Myki - articles and discussion

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Myki expects glitches

Myki expects glitches

    * Ashley Gardiner
    * From: Herald Sun
    * Wed Oct 21

COMMUTERS should brace for mistakes when the troubled smartcard myki starts operating on the city's tram, train and bus network next month.

Travellers will need to check their account details on the internet to get refunds in cases of overcharging.

"Inevitably there will be some glitches in the first instance but they will be ironed out quickly," myki spokeswoman Jean Ker Walsh said yesterday.

"Some things will be evident to customers, and we would want them to call the call centre, alert us to that as quickly as possible."

Failure to use myki correctly, including validating the ticket twice, will result in a penalty fare of up to $9.92 being charged.

There will not be an amnesty period for commuters who make mistakes, and if commuters discover they have been overcharged they will have to contact the call centre.

Ms Ker Walsh declined to confirm a start date but the Herald Sun believes it will be the week starting November 15. Other hidden myki nasties revealed yesterday include:

COMMUTERS wanting a card may have to pay up to $10 for it, on top of fares.

THE single Sunday Saver ticket has been scrapped.

CITYWIDE weekend travel for weekly, monthly and yearly ticket holders has been axed.

But in a sweetener, $3 all-day weekend travel for regular commuters has been extended to public holidays.

About 1000 transport employees will use the system in the next few weeks as myki goes through its final test.

"The Metcard system and the myki system will operate in tandem for six to nine months," Ms Ker Walsh said.

Commuters will be charged no more than $9.92 on a weekday if they fail to use myki properly.

"If people forget to touch off, a default fare will be charged. And that will be a fare that is assumed to be your destination," Ms Ker Walsh said.

"The system is not a mind reader. It can't know where you get off."

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Melbourne commuters to start using troubled myki ticketing system within weeks

Melbourne commuters to start using troubled myki ticketing system within weeks

    * Ashley Gardiner
    * From: Herald Sun
    * October 20, 2009 12:40PM

PREMIER John Brumby has defended the $350m myki cost blow-out and three-year delay as the price of tickets was revealed today.

The troubled transport ticketing smartcard is set to start operating in Melbourne within weeks, as pricing details were revealed today.

According to myki, commuters would save up to 68c a day when the troubled myki smartcard system is finally rolled out.

Zone 1 and 2 travellers who pay $10.60 for individual Metcards will soon have a daily cap of $9.92.

And commuters will be penalised for not using the system properly, with extra costs if they fail to swipe off in addition to swiping on.

The maximum fare, known as the default fare, will be $9.92 on a weekday if commuters fail to use the system properly.

In other details released today, commuters who already buy 5 x daily metcards will save nothing.

Free early bird travel before 7am will be retained, with a 15-minute buffer zone to allow for late trains.

Weekend and public holiday fares will be slashed to $3, but not in time for Melbourne Cup racegoers.

Myki spokeswoman Jean Ker Walsh said passengers would save more than $17 million a year using smartcards.

Ms Ker Walsh refused to disclose myki start date, but confirmed it would be operating by the end of the year.

"We don't have a date, that's the prerogative of others to announce," Ms Ker Walsh said.

Heraldsun.com.au believes it will start during the week beginning November 15.

The system will run parallel with the existing Metcard for up to nine months.

"Melburnians will be eased into using the new ticketing system and be given plenty of time to switch from Metcard to myki," Ms Ker Walsh said.

The Premier today defended the delay in introducing the new system.

While new public transport ticketing systems always take longer to roll out than expected, the most important factor is that they work, he said.

It was due to be introduced in March 2007 and is $350 million over budget.

But Mr Brumby said new ticketing systems under the previous Kennett and Kirner governments had been behind schedule.

?If you look at every new ticketing system in our state they have taken longer to roll out than ministers at the time originally thought,'' he told reporters on Tuesday.

?They have always been difficult for governments. If you look recently at NSW, again, they had similar problems.

?I think the main thing is to get it right, the main thing is to make sure that when it's actually introduced that it works.''

The myki system has been operating on 320 regional buses in towns including Geelong, Seymour, Ballarat and Bendigo.

Mr Brumby said passengers will need to remember to swipe off when using myki.

?With all of these things there will be a transition period and a period of grace so that people get used to the system,'' he said.

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said the myki system was overdue, over-budget and had failed testing.

?The likelihood is that those who use myki are going to be charged extra if don't recognise that they haven't swept the card off properly,'' he told reporters.

The State Government has created a three-stage plan to ensure the existing Metcards can be used in tandem over a six- to nine-month period.

Commuters who register online will receive a free myki card, valued at $10.

Top-ups will also be available online, over the phone and at myki machines in train stations.

The second stage involves 728 retail outlets and 7-Eleven stores selling passes and top-ups, while the third stage allow station masters to sell and top up cards.

[dwb]

"The system is not a mind reader. It can't know where you get off."

It should be able to with reasonable accuracy guess where you get off given a regular pattern of use and various other factors such as direction and time of travel.

For instance, if my card is registered at location B which is in zone 1 and I travel inbound every morning to work in the CBD and I forget to tag off, there is no reason in my mind why the system should not recognise that and charge a 1 zone fare. There is very little to indicate that I would be travelling to the edge of zone 2 on the other side of Melbourne, so why should I be charged as such!

[dwb]

@bob

If myki can do it capping etc. why can't the go card?

--> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=655.msg15363#msg15363

It can't cap, that is the penalty fare!

[ozbob]

I think that is typo in the article dwb.  Myki does cap at a daily fare, see --> here!

[ozbob]

Just for interest folks here is the myki ticketing manual.   See page 56 for capping.

http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/assets/PDFs/2009-Fares-and-Ticketing-Manual/MYKI-Ticketing-manual.pdf

[dwb]

Maybe so, but they have a 120 page document explaining fares... this hardly seems like a good idea to me :S

PS Yes I realise it is for the State, however if you imagined the same in Queensland it wouldn't need to be anywhere near as complicated, simply one page for SEQ and each QConnect service out there. All in all, covered with maps in under 10 pages!

[ozbob]

PTUA Media Release

http://www.ptua.org.au/2009/10/23/myki-swings-roundabouts/

Myki: swings and roundabouts for passengers

October 23rd, 2009 (Media releases, Melbourne Metro)

The Public Transport Users Association said today that the introduction of the new multi-million-dollar Myki ticketing system to Melbourne, and later to V/Line services would bring benefits to passengers, but also some problems.

?Myki does bring advantages?, said PTUA president Daniel Bowen. ?It will provide much better access to the cheapest fares, such as $3 weekend daily fares currently available only at staffed railway stations, and will make them available on public holidays.

