What Went Wrong, Why T-Card System Failed
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report has been shaped to examine the reason of a failed T-card project initiated for automating Sydney’s transportation ticketing system, the objective of the system was to create a smart card that can be used with the CityRail, Sydney Busses, Sydney ferries service, trams and it will also bring all other private transport service providers into city’s integrated ticketing system (Anonymous, Tcard viewed on 24 sep 09).
The contract was awarded to a Perth based ERG Group, child company ITSL (Integrated Ticketing Solutions Ltd.) in 2003. ERG Group has successfully completed Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Stockholm and many other big countries ticketing systems all over the world.
In 2005 the system was tested over school students and was expanded in 2006 by implementing it over the entire private busses network, but unfortunately the system couldn’t provide the expected outcome and the bus drivers threaten the government for a boycott because of crashing the ticketing machine very frequently, (Baker, Jordan, Sydney Morning Herald, viewed on 26-sep-09) in addition the project came under strong doubt after ERG request the govt. for another AU$14 Million after spending AU$54 Million. The Government renegotiated over and over again until 2008 when the Vendor gave the deadline for 2010 (Case Study), the Transport minister cancel the contract and called the system a failure.
After much review we discover that ERG made some very juvenile mistakes which became the reasons for failure, the main reason behind the failure was improper planning which include unrealistic scope, lack of involvement of key stake holder and improper controlling and monitoring processes throughout the project.
In the end we have recommended some actions which can be taken to revive the system again and if managed and followed properly can make the different ending, it includes proper tracking system throughout project, involving the concern authorities all the
This report has been shaped to examine the reason of a failed T-card project initiated for automating Sydney’s transportation ticketing system, the objective of the system was to create a smart card that can be used with the CityRail, Sydney Busses, Sydney ferries service, trams and it will also bring all other private transport service providers into city’s integrated ticketing system (Anonymous, Tcard viewed on 24 sep 09).
The contract was awarded to a Perth based ERG Group, child company ITSL (Integrated Ticketing Solutions Ltd.) in 2003. ERG Group has successfully completed Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Stockholm and many other big countries ticketing systems all over the world.
In 2005 the system was tested over school students and was expanded in 2006 by implementing it over the entire private busses network, but unfortunately the system couldn’t provide the expected outcome and the bus drivers threaten the government for a boycott because of crashing the ticketing machine very frequently, (Baker, Jordan, Sydney Morning Herald, viewed on 26-sep-09) in addition the project came under strong doubt after ERG request the govt. for another AU$14 Million after spending AU$54 Million. The Government renegotiated over and over again until 2008 when the Vendor gave the deadline for 2010 (Case Study), the Transport minister cancel the contract and called the system a failure.
After much review we discover that ERG made some very juvenile mistakes which became the reasons for failure, the main reason behind the failure was improper planning which include unrealistic scope, lack of involvement of key stake holder and improper controlling and monitoring processes throughout the project.
In the end we have recommended some actions which can be taken to revive the system again and if managed and followed properly can make the different ending, it includes proper tracking system throughout project, involving the concern authorities all the