Another new smartcard scheme: Walrus

[supervalkoinen]

Given my experiences with Oyster and Merseyrail, I don't have a lot of faith in this.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-14971192

Walrus swipe card introduced for Merseyside travel


A single-use electronic swipe card for public transport journeys on Merseyside has been launched.
The Walrus, similar to London's Oyster card, covers travel on rail, ferry and bus services in the region.
Users will also be able to buy other items, such as drinks, with the card, which is the first in the UK to cover non-transport related products.
It will initially replace all-zone season tickets with additional services added in 2012 and 2013.
Neil Scales, chief executive of Merseytravel, said: "This launch signals a revolution in the way people pay for and use public transport.
"Walrus will see the widest range of uses of any smartcard in the country being fully integrated into all our varied forms of transport and ticketing, ultimately saving our customers time and money.
"We are aiming towards a network where people pass seamlessly through our stations and ferry terminals, while also being able to board buses and even buy a coffee.
"In London less than 2% of public transport journeys are paid for in cash, and while cash will always be an option, Walrus will be a far more convenient option for customers, drivers and operators alike."

 

[Greenback]

I have a few concerns about swipe cards. My biggest concern is that there are so many local schemes being introduced for different areas that the result will be total confusion for visitors.

 

[swt_passenger]

Given my experiences with Oyster and Merseyrail, I don't have a lot of faith in this.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-14971192

It isn't a travelcard though, it's a 'smartcard'.

Travelcards are available on paper, perhaps you should reconsider your thread title?

 

[Mike395]

I have no issue with smartcard schemes, so long as they comply to a common standard (i.e. ITSO), otherwise they are likely to have to be upgraded in a few years anyway (I exclude Oyster from this, as it was around at a point where it didn't look like integrated ticketing would take off at a national level) - this one doesn't appear to, and as such, I think it's a waste of money to be totally honest

(Thread title changed by the way - I agree, it isn't a Travelcard!)

 

[button_boxer]

I have no issue with smartcard schemes, so long as they comply to a common standard (i.e. ITSO), otherwise they are likely to have to be upgraded in a few years anyway (I exclude Oyster from this, as it was around at a point where it didn't look like integrated ticketing would take off at a national level) - this one doesn't appear to, and as such, I think it's a waste of money to be totally honest

According to http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/newsarticle.asp?articleid=1866&catid=1 "Walrus is based on the specifications of the government backed ITSO standards allowing interoperability of smart ticketing schemes throughout the UK."

 

[Mike395]

According to http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/newsarticle.asp?articleid=1866&catid=1 "Walrus is based on the specifications of the government backed ITSO standards allowing interoperability of smart ticketing schemes throughout the UK."

Ah so it is - didn't see that. Thanks

 

[swt_passenger]

Stagecoach 'Smart'
Nexus 'Pop'
London Midland 'Key'
Merseyrail 'Walrus'

All ITSO cards so far, so how many local authorities are there, and how many different names will there be for what is the same ITSO spec card - which is supposed to be a national standard and work everywhere, even London eventually.

Anyone see the scope for total confusion with every 'new' system being just a repeat of the previous wonderful new system, except the local media will report their local set up as the brilliant new idea?

 

[Stats]

London Midland 'Key'

"the Key" isn't specific to London Midland, it is Go Ahead's name for their smartcards. The same design as London Midland, albeit a different colour, is currently available on Go North East buses.

 

[transportphoto]

All English National Concessionary Bus Passes are ITSO smart cards, you can use any ITSO smart card on any scheme, you just have to contact the organiser of the scheme (In this case MerseyTravel) and give them the smartcard number to enter into their data base. As items are not loaded onto cards but onto individual databases you can hold as many tickets / credit dependant onto your smartcard.

Thats how I understand it anyway!

TP

 

[[email protected].]

Stagecoach 'Smart'
Nexus 'Pop'
London Midland 'Key'
Merseyrail 'Walrus'


Is there a smart card appearing for East Midlands Trains as well?

Saw card readers on the platforms at Chesterfield Saturday.

 

[First class]

will give full details next week...

EMT, LM, TPE, VT, ME, ATW and NT will all need to have card readers for their conductors/RPIs/stations to read the data.

 

[mallard]

All English National Concessionary Bus Passes are ITSO smart cards, you can use any ITSO smart card on any scheme, you just have to contact the organiser of the scheme (In this case MerseyTravel) and give them the smartcard number to enter into their data base. As items are not loaded onto cards but onto individual databases you can hold as many tickets / credit dependant onto your smartcard.

I'm sure that's how it works in theory, but I'm also sure that some/most/all TOCs/ITSO smartcard users will find it simpler just to issue a new card rather than add other operators' cards to their database. Also, it becomes a complicated and confusing headache for the customer if they have multiple credit balances on multiple systems on the same card. And what happens if two operators decide to enter into an inter-availability agreement and I already have separate balances with each of them on my card?

We need a proper, national, single-brand, smartcard system!

 

[Jay]

will give full details next week...

EMT, LM, TPE, VT, ME and NT will all need to have card readers yet.

EMT are trailing theirs at the moment.

All the hardwear is installed and ready to go.