?Being able to travel on V/Line services without buying a separate ticket will be a plus, and we hope that the greater use of reusable Myki cards will speed up bus services.

?Because tickets will not have to be physically inserted into validators, they are expected to last longer and be more reliable. And finally you will be able to buy a ticket on the tram using notes.

?The introduction of Myki has also resulted in some welcome revisions to suburban bus zones[1], which will make some trips cheaper, and the current anomaly of two-hour Metcards bought after 1am not lasting two hours seems to have been fixed.?

But Mr Bowen said there were concerns about the system, and noted reports of overcharging in the regional cities where it had already been introduced.[2]

?Passengers will have to take care to properly touch on and off, and will be cautiously watching the scanners or checking their transactions on the web site to ensure the system is charging them correctly?, he said.

The PTUA remains concerned about slow scanner response times, given the requirement to touch off, particularly the impact on busy tram services, but also on peak hour buses, at suburban stations in the evenings when large numbers of people try to exit at once, and at special events such as the football.[3]

?The Transport Ticketing Authority needs to ensure that the scanners are fast enough to deal with big crowds, and government should have a ?Plan B? in place if the requirement to touch off causes unacceptable delays on crowded trams and buses. One option might be amending tram and most bus fares to a ?zone-free? flat charge, and removing the requirement to touch off, just as is done with the Oyster system in London.?[4]

Mr Bowen said that PTUA member feedback from regional cities[5], and close examination of the newly published government Fares and Ticketing Manual[6] had revealed some issues remained in the Myki system, including:

    * touch on and touch off scanner tones are identical, which may result in confusion or over-charging if the system thinks the passenger is boarding a service when they are in fact alighting
    * the lower limit for topping up a Myki ticket on buses is $1, leading to some users paying small amounts of money to the bus driver each time they board ? the very type of time-consuming transaction Myki is supposed to eliminate
    * continuing issues with scanner reliability, with users finding that about one-in-three Geelong buses have a scanner not working
    * despite widespread belief that the Myki system will run on public transport throughout the state, there are apparently no plans to implement it on town buses in Ararat, Bairnsdale, Benalla, Beaufort, Cobram, Colac, Drouin, Echuca/Moama, Hamilton, Horsham, Korumburra, Lakes Entrance, Mildura, Portland, Rochester, Sale, Shepparton/Mooroopna, Swan Hill, Stawell, Wangaratta, Warrnambool, Wodonga and Wonthaggi. The PTUA believes that given the huge amount of money spent on Myki, it might as well run on all services throughout Victoria (with the possible exception of Wodonga, which is part of a cross-border bus service with Albury, NSW) provided this can be implemented cost-effectively
    * weekly, monthly and yearly pass holders for a single Melbourne zone will no longer get free weekend travel in the other zone, instead having to pay a surcharge
    * two-hour fares are no longer valid for travel if a bus or tram is delayed or cancelled and the service runs after the fare expiry time
    * Myki Money users with Auto Topup will find their cards locked if the Auto Topup fails due to insufficient funds in their bank account ? even if the Myki card still has enough money on it to travel
    * it appears that even though the system will collect extensive data on users travel patterns, this will not be used to automatically refund or compensate passengers as a result of service disruptions or transport operators failing to meet the performance targets

Mr Bowen said the PTUA was providing feedback to the Transport Ticketing Authority in the hopes of getting these issues resolved.

?We hope that they will be making revisions to the system to ensure it works well for commuters. Melbourne?s public transport users have enough challenges with our packed trains, slow trams and infrequent buses, so the TTA will need to work very hard to ensure the introduction of Myki into Melbourne is as smooth as possible?, concluded Mr Bowen.

ENDS

References:

1. Metlink: Changes to metropolitan bus zone boundaries
www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/news/news-promotions/changes-to-metropolitan-bus-zone-boundaries/

2. The Age 22/10/2009 ?Myki users overcharged?
www.theage.com.au/national/myki-users-overcharged-20091021-h917.html

3. Herald Sun 3/3/2009 ?Myki to slow trams?

4. Zone-free trams and buses (except freeway express buses that currently cover two zones) could work by allowing any zone 1 or 2 ticket to be valid, so connecting train passengers would be charged no more, and cheaper zone 2 prices would apply to trips that only included trams or buses. While this scheme would make trams and buses inconsistent with trains, it recognises that most bus/tram trips are short distances, and would simplify the zone system, as well as removing delays due to having to touch off Myki tickets.

London moved to flat fares on buses and trams in 2004 as part of the rollout of their Oyster Smartcard. www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/4388.aspx

5. Initial reaction from Geelong users from March 2009
www.ptua.org.au/2009/03/11/myki-thumbs-down/

6. Metlink: Victorian fares and ticketing manual (myki)
www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/fares-tickets/victorian-fares-and-ticketing-manual-myki/

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Change to ticket rules means commuters will pay more for late public transport

Change to ticket rules means commuters will pay more for late public transport

    * Ashley Gardiner
    * From: Herald Sun
    * November 17, 2009 12:00AM

COMMUTERS will pay more for late public transport after a decision by the State Government to change ticket rules.

When the myki smartcard is introduced this year, the existing rule that allows commuters to use expired tickets in cases of late services will be axed.

Fair or a rail rip-off? Have your say on ticket changes in the comments below

Free Melbourne-wide travel on weekends for those with periodic tickets has also been scrapped on the grounds of "fairness".

Myki's architects failed to take late and cancelled services into account when designing the system.

A spokeswoman for myki, Jean Ker Walsh, confirmed commuters would be stripped of this benefit.

"Myki cannot tell when a service is running late and charges fares according to where and when a customer touches on and off," Ms Ker Walsh said.

"It will only affect tram and bus passengers who are travelling two times or more within a two-hour period but not again during the same day."

Another benefit eliminated because of myki is free weekend travel for all commuters with weekly, monthly or yearly tickets.

"This change is necessary because under myki, the entire state needs to be divided into zones, from zone 1 in Melbourne to zone 53 in Mildura," Ms Ker Walsh said.

"To ensure fairness, consistency and equity across the state, the provision has been removed."

Seniors will no longer be able to buy a single-use seniors daily ticket, instead they will have to buy concession tickets if they do not have a myki, which could cost up to $2.30 more a day.

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said the rule changes would be a double whammy on late trams and buses.

"Not only will they suffer the delay of their late or cancelled service, but ... they may have to pay another fare for the privilege," he said.

A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky defended the changes, made to "ensure consistency".

Myki users can travel Melbourne for $3 on weekends.

