A Discussion and Update on Integrated Fares and Electronic Ticketing in NZ By Neil Douglas

Integrated fares and electronic ticketing are frequently advocated by transport planning authorities to promote public transport use. But how effective and necessary are integrated fares and electronic ticketing for urban NZ. This paper reviews the state of play in New Zealand in 2009 and draws some lessons from overseas. Fare differentiation, the flip side of integrated fares, also has merit since operating cost structures and demand characteristics of bus, rail and ferry services can differ. Simple 1-3 zone systems can simplify fare structures but multi zone systems, such as the 14 zone system in Wellington, can complicate rather than simplify the fares for users. Electronic ticketing potentially offers convenient cash-less payment and most of the smaller urban centres have introduced electronic smart cards. The expensive problem that remains is the conversion of rail from paper based ticketing to an electronic smart card system. The more so if the same system is to be compatible with smart card systems that are already working in Wellington and to a lesser extent Auckland. Overseas experience is that simple fare systems can aid the introduction of electronic ticketing onto rail services. It is hoped that Auckland and Wellington can learn from the Hong Kong Octopus and avoid entangled in expensive and time consuming litigation as has been the experience of Sydney’s disastrous TCard.