However you can only use the card on EMT services. NOT to DBY for example, you would have to use the EMT service and not Crosscountry.

 

[First class]

EMT are trailing theirs at the moment.

All the hardwear is installed and ready to go.

However you can only use the card on EMT services. NOT to DBY for example, you would have to use the EMT service and not Crosscountry.

Think you misunderstand. This new Walrus smartcard is available for use on all listed TOCs, including EMT.
Conductors do not have a facility to read smartcards at present on the LIV-NRW trains. The Walrus is valid between LIV and LPY or in connection with Section 19 NRCoC.

 

[Jay]

Our EMT depot has the readers, but only 10!

Can't tell you who has beenhaving readers being issued to them them, we have not been issued them for use in the station. When the trial has ended I'm sure there will be one in every Advantix bag.

 

[First class]

Our EMT depot has the readers, but only 10!

Can't tell you who has beenhaving readers being issued to them them, we have not been issued them for use in the station. When the trial has ended I'm sure there will be one in every Advantix bag.

It's not a trial though, it is permanent now!

 

[Greenback]

We need a proper, national, single-brand, smartcard system!

I couldn'
t agree more!

However you can only use the card on EMT services. NOT to DBY for example, you would have to use the EMT service and not Crosscountry.

And that's one of the reasons why!

 

[First class]

Autumn 2011
Annual Trio
'All Zone' passes only

Spring 2012
Rail Pass
'All Zone'

Spring 2012
Merseyferries, Season Tickets


Summer 2012
All Merseytravel, Attractions


Autumn 2012
Solo, Trio and Rail Pass
All zones and all variations

Winter 2012
Pay-As-You-Go
Limited Trial

Spring 2013
Saveaway
All areas, all variations

Summer 2013
Pay-As-You-Go

 

[Stats]

Smartcards will be redundant by the end of the decade when we are all using either our contactless credit/debit cards or the "wallets" on our mobiles.

 

[First class]

Smartcards will be redundant by the end of the decade when we are all using either our contactless credit/debit cards or the "wallets" on our mobiles.

I doubt it

Giving that you can get an Oyster loaded onto a Barclaycard already...

The majority of the population still won't go for mobile wallets.

10 years in rail terms is like an hour in reality!!

 

[shinkansen1966]

5 years from now, I can see my wallet being stuffed with these different smart cards wondering which to get out for the next journey.

 

[trentside]

5 years from now, I can see my wallet being stuffed with these different smart cards wondering which to get out for the next journey.

I know what you mean. I already have an Oyster and a Mango (TrentBarton) card. I wouldn't have thought it will be long before Stagecoach 'Smart' appears in my area, at which point I'll likely have one of those too (hopefully valid for use on EMT). There is a real need for some joined up thinking on ITSO - the railways need a national scheme, not local ones.

Also, Walrus? What were they thinking...

 

[button_boxer]

Beatles connection ("I Am The Walrus")? Or just continuing the marine theme from oysters...

 

[transportphoto]

I know what you mean. I already have an Oyster and a Mango (TrentBarton) card. I wouldn't have thought it will be long before Stagecoach 'Smart' appears in my area, at which point I'll likely have one of those too (hopefully valid for use on EMT). There is a real need for some joined up thinking on ITSO - the railways need a national scheme, not local ones.

Also, Walrus? What were they thinking...

If/When stagecoach smart appears in your area just contact stagecoach, if your 'Mango' is an ITSO card then you should be able to register it with s/coach and use your MANGO on s/coach as detailed above (however note that a s/coach ticket will have to be loaded to the card)

TP

 

[shinkansen1966]

however note that a s/coach ticket will have to be loaded to the card

How ?

At the moment, my Oyster card is loaded and can be used for any bus. How would load up the same card with different money for different operators ?

Confused....

 

[dvboy]

How ?

At the moment, my Oyster card is loaded and can be used for any bus. How would load up the same card with different money for different operators ?

Confused....

Oyster isn't itso standard.

 

[Max]

There are quite a few schemes launching at the moment. In South Yorkshire, all First buses will shortly have smartcard readers and the company is launching it's own smartcard scheme. I understand that all PTE concessionary cards will soon be ITSO compliant. Under 16 cards are now issued as smartcards, and the intention is to roll out the 'Yorcard' scheme over the next few years, which will have top-up/pre-loaded options much like Oyster.

 

[jon0844]

My Oyster is also a contactless payment card and credit card (Barclays) but while you will be able to use contactless cards to pay for tube/bus/rail journeys, there is a £15 maximum. It could be increased, as it was from £10, but it does mean you're likely to be limited if/when you can travel further out from any town/zonal system.

 

[mallard]

If/When stagecoach smart appears in your area just contact stagecoach, if your 'Mango' is an ITSO card then you should be able to register it with s/coach and use your MANGO on s/coach as detailed above (however note that a s/coach ticket will have to be loaded to the card)

In theory. However, while it is yet to be seen, I fully expect that operators (not just rail) will just take the simpler/lazier approach and only issue new cards, rather than allow registrations of existing cards. ITSO will be a "standard" only for the industry, not for the users.

 

[jon0844]

I hope you're proved wrong, but doubt you will be!