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Fresh woes for myki with swipe cards criticised for delays

Fresh woes for myki with swipe cards criticised for delays

    * Ashley Gardiner
    * From: Herald Sun
    * November 27, 2009 12:00AM

THE State Government's hand-picked myki guinea pigs have complained that swiping their cards takes too long.

About 1000 public servants and transport staff have been issued with myki cards during the final test phase.

Feedback collected by the Transport Ticketing Authority found myki users were waiting longer than expected for their cards to register.

The new public transport fare system is scheduled to be operating for the public before the end of the year.

One myki user said it could take as long as four or five seconds for a myki card to be recognised.

If not fixed, this problem could cause major delays on trams and buses, because myki users need to swipe their cards as they board and as they leave.

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said he had seen the problems.

"When recently returning from Ballarat at Parliament station, I saw two female public servants testing myki cards," Mr Mulder said. "One said to the other, 'the cards are reading slowly'."

Mr Mulder said documents he had obtained under Freedom of Information showed myki would slow down trams because passengers needed to register as they got on and off.

"(Premier) John Brumby must defer the introduction of myki in Melbourne until every software problem that results in overcharging or unacceptably slow touching on and off of myki cards is solved," he said. "At more than three years late and at least $350 million over budget, myki is rapidly becoming Australia's most detested, failure-prone plastic card."

But myki spokeswoman Jean Ker Walsh said slow touch-on and touch-off speeds were expected.

New software was being implemented to improve the touch speeds, she said.

"Once the system goes live, touch speeds are expected to be consistently about a second," Ms Ker Walsh said.

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Myki officials battle to get new Victorian ticketing system operating

Myki officials battle to get new Victorian ticketing system operating

    * Ashley Gardiner
    * From: Herald Sun
    * December 18, 2009 12:00AM

MYKI officials are in a race against time to get the troubled public transport ticketing system operating before the December 31 deadline.

Worried myki chiefs have designed the softest of "soft" launches, by releasing the new card during the quiet Christmas period, when public transport patronage is its lowest.

The Transport Ticketing Authority is still trying to cut the time taken for a card to be recognised by the system.

Tell us: Would you swap your Metcard for a myki card straight away?

About 1000 commuters are using myki in Melbourne at the moment as part of the final phase of testing.

The TTA was not aware of any cases of overcharging among the 1000 participants.

Myki spokeswoman Jean Ker Walsh said some test participants were touching their cards on and off in about a second, but some were taking longer.

"There is a final stage of testing under way in Melbourne so we can fine-tune the system before we roll it out," Ms Ker Walsh said.

"When the system goes live, the customer touch action is expected to be consistently about a second."

Hope it is public available early January, I am going to Melbourne for a few days and it would be good to be able to use it!

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu says Brumby Government has 12 days left to tell Victorians when Myki will begin

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu says Brumby Government has 12 days left to tell Victorians when Myki will begin

    * Aaron Langmaid
    * From: Herald Sun
    * December 18, 2009 4:36PM

THE State Government has 12 days of Christmas to get Myki up and running - and the Opposition will be watching.

Ted Baillieu today accused Premier John Brumby and his ministers of "swiping off'' for the year and leaving commuters with a ticketing service that still isn't up and running.

"At the very least Victorians should be told when this system will start,'' Mr Baillieu said.

"If they are going to launch it before the end of the year then tell Victorians when.

"Tomorrow there will 12 days left for the year.  The 12 days of Myki begin tomorrow and it's now up to Lynn Kosky to tell Victorians when this system will start.''

But acting Premier Rob Hulls said its launch was "imminent''.

"Myki has already been rolled out in some regional areas and it has been fully tested in Melbourne,'' Mr Hulls said.

"I don't want to pre-empt an announcement but a full rollout of Myki is imminent.''

He said users deserved a state of the art ticketing system.

"They also deserve the lowest possible fares and want a system that is fully tested and works appropriately.''

[verbatim9]

I have been down in Melbourne since last April and have seen the effects of the Myki Readers and Touch Screen Ticket Machines. They are still in Test mode and I have noticed that half the the readers and machines have been vandalised. Touch Screens, scratched with glass cutters to the event that you cannot see the screen anymore and likewise with the touch ticket machines. If the readers and ticket machines havent been scratched or tagged they have been spray painted black. Its such good system yet certain people in society due to vandalism prevent it from starting on it official start date. We are still awaiting for the start date but its whispered to be over the xmas break. Soft Launch.

[dwb]

They should've done what they did in SEQ - cover them in chipboard!

[verbatim9]

They should've done what they did in SEQ - cover them in chipboard!

In Melbourne they manage to get through chipboard.

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Still no arrival time for Melbourne's new public transport ticketing system myki

Still no arrival time for Melbourne's new public transport ticketing system myki

    * Stephen McMahon
    * From: Herald Sun
    * December 23, 2009 1:55PM

THE troubled myki ticketing system is still AWOL.

Only a week from the promised deadline for its roll out, Acting Premier Rob Hulls has refused to guarantee the $1.3 billion smart card would be up and working in Melbourne before December 31.

A month-long testing of the system by public servants has thrown up more problems than solutions with some commuters facing long delays in the reading of their smart cards.

Instead of a major publicity blitz, the State Government is looking for the softest of soft launches with the system going live during the Christmas period when commuter numbers are at their lowest.

And even that is now in danger.

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu described the introduction of Victoria's new public transport ticketing system as a "farce" and demanded the State Government name the date.

"At the moment myki cards are available to a handful of public servants, we understand, and on a handful of lines," Mr Baillieu said this morning.

"Even when it arrives we are told that very few people will have access to it and very few train lines will have access to it.

"If the Government is saying they will be delivered by the end of the year, tell us when, tell us who will have access, tell us which lines, tell us where the tickets will be available."

- with Matt Johnston

[dwb]

I just hope the Govt doesn't do what the govt here did, and rush it, thanks to opposition pressure like this. One extra month before full roll out could be just what the doctor ordered. And in the overall scheme of things, one month is nadda!

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Myki to be rushed in, ready or not

Myki to be rushed in, ready or not
CLAY LUCAS
December 29, 2009

THE State Government is preparing to rush in the trouble-plagued myki ticket system to fulfil a political promise to have it operating in Melbourne in 2009, despite it not being ready to work on trams or buses.

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky is set to announce that the $1.35 billion system will be introduced by Thursday - but on trains only.

This means anyone who validates a myki card on a train and then tries to use it on a tram or bus will be potentially liable for a $172 fine for travelling without a valid ticket.

It is expected to take another two to three weeks before the new cards will operate on trams and buses.

The old Metcard ticket system will run alongside myki for at least six months before being shut down.

