Geelong Transit System

The Geelong Transit System is the umbrella operating brand of public transport in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. It also includes a unified time-based multi-modal ticketing system.

History

Trials of a time-based ticketing system had commenced in Geelong in the early 1980s, as part of a reform of transport ticketing in Victoria, [cite web
url=http://www.robx1.net/victkt/nhood/html/nhback.htm
title=The Neighbourhood System - Background
publisher=www.robx1.net
accessdate=2008-04-22] but it was not until 1983 that the Geelong Transit System was introduced.cite web
url=http://www.ptua.org.au/media/2001/press35.shtml
title=PTUA: Geelong Branch Media Release - Bring Back the Booklet
publisher=www.ptua.org.au
accessdate=2008-04-22] Over time route service buses used in Geelong were painted into the Geelong Transit System livery, of white body and blue stripes. Since Kefford Corporation purchased Benders in 2000 [cite web|url=http://www.geelonginfo.com/search/webpage.asp?clientid=12943|title=Geelong Info - Benders Busways|accessdate=2007-07-26] their buses have progressively been repainted into their own green livery.

Since April 2006 V/Line railway tickets sold to Geelong, South Geelong, and Marshall railway stations have included GTS travel, [cite web
url=http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/8fc6e140ef55837cca256c8c00183cdc/48834ff802d37191ca25715600825dcd!OpenDocument
title=Media Release: BETTER VALUE FOR V/LINE TICKETS FROM THIS SATURDAY
publisher=www.dpc.vic.gov.au
accessdate=2008-04-22] as part of the integration of the Victorian public transport fare systems before the introduction of myki. In 2008 the coming availability of daily and weekly tickets was announced.cite web
url=http://www.viclink.com.au/news/media_releases/regional_buses/new_ticket_system_on_the_way_for_victoria_s_town_buses
title=New ticket system on the way for Victoria's town buses - Viclink - Your guide to public transport in Melbourne and Victoria
publisher=www.viclink.com.au
accessdate=2008-04-22]

ervices

The Geelong Transit System covers all government contracted urban route buses in Geelong operated by Benders Busways and McHarry's Buslines, as well as V/Line rail services between Lara and Marshall stations on the Geelong line.

Ticketing

The ticketing system used is time-based and multi-modal using paper based tickets issues by staff and inspected manually. Tickets are valid for two hours, from the next full hour after it was purchased. Passengers many make unlimited transfers during the time the ticket is valid, on both urban buses and V/Line rail services. [cite web
url=http://www.viclink.com.au/fares_tickets/regional_city_fares_tickets
title=Regional city fares & tickets - Viclink - Your guide to public transport in Melbourne and Victoria
publisher=www.viclink.com.au
accessdate=2008-04-22] GTS tickets are not valid in conjunction with V/Line travel beyond the GTS network boundary.

The only other type of ticket usable for travel was yearly and half-yearly student bus passes, [cite web
url=http://www.mcharrys.com.au/GTSPrices.html
title=McHarry's Geelong Transit System - Ticketing Information
publisher=www.mcharrys.com.au
accessdate=2008-04-22] until April 2006 when V/Line railway tickets sold to Geelong, South Geelong, and Marshall railway stations included GTS travel, [cite web
url=http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/8fc6e140ef55837cca256c8c00183cdc/48834ff802d37191ca25715600825dcd!OpenDocument
title=Media Release: BETTER VALUE FOR V/LINE TICKETS FROM THIS SATURDAY
publisher=www.dpc.vic.gov.au
accessdate=2008-04-22] and when daily and weekly tickets were made available in 2008.cite web
url=http://www.viclink.com.au/news/media_releases/regional_buses/new_ticket_system_on_the_way_for_victoria_s_town_buses
title=New ticket system on the way for Victoria's town buses - Viclink - Your guide to public transport in Melbourne and Victoria
publisher=www.viclink.com.au
accessdate=2008-04-22]

Five types of ticket forms exist:
* McHarry's bus issue: old style paper ticket
* Benders bus issue: thermally printed paper ticket
* Preprinted: valid date is clipped out
* V/Line rail ticket: standard V/Line thermal ticket with GTS code marked on it
* V/Line rail ticket: standard V/Line conductor issued ticket with GTS code marked on it

These tickets will all be superseded by the myki smartcard ticketing system now being implemented.

References

External links

* [http://www.mcharrys.com.au/McHGTS.html McHarry's: Geelong Transit System]
* [http://www.bendersbusways.com.au/ Benders Busways]