The possibilities for this thing are awesome. Now the work begins. Getting operators to buy into the (initially) core system gradually sounds like a great idea.

It’ll make the whole system so much more user-friendly.

Thanks Jon for the news.

The catch will be that if you do not tag on at that reader, and you arrive at a station with barrier machines, you won’t be able to go through the exit gate without finding a staff member and explaining yourself, as the exit gate won’t let you through.

Freeriders between ‘open’ stations would assumedly be subject to getting caught by inspectors/police and subject to fines, as is often the case overseas.

Thanks for the reply

What do you mean “tag on post” how would that work?

Ticket barriers on the system would be interesting – the open nature of most of the stations would probably mean a redesign of some of them.

How would a smartcard work with the current ticketing system on the rail network?

The current system would be replaced by the smart-card. I assume that we would have ticket gates at Britomart, Newmarket and a few other stations. Elsewhere you could have “tag on posts” like you find on the Docklands Light Rail System in London.

Would the train conductors carry such machines on them?

I doubt it. The only staff on the trains would be ticket-checkers.

Or will there be prepaid machines located at train stations?

Yup, machines at all stations would cost a bit though!

Would the train conductors carry such machines on them?

Or will there be prepaid machines located at train stations?

So many questions I know but I’m just too excited!