About 1000 Government workers have been trialling myki cards in the metropolitan area over the past eight weeks, with varying results.

While ticket validators on train stations have worked well during the testing, there have been continuing problems getting the machines to transmit data reliably from trams and buses to the central database.

A transport sector source close to the project said a tiny number of transactions had not been recorded properly by ticket validators on trams. ''If [validators are] not working well enough, someone's transaction might not be ... properly accounted for. That's an issue.''

The state agency responsible for myki, the Transport Ticketing Authority, has been debating for three weeks whether to stage the rollout of the system, beginning with trains.

With the trains-only launch, ticket inspectors will be told to ''take a common-sense approach'' to issuing fines on buses or trams to people who have a myki card that may have already been validated on a train.

Ms Kosky, who cancelled leave over Christmas to be in Melbourne to launch the system, is believed to be furious with senior figures at the Transport Ticketing Authority for failing to have myki working across Melbourne.

The authority, along with the Kamco consortium that is building the smartcard system, had promised Ms Kosky the ticket would be ready to run across the city's public transport network by before Christmas.

Both Ms Kosky and Premier John Brumby have repeatedly pledged to have the system running in Melbourne by the end of 2009.

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said the introduction of myki had turned into a farce, and attacked Ms Kosky and Mr Brumby for not explaining what was happening.

''Lynne Kosky has disappeared, John Brumby has disappeared, and myki is somewhere out there in the ether and Victorians are none the wiser,'' Mr Baillieu said.

Ms Kosky's spokesman, Stephen Moynihan, said myki would be introduced in Melbourne before the end of the year.

The myki system is based around a re-useable, credit-card sized smartcard that passengers will hold up to electronic validating panels at train stations and on buses and trams.

Passengers will ''touch on'' at the start of each trip by placing the card on the panel, which will issue a green light to indicate proceed, or a red light if the card holder doesn't have enough credit. Passengers must also ''touch off'' at the end of a trip to ensure they get the lowest fare.

The myki system has been running on buses in Geelong since December last year, and in five other regional centres since March. There have been some teething problems, including almost 11,000 instances of overcharging.

The myki project is $350 million over budget and was to have begun operation on March 1, 2007, when the existing contract with Metcard's operator ERG expired.

Design, construction and launch costs will total $850 million, and it will cost another $500 million to operate it over 10 years.

Myki cards will initially be sold online at myki.com.au.

[ozbob]

I just tried to get an myki card over the phone call 13 6954 (13 myki) between 6 am and 10 pm, 7 days a week  (you need a Melbourne address), still not available for Melbourne suburbs  

I have noticed that the online link on  http://www.myki.com.au/Get-myki/Get-myki-/default.aspx  is having maintenance, might be getting ready ...

We want a myki!!  

[dwb]

Seriously if they are going to remove the other system in 6 months from launch, then it had better be working from launch so they should suffer their pride and miss their promise if it will enable them to fix the problems before launch.

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Troubled myki ticketing system expected to roll out on trains only this week

Troubled myki ticketing system expected to roll out on trains only this week

    * Geraldine Mitchell
    * From: Herald Sun
    * December 29, 2009 10:39AM

THE troubled $1.3 billion myki ticketing system is expected to be rolled out this calendar year - but only on trains.

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky is expected to announce the new ticketing system will become operational this week on the city's trains, possibly on New Year's Eve.

But commuters will not be able to use it on trams or buses until authorities can fix a glitch which is plaguing the system.

It is understood the "touch on, touch off'' technology is still taking three to four seconds to register on trams and buses when it should only take one second.

It is believed the system will be operational on trains for at least three weeks before it can be used on trams and buses.

But ticket inspectors will be told to use their discretion when issuing fines.

The most recent round of trials by up to 1000 commuters was still taking too long.

Myki spokeswoman Jean Ker Walsh earlier this month said the touch action should be consistently about a second when the system is launched.

The Herald Sun revealed in March that tests showed it takes an extra five seconds to tag on and off using the myki system.

The tests found swiping the new myki card took an average of 38 seconds compared with 33 seconds using a metcard.

On New Year's Eve, new train operator Metro says trains will run for 24 hours straight, with free travel available from 6pm until the early hours of New Year's Day.

[ozbob]

 

FREE registered myki online from 3pm today

http://www.myki.com.au/default.aspx


Will the site crash?   

[ozbob]

I just tried the phone again, still not able to get a myki card yet.  Will give it a crack online at 3pm (2pm Queensland Time).

[ozbob]

On line open.  First issue  online form wont accept  unit no and street number as a combined string eg 4/54,  on phone at the moment ...

[ozbob]

Got my myki!  Phone, will be in the mail in a few days.

They are going to fix the online form ....   

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Myki rolls out - but only on city trains

Myki rolls out - but only on city trains
CLAY LUCAS
December 29, 2009

Update: The trouble-plagued myki ticket system will be rolled out on metropolitan trains from 3pm this afternoon, despite it not being ready to work on trams or buses.

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky announced the release this afternoon, saying it was an "important step" in the "carefully planned" rollout of myki in Melbourne.

"From today, myki money or myki pass will be valid for travel on all train services operated by Metro and all V/Line services in zones one and two, including Melton and Sunbury," she said in a statement.

Ms Kosky did not give a date for the myki rollout on trams and buses.

This means anyone who validates a myki card on a train and then tries to use it on a tram or bus will be potentially liable for a $172 fine for travelling without a valid ticket.

myki smartcards are not yet available for purchase at city stores, but people can register online for a free myki pass from 3pm this afternoon.

They are also available from regional centres such as Geelong where the $1.35 billion system was trialled.

The old Metcard ticket system will run alongside myki for at least six months before being shut down.

About 1000 Government workers have been trialling myki cards in the metropolitan area over the past eight weeks, with varying results.

While ticket validators on train stations have worked well during the testing, there have been continuing problems getting the machines to transmit data reliably from trams and buses to the central database.

A transport sector source close to the project said a tiny number of transactions had not been recorded properly by ticket validators on trams. ''If [validators are] not working well enough, someone's transaction might not be ... properly accounted for. That's an issue.''

The state agency responsible for myki, the Transport Ticketing Authority, has been debating for three weeks whether to stage the rollout of the system, beginning with trains.

With the trains-only launch, ticket inspectors will be told to ''take a common-sense approach'' to issuing fines on buses or trams to people who have a myki card that may have already been validated on a train.

Ms Kosky, who cancelled leave over Christmas to be in Melbourne to launch the system, is believed to be furious with senior figures at the Transport Ticketing Authority for failing to have myki working across Melbourne.

