Driverless cars and trains, ridesharing, Opal, smart phones and real time apps – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance today announced he was calling on the world's brightest tech minds to find the next big idea that would shake up transport in NSW.
In an Australian first, the NSW Government will host 'Future Transport' – a 12 month program to uncover the trends and technologies that will revolutionise the way the government and customers plan, build and use transport.
‘Future Transport’ will kick off with a two day summit on April 18-19, bringing together thought leaders, IT specialists, innovators, entrepreneurs, futurists, transport leaders and academics, from Surry Hills to Silicon Valley.
The summit will also feature an 'Industry Ideas and Innovations Lab' where companies can register to pitch products and ideas that could improve transport and the customer experience.
“This summit will be the perfect platform to ignite innovative, creative and out of the box ideas that will transform transport for the better,” Mr Constance said.
"While we've made good progress with open data, collaboration with developers, apps and better regulation, it's no secret NSW has lagged behind the rest of the world and I am determined to turn that around.
"The state's population is going to increase by about 2 million people by 2031. As well as building new infrastructure, we need to look at smarter systems and technology driven solutions to cope with demand.
"We need to stay ahead of the game so it's time we ask, what are the next big ideas? What are the next systems and technologies that are going to challenge us and shape the transport system in NSW?”
The Minister has issued invitations to more than 150 leading thinkers and practitioners to join the summit. The final summit program, website and speakers will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
The 12 month ‘Future Transport’ program will also include opportunities for the community to get involved through online forums, a youth summit, and new partnerships with incubators to stay across emerging ideas and products.
Shop ‘til your stop: new trial to ‘click and collect’ your groceries at train stations
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance today announced an Australian first for train customers – a grocery collection trial to save people time after their commute home.
The new ‘Click & Collect’ trial allows customers to shop online with Woolworths and pick their shopping up from specially designed lockers at the station on their way home.
“Everyone has time pressures, so we thought why not help train customers save time and be able to pick up their groceries at the station on the way home,” Mr Constance said.
“We’re trying to get customers home quicker and avoid the mad afternoon dash to the shops. Customers will be able to pick up a range of products from fresh food to frozen, even last minute ingredients for dinner.”
Mr Constance said Sydney Trains is partnering with Woolworths on the 12-month trial, which is launching at Bondi Junction Station, after the supermarket won a competitive tendering process.
“Click & Collect lockers have been installed at Bondi Junction on a trial basis. Customers can order their shopping online from Woolworths on their mobile before 11am and pick them up before they catch the train or bus, or on their way home,” Mr Constance said.
“Bondi Junction is one of our busiest suburban stations, with around 40,000 customer movements each day. It’s also a busy bus interchange, so seemed like the logical choice to see if our customers like the idea.”
“I am determined to tap into new technology that will improve the transport experience for our customers. This is a great example of the new initiatives customers can expect to see more of.”
Kate Langford, Woolworths General Manager Digital Retail said: “Woolworths is always looking for new and innovative ways to serve our customers and make their shopping easier and more convenient.”
“Click & Collect is already popular in our stores and at our drive through locations. Now our customers will be able to collect their groceries at the station on their way home which is great for commuters," Mrs Langford said.
Similar services have been implemented on rail networks internationally, including the London underground, however this is believed to be the first at an Australian train station.
Once the trial is complete and evaluated, Sydney Trains will explore the possibility of rolling out the initiative on a permanent basis at other suitable stations.
Today’s announcement marks the start of a new ‘Future Transport’ program that will culminate in the Future Transport Summit 2016, where experts from Surry Hills to Silicon Valley will be invited to come up with the next big technology ideas to improve our transport system.
I reckon the next big idea should be to replace all the trams with buses, build lots of motorways, replace the transport administration with management types and then construct a metro that ignores all other transport systems in the city.
with woolworths having storage containers at railway stations,hope they are refrigerated say you ordered a couple of frozen meals,milk.ice-cream or anything frozen there would be a mess when you went to pick them up if it wasn't & also if your train was cancelled & LATE! ALSO HAVE TO BE LOCKED or the bogans or homeless would have a ball! also druggies it would have to be attended,funny they can do that sell food & vegies but not train tickets .maybe the ticket sellers will be employed by woollies,oh no I FORGOT THEY HAVE TO REMPLOYEE THEIR "masters" EMPLOYEES!
