Big Ups To My Boi Connex

I think this is the first positive thing I have ever said about Melbourne train service provider Connex. I feel like it is such a momentous occasion it deserves to be mentioned in the title of this post.

More than a few months ago I registered the Twitter account @ConnexMelbourne. I posted my email address and said if Connex wanted the account all they had to do was contact me. Eventually they did.

I handed it over without much reluctance, although I kind of wish I asked for a yearly Metcard or something now. Anyway, it sat unused for quite some time. Just as I was about to get frustrated it finally became active.

As Twitter slowly becomes mainstream, users often complain they can’t see the use for it because Facebook status updates. But here’s a perfect example for you after having a light bulb moment today.

Catching a train into the city on my journey home from Uni I was browsing Twitter on my iPhone. I noticed the @ConnexMelbourne account said the train line for my ride out of the city was significantly delayed.

This meant as soon as I got into Flinders Street Station I could jump on an alternate train line without wasting time and potentially missing a connection.

My one critique, it would be great to establish an account for all of the train lines so I have the option to only subscribe to the ones I want. But still, I’m happy to put up with it for now. Great work Connex.

10 Comments
  • Stan Lee
    Posted at April 21, 2009 1:17am, 21 April Reply

    Go easy on the JC style wigger headlines.

  • Zac Martin
    Posted at April 21, 2009 1:25am, 21 April Reply

    @ Stan Lee

    But there’s no mention of unicorns or excessive use of exclamation marks… ;]

  • jlshnng
    Posted at April 21, 2009 2:25pm, 21 April Reply

    And it is not really Melbournian anyways: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veolia_Transportation

  • Wags
    Posted at April 21, 2009 6:59pm, 21 April Reply

    I don’t get it… so you went home to a DIFFERENT suburb?

  • Zac Martin
    Posted at April 21, 2009 7:05pm, 21 April Reply

    @ jlshnng

    Pretty sure Connex Melbourne is Melbourne based. :]

    @ Wags

    Indeed, got a connecting bus which took me the same amount of time to get home.

  • Anonymous
    Posted at April 21, 2009 7:36pm, 21 April Reply

    If it took the same amount of time, why even bother with the effort?

    Inefficient.

  • Zac Martin
    Posted at April 21, 2009 9:52pm, 21 April Reply

    @ Anonymous

    Because my normal train was significantly delayed.

    But that’s not the point. Knowing this information I could have jumped straight on a tram, organised a cab, made alternate plans, called to say I was late to the meeting etc.

  • AI
    Posted at April 22, 2009 10:36am, 22 April Reply

    Ah, yes you should have asked for a yearly Metcard …

  • Anonymous
    Posted at April 22, 2009 5:15pm, 22 April Reply

    Just on the Facebook status thing. As I understand it facebooks status update API now alows 3rd party apps to receive the updates. So theoretically (and actually if you use tweetdeck) connex can push out this info via facebook or twitter.

    On the downside you would have to become a facebook “fan” of Connex I guess for this to happen (I think its safe to say most people aren’t fans of their service) but on the upside connex could use a service like facebook that everyone understands rather than using an obscure service like twitter (that many dont understand and even fewer actually understand).

    Jake – Gen Y Marketing Podcast

  • Will Egan
    Posted at May 4, 2009 8:12pm, 04 May Reply

    I don’t really think that @Connexmelbourne is fully utilising the potential of twitter. There updates are so infrequent that very rarely is it helpful to its followers. If you are lucky enough to check the updates and have timed it perfectly with one of theres then your lucky. I caught the cragieburn train tonight, it was delayed about 15 minutes and filled up at Flinders st before making it’s way on a pointless journey through the city loop. Check out this pic i took to give you some idea of the people gettin on a Flinders. http://twitpic.com/4jay4

    I ran a twitter account for @Metlink. Gave it to them at the start of the year, still no action. Good job holding Connex accountable!

    Will – http://willegan.com

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