The authority, along with the Kamco consortium that is building the smartcard system, had promised Ms Kosky the ticket would be ready to run across the city's public transport network by before Christmas.

Both Ms Kosky and Premier John Brumby have repeatedly pledged to have the system running in Melbourne by the end of 2009.

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said the introduction of myki had turned into a farce, and attacked Ms Kosky and Mr Brumby for not explaining what was happening.

''Lynne Kosky has disappeared, John Brumby has disappeared, and myki is somewhere out there in the ether and Victorians are none the wiser,'' Mr Baillieu said.

Ms Kosky's spokesman, Stephen Moynihan, said myki would be introduced in Melbourne before the end of the year.

The myki system is based around a re-useable, credit-card sized smartcard that passengers will hold up to electronic validating panels at train stations and on buses and trams.

Passengers will ''touch on'' at the start of each trip by placing the card on the panel, which will issue a green light to indicate proceed, or a red light if the card holder doesn't have enough credit. Passengers must also ''touch off'' at the end of a trip to ensure they get the lowest fare.

The myki system has been running on buses in Geelong since December last year, and in five other regional centres since March. There have been some teething problems, including almost 11,000 instances of overcharging.

The myki project is $350 million over budget and was to have begun operation on March 1, 2007, when the existing contract with Metcard's operator ERG expired.

Design, construction and launch costs will total $850 million, and it will cost another $500 million to operate it over 10 years.

Myki cards will initially be sold online at myki.com.au.

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Troubled myki ticketing system now valid for travel on Melbourne trains, but not trams or buses

Troubled myki ticketing system now valid for travel on Melbourne trains, but not trams or buses

   * Geraldine Mitchell
   * From: Herald Sun
   * December 29, 2009 10:39AM

UPDATE 1.50pm: PUBLIC Transport Lynne Kosky has refused to say how long it will be before a complete myki roll-out, as the smartcards became valid on trains only today.

The trouble-plagued public transport ticketing system is now valid for travel on Melbourne trains, but not trams or buses, meaning the ticketing system has failed to meet its deadline of a complete roll-out by the end of 2009.

Commuters will be able to use the new $1.3billion ticketing system on trains after 3pm today.

Tram and bus users will have to wait and Ms Kosky refused to say how long it will be until the system can be used on all modes of transport during a press conference this afternoon.

According to a quote attributed to her in a press release, it will take at least six months for the system to be fully rolled out across Victoria.

The Metcard system will continue to operate alongside myki during this period.

Ms Kosky said she was putting pressure on technology provider Kamco but was still delighted to launch the system on trains today.

"I'm confident that once people are familiar with myki, they are going to love the ease and convenience it brings to ticketing", she said.

The minister said ticket inspectors will use discretion where confusion arises, but insisted the new system was not an excuse to avoid paying for their journey.

She said inspectors will be out in force and warned commuters not to fare evade.

From 3pm today, commuters can go online at myki.com.au, open an account and register for a free ticket.

They can start using their tickets on the train network as soon as they receive it and top up with money, a travel pass or both.

A public information campaign will not be launched until the ticketing system is ready to be rolled out across the network.

Commuters have been advised to do their research online at myki.com.au.

"This is an important first step in a carefully planned roll-out of myki in Melbourne," Ms Kosky said in a statement.

"The system has undergone rigorous testing for the past two months across Melbourne's public transport network.

"I have received advice from the Transport Ticketing Authority board that test data shows that myki is consistently reliable across Melbourne's train network and they have therefore recommended the commencement of myki on the metropolitan rail network."

But commuters will not be able to use it on trams or buses until authorities can fix a glitch which is plaguing the system.

"From today, myki money or myki pass will be valid for travel on all train services operated by Metro, and all V/Line services in Zones 1+2, including Melton and Sunbury," Ms Kosky said.

"Melburnians who catch the train will have the choice to use a myki or remain with Metcard until the roll-out is complete," she said.

"I have not yet received advice that all features of the tram and bus fleet have the required level of consistent reliability – so we will keep the public informed as to exactly when myki is ready to use on these parts of the network."

It is understood the "touch on, touch off'' technology is still taking three to four seconds to register on trams and buses when it should only take one second.

The most recent round of trials by up to 1000 commuters was still taking too long.

Myki spokeswoman Jean Ker Walsh earlier this month said the touch action should be consistently about a second when the system is launched.

The Herald Sun revealed in March that tests showed it takes an extra five seconds to tag on and off using the myki system.

The tests found swiping the new myki card took an average of 38 seconds compared with 33 seconds using a metcard.

On New Year's Eve, new train operator Metro says trains will run for 24 hours straight, with free travel available from 6pm until the early hours of New Year's Day.

[ozbob]

I put $20 on the card, credit card already pinged ...  no delay there   

Confirmation email:

Dear Robert Dow,

Thank you for making the switch to myki - Victoria's new public transport ticketing system.

By ordering and registering your new myki on-line, you have qualified for our special introductory offer, where the initial card fee has been waived.

Your myki account details are:

Username: %%%%%%%

You chose to top up your myki and the details of your transaction are shown below:
Credit card number: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Your myki will be posted to you within 7 days, along with some quick reference material to help you get ready to travel.

When you travel with myki there's really not a whole lot you need to do, just three simple things to remember:

• top up before you travel

• touch on when you get on

• touch off when you get off

Your myki reference number and security code for this transaction are : xxxxxxx and xxxxx.

If you require any further information, please call 13 6954 (13 myki) for assistance.

myki - its your key.

Regards

The myki Customer Care Team

This email is sent to you on behalf of the Transport Ticketing Authority,Melbourne. If you do not wish to receive messages relating to your myki or your myki account, please contact the myki call center on 13 6954 (13 myki) or use the feedback at www.myki.com.au.

[dwb]

I also ordered one via the internet, pretty easy form to fill out and they sent me an email confirmation.

The email confirmation told me to top up today, something which you cannot actually do until you receive the card, seemed a bit silly to be telling people that.

The card should be here within 7 days.

[verbatim9]

Yep ordered one here today too for use on the trains as it the main source of transport for me.

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Kosky takes the myki: no trams, buses, tickets

Kosky takes the myki: no trams, buses, tickets

ONLY a tiny number of Melburnians will be able to use the $1.35 billion myki smartcard after Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky yesterday launched the new ticket system for use on trains only.

The Government failed to fulfil its promise, made in October, that myki would be available on trams and buses as well as trains by the end of 2009.

Even those wishing to use the system on trains will have to wait until the new year unless they have bought a ticket at one of the six regional towns where they are on sale. People in Melbourne have to apply online, with tickets to arrive in the mail in seven days.