"CAPTAIN.C.H "Lives in the home of "SUGAR CANE' not "chickens" .........."INGHAM NTH QLD"
On TV last night they mentioned they would be "refrigerated" to keep items fresh, doubt this would include "freezer" standard for ice cream, etc though
Also mentioned they would later trial locked lockers that could be opened with a PIN code which would sent to the buyer. I doubt Woollies would like paying for a staff member to be standing around for 4 hours every day just to open the cabinets.
And how long before someone gets the wrong delivery?
Preserving fire service history @ The Museum of Fire.
boronia wrote:On TV last night they mentioned they would be "refrigerated" to keep items fresh, doubt this would include "freezer" standard for ice cream, etc though
Also mentioned they would later trial locked lockers that could be opened with a PIN code which would sent to the buyer. I doubt Woollies would like paying for a staff member to be standing around for 4 hours every day just to open the cabinets.
And how long before someone gets the wrong delivery?
I've seen Woolies staff stand outside Town Hall Woolies during the afternoon peak topping up Opal Cards and only topping up Opals.
there is now truth in the rumour now woollies at stations,...................HES going to make all unattended stations into a 'MASTERS' store! & CODOM MACHINES on all platforms! & a free 'big mac' when you top up your OPAL CARD!
"CAPTAIN.C.H "Lives in the home of "SUGAR CANE' not "chickens" .........."INGHAM NTH QLD"
captainch wrote:there is now truth in the rumour now woollies at stations,...................
The logical progression of the 'privatise' agenda would be to rent out each station as a retail outlet. There is little now that the station staff do that is particularly railway specific now that the ticket selling role has mostly been taken away from the. A small urban station like mine the mini-newsagent and the ticket office could be merged, so you have a mini convenience store that also sells the few paper tickets left. If the store owner wishes, they could invest in a eway terminal and do Opal top ups too.
As it is, I think the little newsagent on my station keeps longer hours than the actual station staff do.
What happened to my big idea that would connect the area within Wollongong, Lithgow and Newcastle with 160kph trains ?
After reading it costs $20 in tolls to cross Sydney and back in a car it seems even more economically viable especially as I believe there are three mobs wanting to do a subway in Sydney at the moment.
The thread is about a big idea and there would not be much bigger idea than to provide 160kph stand alone trains connecting the area within Wollongong, Lithgow and Newcastle.
To avoid suburbs and waterways much of it would have to be subway and what could be a cheaper way than to build a subway terminal at Parramatta.
Yes public transport has never turned a profit in the past but with very little track maintenance, private owner/operators and no drivers even now it would break even CBD to Parramatta with profit rising as the population of Sydney grows.
captainch wrote:there is now truth in the rumour now woollies at stations,...................
The logical progression of the 'privatise' agenda would be to rent out each station as a retail outlet. There is little now that the station staff do that is particularly railway specific now that the ticket selling role has mostly been taken away from the. A small urban station like mine the mini-newsagent and the ticket office could be merged, so you have a mini convenience store that also sells the few paper tickets left. If the store owner wishes, they could invest in a eway terminal and do Opal top ups too.
As it is, I think the little newsagent on my station keeps longer hours than the actual station staff do.
Pay a commission and the store owner can also provide customer service. Get them a RIW card too
Lost me with the ridiculous and backward looking support of highly discounted periodicals. That really supports higher base fares to maintain the same revenue.
Lost me with the ridiculous and backward looking support of highly discounted periodicals. That really supports higher base fares to maintain the same revenue.
Which may not have been the point of posting the link.
simonl wrote:Next big idea: Stop focusing on big ideas and work to grow patronage.
It is possible to have a big idea on patronage like making public transport free in metropolitan areas with shops, business and units paying the cost to run it.
Trains, buses and ferries would be full I betcha.
I guess there as many people chasing fares as driving trains apart from the extra dwell time.
Tony could have a couple of really big train type doors on buses so they hardly have to stop.
There is no way a Liberal government would get business to pay for public transport making it free for users. And it is probably not a good idea anyway.
Fleet Lists wrote:There is no way a Liberal government would get business to pay for public transport making it free for users. And it is probably not a good idea anyway.
Well they are in a way now anyway with a parking levy to cover the cost of free parking at stations.
There are more votes from the public than there are from business and the cost would only be passed on to the consumer in the end.
It may or may not be a good idea but I think it is a big idea.
ALSO HAVE TO BE LOCKED or the bogans or homeless would have a ball! also druggies it would have to be attended,funny they can do that sell food & vegies but not train tickets .maybe the ticket sellers will be employed by woollies,oh no I FORGOT THEY HAVE TO REMPLOYEE THEIR "masters" EMPLOYEES! 
