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We just noticed these today at the Huangpi Nan Lu metro stop. They very well could have already been there for a while, but this was the first day in a few weeks that we needed to recharge our transportation card. The machines are located right next to the two service windows we would normally go to (and today were closed).
The recharge machines are very easy to use, in English or Chinese, and basically work like an ATM machine, except money goes into the machine instead of out. Today, at least, they were even easier to use than normal, because there was a lady wearing a red sash standing there who spoke English and pressed all the buttons for people. We imagine they won't be there every day — but we do wonder what happens to the ladies who work inside the non-self-service booths once their jobs are phased out (which seems to be inevitably what we are heading toward). Is it wishful thinking to assume they will then be responsible for making sure people line up in an orderly fashion behind the new machines?
If our camera phone took halfway decent photographs indoors, you would see what these machines look like in the attached photograph.
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They used to have working recharge machines in the XuJiaHui station over 3 years ago. They were unreliable, though, so they eventually disappeared. I was disappointed. They even had the person standing next to the machine a couple of times. I guess it's time for another try.
in december i saw the re-charging machines at 'Shanghai Circus Station' and 'Yanchang Road Station'. maybe the used the less-central station for testing. now, the machines are coming downtown. they are very convenient. but you can only charge the bills you put into the machine and you don't get fapiao (maybe possible but with my limited chinese language skills didn't figure that out).
Interesting that the city is doing this instead of hiring more otherwise unemployed middle aged people or rural people.
In this particular case I don't see a move towards more automation necessarily translating into significantly less jobs for the "booth people." I think it is more in the interest of accommodating the increasing number of passengers--have you seen the lines at those booths during peak travel times? I have been to metros in several countries, and the ones with self-service machines all still have human-manned booths.
Here's an idea for anyone that might lose their cushy booth gig: throw on a red sash and teach commuters to stand to one side of the escalator if they choose not to walk up. I noticed this weeks ago in Zhongshan Park Station, and was very happy at the much-needed public education project, but have not seen it since.
Automation will not necessarily destroy jobs, but there is certainly an opportunity cost involved. That is, the city has forgone the opportunity to create new jobs and purchased machines instead.
Ultimately, the goal should be to move as many people as possible as quickly, reliably, and comforably as possible--give or take for style. Of course, you do have to sympathize with city planners whose task it is to tame Shanghai's unruly mobs.
The actual calculus of this decision is another thing. Cost/benefit analysis? Labor costs going up? Streamlining flow of passengers? Improve the city's all-important image? Jump-start a new industry? City-planner's cousin produces the machines?
I definitely like the proposed escalator-director position. You should write your city council representative about that. Oh, wait...nevermind.
Well, someone has a job producing these machines, don't they? Someone has a job servicing them, and someone has a job teaching people how to use them. The calculation is not so simple as "add one machine, subtract one job."
and it spares Shanghainese the nuisance and displeasure of interacting with "unemployed middle aged people or rural people"
LAT, I think that depends on the city's intentions, which is what I was getting at. Based on what I've read here, it can safely be said that the city will not be creating more fare-vendor jobs by purchasing fare vending machines.
You're right tho, it's certainly not simple. For instance, if everything were outsourced to Japan, then multiple Chinese job-losses could result from each machine. But a more efficient subway might make that worthwhile. Even if the machines were merely produced outside of the city, there could be a net job-loss in Shanghai. Or on the other hand, the city may, in fact, simultaneously add jobs, create a new industry, and better the subway. But that said, we simply don't know.
Most fundamentally and text-bookishly, suffice it to say the city could be accepting any combination of trade-offs in automating subway fares, and one assumes that it will be a net gain for the city and its residents.