TransLink smart card about 2 years away
 

Kelly Sinoski, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, March 26, 2009

Metro Vancouver transit users will likely be able to use smart cards on the system within a couple of years, but TransLink's board has yet to decide whether to install fare gates at SkyTrain stations.

TransLink CEO Tom Prendergast said he expects to award a contract to a smart card bidder later this year, but it would likely take up to two years before the card is activated. Smart cards allow passengers to load cash onto their cards, with fares automatically deducted as the card is scanned at the beginning or end of a trip.

Prendergast said the board will investigate Hong Kong's Octopus card, which also allows passengers to buy products such as gum or newspapers, as well as London's Oyster card, which can be used only on the transit system.
he smart cards would allow TransLink to determine where riders are coming from or heading to so it can better meet their needs, Prendergast said. TransLink will also consider ways to offer discounts to frequent users.

TransLink is still working on a business plan for fare gates at SkyTrain stations and will consider whether to go ahead with those at a later date.

I'm awaiting for the remarks from those who will say "OMG Finally this is like HK!!!" :rolleyes:

OMG Finally this is like HK!!!

w000t

hot damn just like HK !

Soon i can also waste money at 7-11 and Maxims bakery !

OMG Finally this is like HK!!!

just like hk! the octopus card!!! woot woot

Hong Kong has the world's first smart card. Even Japan had to go to HK to see this advanced technology.

Then they can add gates to the skytrain to prevent fucktards from getting run over.

HK is here!!!!!!

I hate translink, better to drive your own car then be late places your going and sitting beside homeless guys talking to themselves.

SWEET!!!

We should name our bus cards.... "Dungeness Crab"

Salmon Card

Beaver Card!

beaver pass... LOL

It's like HK! Finally!

OMG Finally this is like UK!!!

guess what???


its like HK !!!

OMG Finally this is like HK!!!

Now if they only installed gates and that nifty little timer that will show how long until the skytrain arrives....

OH WAIT.. IT ISN'T LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE MONITORS OR SIGNS! WTF ARE THEY WAITING FOR?!

OMG Finally this is like HK!!!

Whale's Card <-- Canucks 4 life !!

or the same Whale on Driver license or ID card ..: P

coool we're only 10 years too late

ohhhh, the Canuck card would sound cool.

they can team up with local stores, like i donno, safeways, or london drugs or something. so not only can u use it in the stores, but recharge the cards. then team it up with canucks so u can use the card at the stores! the whole point is to make it easy so u dont have to carry change around all the time.

+1!!!!!!!! :D

Now I await the announcement that there will be multi-lingual announcements at the stops:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EngxONnDtRs

(I have that as a ringtone HAHAHAHA)