Almost five years after the Kamco consortium signed its lucrative contract to create myki, Ms Kosky was still unable to say how much longer it would take to get it working on Melbourne's buses and trams.

This is despite myki spokeswoman Jean Ker Walsh saying in an October 20 press release that Melbourne's passengers would be using smartcards on trains, trams and buses by the end of this year.

The smartcard has arrived almost three years late and $350 million over budget. Myki was originally supposed to be launched in Melbourne on March 1, 2007, at a cost of $500 million. Costs have since blown out to $850 million to create the system and $500 million to run it over the next decade.

Ms Kosky launched myki at North Melbourne station, although Premier John Brumby, who has been at her side for every big public transport announcement this year, was absent.

The myki system is based around a re-usable credit-card size ''touch card'' that passengers will validate when they get on and off trains, trams and buses.

They will cost $10, or $7 concession, although people who apply by January 17 will receive a card free. Commuters will then have to pay money into their myki account at train stations or online.

By 6pm last night, 4300 commuters had registered on the myki website for a free card.

Cards are not yet on sale at train stations, newsagents or convenience stores in Melbourne, but can be bought at six regional centres - including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and the Latrobe Valley - where they have been used on buses for the past year.

Ms Kosky predicted Melburnians would embrace myki. ''As commuters start to use the myki system, they will start to see how good it is, how easy it is, and (that) it is much cheaper,'' she said. A two-hour, zone one ticket will be $2.94, compared to $3.70 on the existing Metcard system, which will continue to run alongside myki for at least six months.

But Mr Kosky was forced to admit that the system was not sufficiently reliable on Melbourne's trams and buses for them to be included.

''It's a very complicated system with trams and buses. The train network has hard wiring and so it has been easy to introduce. But on the tram and bus network, they are mobile systems and there are still some small glitches ... to iron out.''

She promised that train travellers would immediately be able to ''top up'' their myki card at all of Melbourne's train stations.

This was immediately challenged by Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen, who said the myki ticket machine at his local station, Bentleigh, was not working.

Mr Bowen last night also tried to top up his myki card at another station, Patterson, using both coins and a credit card. Neither was successful.

The PTUA says the Government has made a serious error switching on myki for train users only, because it will confuse passengers. ''The system is years late anyway - it would have been better to wait a few weeks and have it operating properly on all modes,'' Mr Bowen said.

''Commuters have enough challenges using public transport without having to deal with a flaky ticketing system.''

Anyone caught by ticket inspectors using a myki card on a tram or bus in Melbourne will be eligible for a fine of $172. But Ms Kosky said inspectors would ''show discretion''.

Train ticket inspectors will carry mobile myki readers from tomorrow to check if tickets are valid.

The Opposition savaged yesterday's announcement as ''half-baked''. ''No-one asked for myki, but this is a project that John Brumby has his hands all over,'' Opposition leader Ted Baillieu said. ''The system is a farce."

Mr Baillieu said a Liberal government would not remove myki. ''We are stuck with the myki system,'' he said.

He said the project was emblematic of the Brumby Government.

''They cannot deliver a project on time or on budget. But what they can do is run the ads. They should be running an advertising agency, not a government.''

The Government was forced to gazette new regulations yesterday for the card to be valid for use only on trains. About 20 per cent of people who use public transport in Melbourne use trains only.

Myki cards are available at myki.com.au. A myki users' website, myki.org.au, for people who have problems with the card has been established by former Save Our Suburbs president Ian Quick.

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Troubled myki ticketing system now valid for travel on Melbourne trains, but not trams or buses

Troubled myki ticketing system now valid for travel on Melbourne trains, but not trams or buses

    * Geraldine Mitchell
    * From: Herald Sun
    * December 30, 2009 12:58AM

THE troubled $1.35 billion myki ticketing system has descended into a farce, with Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky yesterday failing to remember the phone number for commuters to buy a ticket.

And the smartcard system, which is three years behind schedule and $350 million over budget, still does not work on trams and buses.

Ms Kosky yesterday announced train commuters were the only public transport users who could now use the
mykisystem, despite promises it would be fully operational by the end of this year.

And she refused to give a timeframe for the roll-out on trams and buses, saying: "I don't want to give a date."

But her press release states that it will be six months or more before myki is fully operational in Victoria.

"People are working around the clock at the moment. It is working well. It's just some small glitches," she said.

"They thought before Christmas they'd actually identified those, but when they rolled out the system, it wasn't operating at the very high level that was expected.

"So, I don't want to give a date. Suffice to say that we have a very good system that is now on the train network and it will be rolled out soon through the tram and bus network."

When asked on radio what number commuters should call to buy a ticket, Ms Kosky said, "Ah, I was worried you were going to ask that", and directed them to the website.

Ms Kosky also refused to say how long free myki tickets would be offered online, despite the website stating they were available until January 17.

"Well, it'll be for quite some time. We'll monitor the uptake on the train network and, obviously, when it's rolled out on the tram and bus network, that will be on offer again," she said.

The Metcard system will continue to operate alongside myki until it becomes fully operational.

Ms Kosky said ticket inspectors would be out in force, and warned commuters not to evade fares. She promised that inspectors would use their discretion where confusion arose, but insisted the new system was not an excuse to avoid paying for their journey.

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu slammed the Government for failing to deliver the system on time and on budget.
Mr Baillieu said Ms Kosky should have been sacked "a long time ago" and labelled the new system a farce.

He said: "We are stuck with a myki system.We don't even know when it's going to be rolled out, and the Minister could not even say when it will be available on trams and buses."

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said the Government should not have switched to myki until it was working fully.

"The system is years late anyway. It would have been better to wait a few weeks and have it operating properly on all modes," he said.

"This decision makes a mockery of Melbourne's multi-modal fare system and will cause confusion for passengers, particularly those many people who catch buses and trams, as well as trains.

"Our recommendation to commuters is to continue using Metcard for now, until the glitches are ironed out and the Government has got myki fully working on trams and buses."

But Ms Kosky yesterday insisted she was putting pressure on technology provider Kamco to deliver the system.

To buy a myki ticket, commuters can go online at myki.com.au, open an account and register for a free ticket. They can start using their tickets on the train network as soon as they receive it.

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Ticket mess will haunt Labor in the election year ahead

Ticket mess will haunt Labor in the election year ahead
December 30, 2009

THIS bitsy announcement on public transport ticketing is the worst outcome for the State Government - because it guarantees the myki mess will continue to haunt Labor well into the 2010 election year.

It was left to Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky to publicly own the almost-broken promise.

Premier John Brumby - conveniently on holiday yesterday - had repeatedly promised that Victoria's overdue and over-budget integrated ticket system would be operating on the Melbourne network by the end of this year. But it won't be - not in the way people might reasonably have expected.

Kosky finally fessed up yesterday: myki is not ready for the city's tram or bus networks. Her decision to push ahead with it on the trains is a recipe for confusion and chaos for commuters.

Having been burnt once by a deadline - the promise to have myki in Melbourne by year's end - Kosky is refusing to commit to a new timeline for its introduction on trams and buses. The closest she came yesterday was to say it would take ''about six months or more to fully introduce myki in Victoria''.

So myki is likely to be introduced to Melbourne's trams and buses in the shadow of next November's election - which means people won't have much time to get used to the new system before they vote.

As she munched on this unpleasant sandwich yesterday, Kosky took a fateful gamble. Far from being contrite about myki (which, to be fair, was bequeathed to her by former premier Steve Bracks and former transport minister Peter Batchelor), she chose to talk it up.

Melburnians would come to ''love'' myki, Kosky said, because they would come to see that it was better, faster, easier and cheaper than the outgoing Metcard system. Not only that, it would cope ''incredibly well'' in peak periods.

The risk in such blue-skies rhetoric is obvious. If commuters disagree with Kosky, they can tell her so at the ballot box.

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Myki's first outing: the verdict

Myki's first outing: the verdict
December 30, 2009

SELMA MILOVANOVIC

TIME: 5.35pm
STATION: Ascot Vale
LINE: Craigieburn

WALK from Collins Street entrance of Southern Cross Station to Bourke Street, where the station's only myki machine is located. Follow prompts on screen to top up $5 balance. Place card against reader and insert $5 note. The following message appears: ''Sorry, your transaction could not be completed. Please put your myki against the myki reader.''

The screen goes blank, then shows the same message. I scan the myki again. Suddenly the correct $10 balance is displayed and receipt printed. The distance to the myki machine and card error cause me to miss my train.

The myki works at the gate but no balance is displayed.

Arrive at Ascot Vale station at 5.55pm. ''Touch off'' successfully and balance of $7.06 is displayed.

At myki machine, follow prompts and insert $1. Transaction shows up on screen, then screen displays same error message. A few seconds later, it prints a receipt with the new balance of $8.06.

KATE LAHEY 7.20pm
STATION: Clifton Hill
LINE: Hurstbridge

TIME:

REGISTERING my myki card online took about six minutes. It was an easy process, although I felt uneasy giving my personal details to this new system; maybe I found it hard to have faith in an organisation that seems to have bungled so much so far.

At Southern Cross I topped up my card with $20. Topping up was quick and easy, much faster than buying a new Metcard. I usually buy a 10x2 hour ticket and those old machines can take an eternity to process.

This was very quick, even when I asked for a receipt. I swiped off at Clifton Hill and learnt from the little screen that the journey had cost me $2.94. I also topped up again at Clifton Hill, this time with a $1 coin, and again it was quick. I do wonder how quick that will be with everyone trying to swipe off as they pass.

I'm not sure if it's just the new romance with this speedy little card, but I actually think it opened the ticket barrier at Southern Cross faster for me too. I liked it.

BRIDIE SMITH

TIME: 6.03
STATION: Yarraville
LINE: Williamstown

AFTER logging on to the website to register my card, red letters inform me that myki doesn't like my name. ''Given name was invalid. Please check and try again.'' I am pretty sure I know what my name is. I clear the field and retype. This time, my name gets the myki stamp of approval.

At the station, I go to the machine to put $10 on to the card. I have a $20 and a $50 note, but the machine tells me it doesn't give change. So $20 it is. Hold up the card. Insert money. ''Sorry. Transaction could not be completed. Return myki used in this transaction to the myki reader.'' By the time I've done that the machine has timed out and spat out the money. A second attempt is successful. Go through the barriers and miss the card's balance reading, but the assistant assures me it was there.

My ''touch-off'' is successful at Yarraville. But the ''blink and you'll miss it'' balance reading is too fast. 6.02pm
STATION: Balaclava
LINE: Sandringham

GABRIELLA COSLOVICH

TIME:

THE barriers at Southern Cross Station recognised my card no problem, and the myki top-up machine accepted my $10 note. At the Balaclava end, the ''touch-off'' machines duly noted the $12.06 balance on my card - I was charged $2.94 for my trip.

But forget trying to top up with notes at the Balaclava end - the myki machine had already been tampered with and wasn't accepting notes. It was coins or bank cards only. Disconcertingly, when I got home to check my card balance online, I was deemed to have just $5 on it, despite the $10 I'd put on it at Southern Cross, and the extra $1 I put on it at Balaclava. But there's an escape clause: "Please allow up to 24 hours for the funds to transfer to your myki.'' I will keep my fingers crossed. Oh, and your key to the city doesn't guarantee the trains will run on time. Commuters on the Williamstown train were facing a 30-minute delay last night.

ELI GREENBLAT

TIME: 6.02pm
STATION: Middle Brighton
LINE: Sandringham

I SWIPED my card at Southern Cross Station, but the myki card was in my wallet - along with the usual assortment of Eftpos and credit cards - and when I swiped it against the reader the machine said it had ''read multiple cards'' and I needed to swipe it again. I took the card out, reswiped it and it was OK.

I attempted to top up the card with $10 but realised too late that the machine does not give change and so it used up my entire $20 note. When I arrived at my destination, Middle Brighton station, again the reader had problems with the myki card being in my wallet. Although it said there had been a multiple read it did give me my journey cost and remaining value in my card.

However, on swiping the card this information (journey and remaining value) came up for only a second, maybe less, making it pretty hard to read.

Myki cards cannot be bought over-the-counter in Melbourne. The Age bought its five cards in Geelong yesterday.

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Readers flood heraldsun.com.au with furious comments about new myki ticket system

Readers flood heraldsun.com.au with furious comments about new myki ticket system

    * Geraldine Mitchell
    * From: Herald Sun
    * December 30, 2009 1:15PM

UPDATE 12.45pm: READERS of heraldsun.com.au have flooded us with furious comments about the myki system, which was partly rolled out in Melbourne by Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky yesterday.

The cards are now available online but can only be used on trains, meaning the State Government has missed its deadline of a complete roll-out of the system by the end of 2009.

Ms Kosky said this morning still does not know when myki will be ready to use on trams and buses, but that "we're not talking years".

Readers have slammed the cost of the new system, which has been plagued with technical problems and delays.

"If I went to my boss, after running a project that was this late, and this much over budget, and said I don't know when we can roll it out, I would be sacked immediately," wrote JB. "However, any boss with any brains would have made changes before it came to this.

Sergio DeRango said Ms Kosky had delivered "the ultimate MyKi Mouse ticketing system" for Melbourne.

"Kosky states that there is some small glitches to complete the system, I'd hate to see large glitches because the small ones have taken three years," posted Gary.

Dan asked what the point is of spending millions on "a lovely shiny new box to buy your ticket from, when the man in the green uniform could sell you that same ticket for a lot less, and keep a lot more people employed".

Mark Johnson described the waste of money as "unprecedented", saying "It would have been better to just offer free transport all the time and get rid of all ticket collecting machines. This is the most criminal waste of taxpayers' money yet. There must be an immediate audit of this disgraceful episode. And Kosky must be sacked immediately."

Darcy of Ballarat predicts the new system will "fail epically". "Myki has been running on our buses in Ballarat and has been unreliable all the time. But, it is good because we have been getting free bus rides because the computer keeps crashing."

And the Truth of Melbourne wonders why "the government thinks that we are a second rate city since they think that a second rate system is good enough for us. Mongrels - Kosky must be sacked! Why is the premier hiding - too embarrassed to show his face - rightly so."

Although the vast majority of comments were negative, there were a few urging commuters to give the system a chance.

"Good to see Myki is on the way," said Chris of Watsonia. "Sick of paper tickets that get creased and don't work in the readers. It is about time that the old system was removed."

Daniel posted that he had just registered and was "looking forward to using the system. In my circumstances (irregular PT user) i think it will save me both money and time".

Kyle Ruxton wrote that he was in Bendigo and there was nothing wrong with the system" "It works well here, very simple to touch on and off, and far more convenient than having to fumble for small change. What is Melbourne doing wrong if they can't get it right? To those who are fed up - Myki is a good system, I know many who would agree with me."

To read more of the hundreds of comments and join the debate click here

The publicity blitz for the $1.35 billion ticketing system descended into a farce yesterday, with Ms Kosky even failing to remember the phone number for commuters to buy a ticket.

During a radio interview this morning, the minister remained reluctant to offer a possible date for the system to be rolled out on other forms of transport.

"I don't want to give a definite date because I can't do that until the board actually gives that to me," she said.

"I'm not hiding anything, I haven't been given a date, and the press will be one of the first to know when we have that date when it's rolled out.

"But we're not talking years, I mean it's working well on the trams, I've used it on trams because I've been part of a trial, but it's not working at the really, really high level that the public would expect."

However, Ms Kosky also said the system was not perfect and commuters should prepare for glitches.

"These are not systems that will be absolutely perfect just as your computer isn't, as all of our IT systems aren't, but they're actually much better than the paper ticketing system and I think people really will learn to love myki," she said.

And she rejected suggestions that she was under pressure as the Government prepares for the next election.

"Look, I feel a pressure to make sure that we deliver a good ticketing system and that we deliver a good transport system and that's what I'm in the business of doing," she said.

A press release issued yesterday states that it will be six months or more before myki is fully operational in Victoria.

"People are working around the clock at the moment. It is working well. It's just some small glitches," Ms Kosky said.

"They thought before Christmas they'd actually identified those, but when they rolled out the system, it wasn't operating at the very high level that was expected.

"So, I don't want to give a date. Suffice to say that we have a very good system that is now on the train network and it will be rolled out soon through the tram and bus network."

When asked on 3AW radio what phone number passengers should call to buy a ticket, Ms Kosky said, "Ah, I was worried you were going to ask that", and directed them to the website.

Ms Kosky also refused to say how long free myki tickets would be offered online, despite the website stating they were available until January 17.

"Well, it'll be for quite some time. We'll monitor the uptake on the train network and, obviously, when it's rolled out on the tram and bus network, that will be on offer again," she said.

The Metcard system will continue to operate alongside myki until it becomes fully operational.

Ms Kosky said ticket inspectors would be out in force, and warned commuters not to evade fares. She promised that inspectors would use their discretion where confusion arose, but insisted the new system was not an excuse to avoid paying for their journey.

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu slammed the Government for failing to deliver the system on time and on budget.

Mr Baillieu said Ms Kosky should have been sacked "a long time ago" and labelled the new system a farce.

He said: "We are stuck with a myki system.We don't even know when it's going to be rolled out, and the Minister could not even say when it will be available on trams and buses."

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said the Government should not have switched to myki until it was working fully.

"The system is years late anyway. It would have been better to wait a few weeks and have it operating properly on all modes," he said.

"This decision makes a mockery of Melbourne's multi-modal fare system and will cause confusion for passengers, particularly those many people who catch buses and trams, as well as trains.

"Our recommendation to commuters is to continue using Metcard for now, until the glitches are ironed out and the Government has got myki fully working on trams and buses."

But Ms Kosky yesterday insisted she was putting pressure on technology provider Kamco to deliver the system.

To buy a myki ticket, commuters can go online at myki.com.au, open an account and register for a free ticket. They can start using their tickets on the train network as soon as they receive it.

[ozbob]

Anyone been able to log in to their myki account yet?

( ie. those who applied for cards yesterday, they said it might take up to 24 hours or so ...)

[dwb]

I could log in straight away after signing up on the internet yesterday - but doesn't do you much good as there isn't much to do until you've got your card - ie can't add money, see transactions etc, but it did look like I could change my details and password etc.

[ozbob]

Thanks, must be delay because I did mine by phone ..

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

More than 14,000 commuters register for myki within 24 hours

More than 14,000 commuters register for myki within 24 hours

    * AAP
    * December 30, 2009 2:08PM

MORE than 14,000 commuters have registered for a Myki smartcard less than 24 hours after the new ticketing system started, Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky says.

Myki went live yesterday on Melbourne's train network but cards are only available online and are not yet operating on trams and buses.

Already there have been hiccups, with some machines used for logging on and off the system not functioning.

Ms Kosky said it was a difficult system to deliver but Victorians would grow to love it once they had adjusted to the change.

"We've had more than 14,000 registrations in less than 24 hours, I mean that's just extraordinary,'' she told reporters today.

"So people are very keen to get their Myki card, they've gone online, they've registered, they've provided their details and they're very keen to use the system.''

The $3.5 billion Myki ticketing system is almost three years late and $350 million over budget. It enables commuters to travel using a re-usable touch card that can be charged online or at train station pay points.

[ozbob]

I rang the hot line and they couldn't find me on the system, despite having the reference and security numbers.  They said they would pass to a supervisor, who I guess found me and made sure I was on the system.

I went through a password reset and now the system recognises me.

Early daze ...