9% of cash transactions were converted to farecard by early September. Increased boarding times at peak periods could result in a loss of patronage, but this problem is expected to be overcome with the introduction of the new "flat bed" machine. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 824246.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)

  Wokingham, Berkshire  United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • Lockhead, M
  • Warman, P
• Publication Date: 1989

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 13 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Automatic control; Automation; Boarding; Buses; Conferences; Evaluation and assessment; Interviewing; Magnetic properties; Operations research; Public transit; Publicity; Tariffs; Travel time
• Uncontrolled Terms: Use
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Finance; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00498001
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM