Myki - articles and discussion

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Myki freeloaders cost us money, but chasing them has cost us even more

Analysis

In its perpetual war on fare evasion, the government points out that freeloaders cost the public transport system almost $50 million a year, which could be spent on new trains, trams and buses.

What they don't mention, and what is made painfully obvious in a searing Ombudsman's report, is the huge amount of money and time that is squandered by the bureaucracy as it pursues fare evaders in court cases that are destined to fail.
Advertisement

What they also don't mention is that most people caught without a valid myki are not freeloaders in any deliberate sense.

Less than 2 per cent of penalised fare evaders are known recidivists, and this small minority of genuine cheats is responsible for 68 per cent of myki revenue loss, the Ombudsman's report said.

The rest are mostly honest people who have either made a mistake or been snared by a myki glitch ...

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/myki-freeloaders-cost-us-money-but-chasing-them-has-cost-us-even-more-20160526-gp4lym.html

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Myki changes are good news, but unexplained oddities will remain

[ozbob]

PTV --> myki money quick top up (QT) device

The new myki money quick top up device provides you with a quick, easy and convenient way to top up your myki money and also check your myki balance.

The quick top up devices are being trialled at a number of regional and metropolitan rail stations as well as two of Melbourne's tram stops.

More > http://ptv.vic.gov.au/mykiQT

[ozbob]

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/stronger-myki-contract-paves-the-way-for-improvements/

Stronger Myki Contract Paves The Way For Improvements

Minister for Public Transport

5 July 2016


The myki contract has been signed, paving the way for improvements to Victoria's public transport ticketing system.

Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan announced today global IT giant and current myki operator NTT Data has been awarded the contract for the operation of myki for the next seven years.

The contract, valued at just under $700 million, includes stronger performance requirements and will deliver better value for money through a fixed-price model where unanticipated costs are borne by the operator – not taxpayers.

With the continuity of Victoria's ticketing system now assured, the Andrews Labor Government will immediately begin investigating new contactless technology, including the ability for passengers to touch on and off with their credit card or smart phone.

This work will build on significant improvements that have been made to Victoria's ticketing system over the past 18 months, including 90 minute online top-ups, faster readers on trams and at Victoria's busiest stations, and the roll-out of tap-and-go payment technology on myki machines.

Today's announcement follows wide-ranging reforms to Victoria's fare enforcement system to make it more simple, fair and effective – including abolishing on-the-spot penalty fares and creating a single infringement system that makes it easier to do the right thing.

Myki is one of the largest smart card ticketing systems in the world, and offers cheaper maximum daily fares than Sydney, London and other major cities internationally.

The new myki contract will begin on 1 January 2017. For more information about Victoria's ticketing system, visit ptv.vic.gov.au

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan

"This is a stronger contract that provides a better deal for Victoria and paves the way for major improvements to myki."

"It provides stronger performance requirements and will deliver better value for money by ensuring any unanticipated costs are borne by the operator – not taxpayers."

"We've made major upgrades to myki and work on the next generation of improvements starts today – looking at the latest technology to make it quicker and easier to top up, touch on and get where you need to go."

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Losing bidder for $700 million myki contract claims tender process was tainted

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Losing myki bidder Cubic still hopes to tap into contract

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Woman 'abused' by myki inspectors after offering to pay homeless man's fare

A Melbourne commuter says she was threatened with a fine and abused by ticket inspectors for offering to pay a homeless man's tram fare.

Emily Day was riding a Route 11 tram from West Preston on Monday morning when four ticket inspectors approached a homeless man in a seat nearby.

"He [the homeless man] was not in a great place and was struggling," Ms Day said. "He did not need that and they had zero sensitivity."

"He was sitting quietly on the tram, shrinking into himself and they were just standing over him. It was really rough. ...

[SurfRail]

^ She wouldn't have been able to pay his fare anyway under the current business rules.

[ozbob]

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/labor-government-gets-on-with-abolishing-penalty-fares/

Labor Government Gets On With Abolishing Penalty Fares

Minister for Public Transport 11 October 2016

The Andrews Labor Government will today introduce legislation to abolish on-the-spot penalty fares on public transport and deliver a simpler, fairer and more effective fare enforcement system for Victoria.

The Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Amendment (Abolition of Penalty Fares Scheme) Bill is the next major step to get rid of the unpopular fines, which intimidate commuters and encourage people to avoid paying their way on public transport.

The $75 penalty fare means a passenger can get caught fare evading more than 20 times in one year and still pay less than the cost of a regular Zone 1 and 2 yearly pass.

Penalty fares are also anonymous, so there is no record kept of serial offenders, meaning the worst fare evaders cannot be identified and targeted.

This legislation replaces the former Liberal Government's ineffective, confusing and unfair regime with a single infringement system that provides a clear process for how and when fines can be issued, and how and when they can be challenged.

New guidelines for internal review will be implemented, including an official warning system for passengers who make an honest mistake. PTV is also working with operators to better train and support Authorised Officers, who are at the front line of our fare enforcement system.

These important changes to the fare enforcement system are supported by a range of initiatives to make it quicker and easier for people to top up, touch on and do the right thing.

New quick top-up machines have been introduced at key stations and tram stops, online top up times have been reduced from 24 hours to around 90 minutes and next-generation myki readers are being rolled out at busy stations.

The Labor Government has also begun investigating new contactless technology for Victoria's public transport system, including the ability for passengers to touch on and off with their credit card or smart phone.

Penalty fares will remain in place until the new fare enforcement system begins on 1 January 2017, subject to passage of the Bill.

In the interim, passengers who receive a penalty fare will continue to be provided with information about how to lodge a complaint if they feel they have been wrongly or incorrectly fined.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan

"Penalty fares are unfair and ineffective. They intimidate passengers and encourage people to evade fares – that's why we're getting rid of them."

"This legislation establishes a single infringement system that is fairer on those trying to do the right thing, and tougher on those who deliberately and repeatedly don't pay their way."

"We're putting passengers first – making our ticketing system simpler, fairer and more effective and investing in the major projects our network needs. We're getting it done."

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Myki loathing on the wane but ticket inspectors still a pain, report finds

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> A touch too much? Myki price rise will mean two-hour trips cost more than $4

A full day riding Melbourne's trains, trams and buses will cost more than $8 in 2017 when the fares go up by 5 per cent from New Year's Day.

And a two-hour trip in zone 1 will cost more than $4 for the first time, jumping by 20 cents.

News of the forthcoming rise in public transport fares comes a day after it was revealed that Victorian energy bills could balloon by as much as 10 per cent next year.

From January 1, a full day zone 1 fare will cost $8.20, up 40 cents, and a two-hour trip $4.10.

Intercity commuters on VLine will also pay more, with the cost of a trip between Geelong and Melbourne rising by 3.3 per cent, or 40 cents, on a one-way peak hour trip.

The fare increases are calculated using the Consumer Price Index (1.4 per cent this year) plus 2.5 per cent.

But the 2017 increase is even higher, as the government is rounding up fares, so the two basic fares will rise by 5.1 per cent.

Other fare changes from January 1 include a full-fare annual ticket rising from $1521 to $1599 and a $2 rise on full-fare, seven-day myki passes to $41.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the changes had allowed a drop in prices from weekend daily concessions to $3.

But there is some good news. Children will not need a ticket until the age of five, the age they typically start school, rather than four as it is now, and the concession fare cut-off will be 18 from next year instead of 17.

Ms Allan said it would be the last year that fares would increase under the current model, a system she blamed the previous Coalition government for developing.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said giving four-year-olds free trips was welcome as it bought Victoria into line with other states.

Parents of kindergarten children had regularly complained about the fares for four-year-olds.

"But it is disappointing that fares are up again; they have been going up faster than inflation for many years, so it does cause some issues of affordability," Mr Bowen said.

"We would hope that the extra revenue is put into investing into the system to address overcrowding and other issues."

Ms Allan said the changes would make it simpler, fairer and cheaper to travel on public transport.

"The Liberals made four-year-olds buy a ticket, kids pay too much on the weekend, and 17 year-old apprentices fork out $760 more every year than they should have.

"We don't think that's fair and we're fixing it," Ms Allan said.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Myki fare hikes favour some users, punish others and increasingly encourage driving

Back when Crowded House first played the Opera House in 1996, Melbourne public transport users were paying $4.10 for a Daily Zone 1 fare. From January that same fare will cost $8.20 - exactly double what it was 20 years ago.

Of course, prices for most things have gone up in that time. But if public transport fares had risen at the rate of inflation, that fare would be $6.86, not $8.20.

Both sides of politics have given us repeated above-inflation rises. The Brumby Labor government budgeted for CPI plus 5 per cent rises in 2012 and 2013, which were subsequently delivered by the Coalition. Then in its December 2013 budget update, the Coalition flagged CPI plus 2.5 per cent rises annually from 2015 to 2018 - now being delivered by Labor.

However, some passengers have seen recent price cuts. We now have a flat fare for most trips within suburban Melbourne. This is both a curse and a blessing. Commuters coming into inner Melbourne from the sprawling suburbs pay a fare that is cheap by Australian standards, and lower in real terms than 20 years ago.

But for short trips, say from Kensington into the city, or a quick ride on the tram to the shops, the fare is the same. These trips are increasingly not cost-competitive with driving.

The Free Tram Zone has also caused problems. CBD trams were already crowded - now they're positively packed, including with people now encouraged to drive to places like Docklands to park, then catch a tram to work.

The cheap long-distance fares and free trams have to be funded somehow. Both were announced by the Coalition ahead of the 2014 election. It seems likely that the price rises we're now seeing were devised to help cover the cost of the discounts - favouring some users at the expense of others.

This means that for many, fares continue to rise far faster than inflation. In contrast, any proposal for road pricing gets rejected immediately by politicians, and the Federal petrol excise tax was frozen for many years. As a result, ABS figures show the cost of driving rising at less than the rate of inflation - in other words, it's getting cheaper to drive.

Policies that discourage public transport use and encourage more driving are not good for a growing city. The cost and scarcity of parking in the CBD may mean public transport wins there, but in most parts of Melbourne, cars dominate, despite endless traffic jams.

Convenience and service quality are vitally important - and for public transport there is no shortage of improvements needed: more frequent services, better connections and infrastructure, relief from crowding, better reliability.

But the cost of travel is also a factor when making travel choices. Public transport must be affordable, and cost-competitive with driving - not just for longer trips, but also for shorter ones. It's important that fares help fund the system. But policies must reflect that it's good for our city if more people use public transport - and bad if they're getting in their cars adding to the traffic.

Daniel Bowen is a public transport advocate. He blogs at danielbowen.com

[ozbob]

Daniel Bowen Blog --> Public transport fares rise in January

[ozbob]

Changes to fares in 2017

>> http://www.vic.gov.au/news/changes-to-fares-in-2017.html

Media release

05 December 2016

Changes to fares in 2017

The Victorian Government is making public transport fairer, cheaper and easier to understand for kids and families.

Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan has unveiled important changes to the fare structure that will cut the cost of transport for thousands of concession card holders across Victoria.

From 30 January next year, the age at which a child must start carrying a myki will be lifted from four to five, saving parents the expense and hassle of getting their child a ticket before they've even started school.

At same time, the Victorian Government will lift the eligibility age for a child myki ticket from 16 to 18.

The change means young people will have access to concession fares until they are 19, even if they aren't at school or university.

For a 17 or 18 year old working instead of studying, the shift will save them as much as $800 a year.

A new weekend cap for concession card holders will also be introduced on 1 January as part of broader fare changes. The new cap will reduce the cost of travelling on Saturday and Sunday from $3.90 to $3.00.

The former Government failed to cap concession fares on the weekend, making kids and seniors fork out more than half the cost of a full fare cap – despite all other concession fares being a half the cost of a full fare ticket.

The on-the-spot fines introduced by the former Liberal Government will also be abolished next year, as part of the Labor Government's reforms to simplify Victoria's fare enforcement system and make it fairer and more effective.

Public transport will be free across Victoria on Christmas Day and from 6pm on New Year's Eve until 6am on New Year's Day to help people celebrate with family and friends.

To support these fare reductions and other improvements to Victoria's public transport system, other myki fares will increase on 1 January, as they do every year.

Further information on the improvements to public transport fares is available at ptv.vic.gov.au.

[ozbob]

Leave your myki at home & keep your arms free for carrying presents! Free travel across the state on Xmas Day: https://t.co/XkEEZyCv5J pic.twitter.com/6Af6OIdXbT

— PTV (@ptv_official) December 9, 2016

[ozbob]

Today's public holiday means the most you'll pay for unlimited travel in Zone 1+2 is $6 🎟💵 ($3 for concession!) https://t.co/VaMQGUMfMW pic.twitter.com/da86syKiPM

— PTV (@ptv_official) January 25, 2017

[ozbob]

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/cheaper-simpler-and-fairer-public-transport-for-kids/

Cheaper, Simpler And Fairer Public Transport For Kids

Minister for Public Transport 30 January 2017

The Andrews Labor Government is making it cheaper, simpler and fairer for children to travel on public transport.

From today, the age at which a child must start carrying a myki will be lifted from four to five, saving parents the expense and hassle of getting their child a ticket before they've even started school.

At the same time, the Labor Government will lift the eligibility age for a child myki ticket from 16 to 18.

The change means young people will have access to concession fares until they are 19, even if they aren't at school or university.

For a 17 or 18 year old working instead of studying, the shift will save them as much as $800 a year.

In an added bonus, 17 and 18 year olds will now be able to use a learners drivers licence or Proof of Age card to prove their eligibility for concession fares.

This change will save up to 10,000 fulltime students the hassle and cost of buying a PTV School Student ID.

Concession card holders are already benefiting from the new concession cap on weekends, which has reduced the cost of Zone 1+2 travel on Saturday and Sunday from $3.90 to $3.00.

And all passengers are benefiting from the abolition of the former Liberal Government's ineffective and unfair on-the-spot fines regime, which intimidated vulnerable passengers and encouraged serial fare evasion.

Further information about the Labor Government's improvements to public transport fares, visit ptv.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan

"These changes will save a lot of money and a lot of hassle for families using our public transport system."

"From today, kids won't need a ticket until they're five and they'll be guaranteed cheaper fares until they're an adult. Plus we've scrapped the ineffective and unfair on-the-spot fines the former Liberal Government introduced."

"We're making public transport simpler, fairer and cheaper for families, and getting on with building the major projects we need to run more services and get people home safer and sooner."

[ozbob]

#Myki was originally planned to include ticket machines on trams. It's never been explained why this was scrapped https://t.co/2BKPS7fwXy

— PTUA (@ptua) March 15, 2017

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> One in four myki fare evaders get warning as government targets repeat offenders

More than one in four people caught travelling on Victorian public transport without a valid myki card have been let off with an official warning so far this year.

Almost 9000 travellers have been warned rather than fined since the Andrews government introduced a less hardline approach to fare enforcement on January 1.

This compares with almost 33,000 who have been fined $229 for fare evasion, figures provided to Fairfax Media show.

But having taken a softer line on occasional fare evaders and accidental non-payers, the government appears set to crack down harder on habitual and deliberate non-payers.

The maximum fine for fare evasion on Victoria's public transport system could more than double to $1585 in July, in a move the government says will deter recidivists.

The leap in the cost of being caught travelling without a valid ticket would apply only to court penalties, which currently incur a maximum fine of $777, or five penalty units. Infringement notices would continue to carry a $229 fine.

There have been 274 people fined in court this year for more serious fare evasion offences. Most penalties are set to increase 2 per cent in July.

"The new maximum court penalties will only be sought in court for the most serious cases of repeated fare evasion, where Transport For Victoria considers it is warranted," spokesman Adrian Darwent said. "The majority of ticketing offences will continue to be subject to standard infringement notices."

Victoria's transport ticketing regulations are due to expire on July 2, and the government is preparing to make a handful of changes to the laws, including tightening the definition of having taken "all reasonable steps" to have a valid ticket that a person might use to contest a fine.

"Now that Victorian travellers are familiar with the myki system, a failure by passengers to take simple steps to make sure that a myki ticket is valid could be considered in most cases to be taking insufficient care to ensure that all reasonable steps have been taken to pay the fare for travel," new authority Transport for Victoria said in a discussion paper.

The proposed changes to myki regulations were published in the discussion paper this week and will be put to Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan soon.

The government overhauled the myki enforcement regime after Fairfax revealed in a series of articles that the system could not withstand legal scrutiny and most fines contested in court were withdrawn.

The discussion paper notes that although fare evasion levels hit a low of 4 per cent last year, it still cost the state's public transport system $30.9 million.

It said the heavier court-based penalties would target habitual fare evaders, who contributed most to this revenue loss.

"This proposed increase in the maximum penalties for deliberate and recidivist fare evaders is balanced out by the government's new policy of pursuing a greater use of discretion and official warnings when people inadvertently do not pay their fare," the paper states.

Daniel Bowen, spokesman for the Public Transport Users Association, said it made sense to increase court penalties for hardcore fare evaders, but it was also important to make it as easy as possible to top up myki cards and touch on.

"The priority must be to cut fare evasion, rather than issue notices or collect fines, sometimes from people who have made a genuine mistake," Mr Bowen said.

The discussion paper reveals that the government also wants to tweak the regulations to cover contactless payment technologies such as PayPass, in anticipation of their hoped-for future inclusion in the myki system.

Public transport users can already use their credit cards to touch on and off in London and a trial is planned in Sydney this year.

There is no guarantee the convenient payment technology will ever work with myki, although Public Transport Victoria and myki operator NTT Data are investigating this.

But the paper makes no mention of ever introducing the capability to top-up on trams, which remains impossible almost 10 years after the system went live.

"It's disappointing that they appear to have given up on any chance of myki top-up on trams, something that was originally designed to be included in the system," Mr Bowen said.

Emma King, chief executive of the Victorian Council of Social Service, said it was important to make sure the tougher penalties did not hit people who were simply too poor to pay the initial fine.

"Cracking down on brazen fare evaders is one thing, but we need to ensure vulnerable people facing genuine disadvantage or living with a mental illness aren't also caught in the trap," Ms King said.

"Fines, fees and penalties already have a disproportionate effect on people facing disadvantage."

She said VCOSS was encouraged by Transport for Victoria's statement that its "general policy" was not to allow matters involving people with "special circumstances" to proceed to court.

The deadline to provide feedback on the discussion paper is May 21.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Myki fares are about to go up

Myki fares will rise almost five per cent on New Years Day, in the biggest increase in three years.

Fares will rise by an average 4.7 per cent on January 1, the Andrews government has confirmed.

A full-fare two hour trip will rise from $4.10 to $4.30 and a daily full fare from $8.20 to $8.60.

Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said the fare rise was not surprising but unwelcome.

Fares have been increased on January 1 every year for the past four years, by 2.5 per cent plus CPI.

Dr Morton said people travelling longer journeys across zones one and two were still getting a good deal after fares were capped at zone one prices in 2014, but shorter trips were becoming costly.

"It's still bad news for the majority of travel in Melbourne, which is just across a couple of suburbs," he said.

"This is what we warned about when this zone one capping came in, that it could be used as a pretext to just hike the effective flat fare."

In a sweetener, the government will also make off-peak travel free for primary school students in groups, between the hours of 9.30am and 3.30pm.

Carers of people with disabilities will also be given free travel on weekends, across up to two zones.

Currently carers have free travel on Sundays only.

"Next year, we're making primary school excursions easier and helping carers get around the city to support those they care for," Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said.

Public Transport Victoria will publish the new fares online on Saturday.

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Myki fares to increase in 2018: Victorian public transport costs revealed

COMMUTERS will fork out an extra $75 for annual Myki adult passes and daily trip ­prices will rise to $8.60 when public transport fares increase in the new year.

The Andrews Government will today announce a 4.7 per cent rise in public transport fares from January 1.

The new fares will see primary school groups given free trips during off-peak periods and holiday revellers getting free trips home on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

From January 1, a single adult two-hour pass will rise from $4.10 to $4.30, and a daily fare from $8.20 to $8.60.

Concession cardholders will pay half of the full fares. Public Transport Users ­Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said the fare increases could force some commuters to rethink their options.

"It does mean that short trips in particular are becoming more expensive, and you would hope that doesn't discourage users," he said.

"Back in 2013 the Coalition budgeted for fare increases that rose with the Consumer Price Index, plus an additional 2.5 per cent.

"Labor has kept with that and it means fares keep rising faster than inflation."

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan will today also announce a boost for primary school groups that use public transport for excursions.

From January 1, those groups travel free between 9.30am-3.30pm on all metropolitan and regional services.

She will also announce that Victorian Carer Card holders are set to have their benefits extended, with free trips on across two consecutive zones on weekends.

"We're making primary school excursions easier and helping carers get around the city to support those they care for," Ms Allan said.

As an additional sweetener, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve revellers will once again get free public transport.

From 6pm on New Year's Eve, metropolitan services will run for 12 hours free of charge. And the first service on every regional line will also be free for passengers on January 1.

Free Christmas Day services will run to a Sunday timetable and will include a limited number of V/Line coach routes. Ms Allan said: "Free public transport during the festive period makes it safer, cheaper and easier for people to leave the car at home and enjoy the festivities."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/957292037874712576

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> The death of Victoria's trouble-plagued Myki system has begun

THE death of the trouble-plagued $1.5 billion Myki ticketing system has begun with commuters to use bank cards and even their smartphones to ride from the middle of this year.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal the "tap and go" technology — which means travellers will eventually no longer have to shell out up to $6 for a Myki card — is to be soon trialled aboard Melbourne's new E-class trams.

Myki readers capable of allowing people to scan on with a credit or debit card are ready to go across Victoria, including regional areas, ahead of a mass rollout.

The hi-tech trial will within months begin on either tram Routes 11, 86 or 96 which service suburbs including St Kilda, West Preston and Docklands.

Findings will be used to determine how the technology could be deployed across the state's public transport network including every train station, tram and bus.

The overhaul will address a key criticism that Myki fails to cater for single-use travellers such as tourists.

It will make tapping on to services faster and eliminate the need for multiple cards.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan told the Sunday Herald Sun:

"We are currently looking at a range of options to make it easier for more Victorians to use our public transport system."

"We are always looking for ways to make the public transport system more accessible for Victorians,'' Ms Allan said.

Myki — which the Bracks Labor government conceived in 2005 — has been riddled with problems.

It suffered a budget blowout of more than $500 million and was rolled out in late 2009 — almost three years behind schedule.

The political storm later engulfed former transport minister Lynne Kosky.

The "tap and go" revolution would incorporate 15,000 card readers statewide.

It's understood no extra fees would apply to use a bank card.

Commuters with contactless payment technology within their smartphone or smartwatch could also use their devices to pay.

Such technology is already in use at more than 80 locations across the world including London's transport network which uses the acclaimed Oyster card.

About 40 per cent of all journeys on its system are now made using contactless payment.

There are more than 15 million active Myki cards in circulation — worth a collective $90 million if each was purchased at the existing $6 cost.

Almost 400 million journeys were last year made using the ticketing system.

The Sunday Herald Sun has learned work has also begun to remove much-despised 90-minute delays in adding money to Myki cards online.

A new smartphone app is also being developed as part of the solution, which could curb fare evasion for customers caught out with no money on their card.

The improvements are part of a new $700 million contract signed between the Andrews Government and global IT giant NTT Data to run for seven years.

University of Melbourne enterprise fellow for cyber security Dr Greg Adamson said it was important people were assured their personal details would be safe if using bank cards to travel.

"One of the problems is how do we know a particular organisation has the capacity to protect information,'' Dr Adamson said.

"What is the mechanism to make sure the information stays where it needs to stay?"

Contactless payment is also being rolled out in NSW and Queensland.

Getting the technology to cap how much commuters pay for travel across a certain time frame has proved a sticking point and is yet to be resolved.

Myki imposes a capped limit for two-hour, daily and weekly travel.

Myki cards cost $3 for people with concession, seniors or child.

Commuters were this month hit with a 4.7 per cent fare hike.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/danielbowen/status/957515230480809986

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/957516689519726592

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/957658902031511553

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/VLine/status/988278589488619525

[ozbob]

https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/news-and-events/news/mobile-myki-trial/

Mobile myki trial

Added: 28 May 2018

Public transport passengers in Victoria will soon be able to use a smartphone to pay for travel on public transport thanks to a trial of new ticketing technology – Mobile myki.

Mobile myki will use a custom-built smartphone app and near field communication technology to integrate with existing myki ticket barriers and card readers across Victoria's trains, trams and buses, wherever you can use myki.

Victoria will be one of the first public transport networks in the world to trial mobile ticketing technology across multiple transport modes, without the need for new infrastructure or equipment to be built.

This new technology will make life easier, allowing you to top up on the go, check the balance of your Mobile myki at any time, avoid queues at myki machines and reduce the chance of forgetting or losing your physical myki card.

The trial will commence in the coming months, through a limited, industry-based test group of users on Android devices before extending to a wider, public test group later in the year.

Discussions will continue during the trial to explore other smartphone users accessing Mobile myki.

It is expected the full trial period will run until early 2019. A decision will be made about making Mobile myki available for all passengers in the new year.

The existing physical myki card will continue to remain in use during and after the trial.

To stay up to date with the Mobile myki trial, including how to register your interest in participating in the trial later in the year, make sure your myki is registered.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Farewell myki cards? Trial for app to let you touch on with your phone

Myki, Victoria's controversial public transport ticketing system, will trial a new app for 1000 specially selected users who will be able to touch on and off and pay for their travel via their mobile phone.

The "mobile myki" app would allow people with Android devices to use their phones rather than a card at existing ticket barriers and card readers across trains, trams and buses in Melbourne and beyond.

The trial will cost taxpayers as much as $3 million on top of the existing $700 million myki contract, which began last year.

"There is a small additional cost for this of between $2 [million] to $3 million to run the whole trial," Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said.

The trial in Melbourne follows Sydney's introduction – on its small light rail network and on its ferries – of both smartphone and credit card tap on and off facilities.

Other cities where a smartphone app allows travellers to board without a ticket include Houston, London in some circumstances, some Chinese cities, and Singapore.

The Melbourne mobile phone trial will see the technology used across multiple transport modes on the entire Victorian network, without new infrastructure or equipment being built.

"This is a very large and complex network that we have, the ticketing system has to work across all those different aspects of it," said Ms Allan.

There is no sign of when iPhone users will be able to use their device to pay.

It is the latest development in myki technology, which began in 2005 as a replacement for the old paper ticketing system. By 2016, myki's rollout had cost Victorians more than $1.5 billion.

The new seven-year myki contract, signed with NTT Data in 2016, will cost Victorians $700 million more.

Part of that deal was for new technology like this to be trialled.

There are no moves to introduce a single-use ticket, the absence of which is a regular source of complaint among public transport users. But a successful smartphone app could negate the need for it.

If the trial is successful, it will allow passengers to top up on the go, check the balance of their myki at any time, avoid ticketing machine queues and reduce the chance of misplacing physical cards.

Ms Allan said the trial would start via a limited, industry-based test group of users on Android devices. If it was a success, it would then be extended to a wider test group later in 2018.

The trial period is expected to run until early 2019.

Existing physical myki cards will remain in use during and after the trial.

Passengers using mobile myki will be able to top up with myki money or a myki pass as they do currently.

Launched in 2008 after three years of preparation, myki now has 12 million active cards and 700 million transactions each year.

Public Transport Victoria chief executive Jeroen Weimar said the app being trialled would allow people to have multiple account holders registered on one device.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen welcomed the move, saying it was essential a good ticketing system made it easy for passengers to pay.

He said that, while the trial was a step forward, the technology used would have limitations.

"A lot of mobile phones don't currently have the ... functionality required. And while many public transport systems are implementing payments from contactless credit cards, which are very common, it seems myki isn't capable of this," Mr Bowen said.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Give us better, not cheaper public transport

A public dollar frittered on fare discounting is invariably a waste, whereas that same dollar invested in better off-peak service gets great results.

It was reported recently in The Age that Infrastructure Victoria is recommending fare discounting to attract public transport riders into non-peak periods.

Infrastructure Victoria, you'll recall, is billed as an "independent, expert advisor" on infrastructure and transport matters.

But as I read the piece, and discussed it with other well-regarded people who understand transport economics, something didn't add up.

In the past I've co-ordinated academic programs on transport, including its economics. As a useful case study, the first or second lecture on this topic has invariably engaged with the question of whether a fare subsidy or other initiatives get good results for a taxpayer dollar.

Decades of behavioural evidence, and some reasonably straightforward calculations, demonstrate a compelling answer to this question:

In wealthy cities like Melbourne, potential public transport passengers are indifferent to fare changes or discounts, but respond robustly to enhanced service.

Or to put it another way – a public dollar frittered on fare discounting is invariably a waste, whereas that same dollar invested in better off-peak service gets great results.

Looking at the same issue from another angle – we might ask why someone would recommend making a 6am bus cheaper, if there are hardly any buses running on most routes at that time.

A discount on a non-existent bus will obviously not get people to ride PT earlier. Many of us are moderately flexible in our daily routines, but a quick glance at most of our bus, tram and train timetables suggests an earlier start is all but pointless.

Our "non-peak" service problem also intrudes after the morning peak, in the evening beyond the afternoon rush, and on weekends and public holidays. If Saturday mornings and afternoons are known to be a very busy period for urban travel – then why are fewer transit services provided at that time?

Two or three reasons. Firstly – penalty rates for drivers are cited, but I think that's a poor excuse myself. So – it's more likely we are facing ingrained habit among government agencies, and straightforward problems around the general cost of increasing those non-peak services.

On bad institutional habits and mindsets – these are reflected again, I believe, in the "advice" offered recently by IV, which has simply reprised an outdated and redundant take on the issue.

And furthermore, IV is ultimately recommending a reduction of revenue and resources for the PT system, making it ever harder to find the funds required to deliver the service standards and frequencies the travelling public wants.

Without funds for better services, we have the tracks, routes and vehicles - which already run during what we call the "peak" – but not the resources to get them out of the shed.

In a state election year, there are bound to be ideas flying around for governments and oppositions to agree or disagree with.

Last time something like this was raised, we ended up with a "free" CBD tram offer, at great expense to taxpayers, resulting in unmanageable crowding on city trams, and bad experiences for paying customers – given that city trams were already full.

The path forward for better non-peak travel across Melbourne lies in improving service frequency beyond narrowly-defined weekday morning or afternoon windows. Given that travel demand is often greater on weekends, we already know the formal designation of so-called "peak" periods by transport agencies is askew.

I'd recommend taking the very same funds that IV is proposing for fare discounts, and using those instead to substantially boost frequency in under-served periods. This will be a more responsible utilisation of taxpayer funds, and will have greater impact for passengers and overall transport outcomes.

Let's get those idle trams, trains and buses out of their sheds.

Dr Chris Hale is a Brunswick-based urbanist and transport strategist.

[#Metro]

I agree with Chris Hale. Generally, I am against "discounting rotten apples" as a method of patronage expansion. The place for a rotten apple is the bin.

It is essentially paying more for the same existing service level. Offer a high quality, high-frequency services like CentenaryGliders and bus reform, and you will have bums on seats. A better network will generate more patronage, more revenue and save money by not spending money on transporting air parcels everywhere.

New Bus Network Proposal http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Bid to upgrade and combine Public Transport Victoria and myki websites over budget and late

TROUBLE-plagued myki has suffered another cost blowout with a bid to merge its website with Public Transport Victoria delayed by more than a year.

The overhaul of Melbourne's key public transport websites was originally budgeted to cost $3.83 million but has crept up to $4.5 million.

And the project's timeline has also gone off the rails with an expected delay of more than 12 months.

The "website integration and development" promised to combine the PTV and myki websites, introduce maps to the "journey planner" and allow passengers to more easily check and top up their mykis.

The Sunday Herald Sun understands the delay has been caused by extensive testing and the difficulty of adding ticketing information to show passengers exactly how much a trip will cost, to the "journey planner".

Daniel Bowen, of the Public Transport Users Association, was not surprised by the cost and delivery blowouts.

"Unfortunately myki in particular does have a track record of being delayed and having cost blowouts," he said.

"It would be lovely to see some of these upgrades on time and on budget but it seems its just not to be."

But Mr Bowen said a new website was desperately needed to replace the "clunky" one currently on offer.

"A new myki and PTV website can't come soon enough," he said.

"It is important to make sure that this information is not just accurate, but that it is easy to find.

"The new website is not completed yet but it shows promise."

PTV launched a "beta" — or test — website with the new map journey planner in May.

The website is expected to be launched later this year but the myki component will not be added until mid-next year.

PTV spokesman Tim Clare said the new site would "transform passengers' online experience".

"Integrating myki into the PTV website and journey planner will make topping up online easier and help passengers know exactly how much their journey will cost," he said.

"Passengers have been central to the design of the new website, and we have worked closely with them to build the functionality."

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Free travel for homeless, disadvantaged in Victoria

VULNERABLE Victorians will be able to travel free on public transport under a new trial.

Disadvantaged commuters will be able to obtain weekly and monthly passes under the 12-month state government program, which will begin immediately.

Housing Minister Martin Foley, who will announce the trial today, said the emergency relief tickets would make the system fairer.

"The new passes will help disadvantaged people get to the appointments and services they need to get their lives back on track," he said in a statement.

"Many vulnerable people are being unnecessarily caught up in the legal system because the existing day pass is not meeting their needs — this will help fix that."

It's understood community organisations will be able to buy the passes at a heavily discounted rate, before distributing them to those in need.

The trial follows a recent review which found many people were forced to fare evade to access basic services, leading to fines they couldn't pay.

Schools will also be able to apply for the tickets, to give to at-risk students.

The passes will be valid in zones one and two, and on regional buses.

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> PTV loses $40m from fare evasion on Metro, V/Line and buses

VICTORIA'S public transport operators lost $40 million to fare evaders last year — a rise of more than $1 million.

Thousands of fare evaders got a free ride in the past financial year, with Public Transport Victoria (PTV) estimating 5 per cent of city passengers and 7 per cent of V/Line users travelled without a valid ticket.

Fare evasion was at its worst on the metropolitan bus network with about 9 per cent not paying up.

Metropolitan trains had the highest compliance rate at 97 per cent, with trams up to 96.1 per cent and buses steady at 91 per cent.

The PTV fare compliance survey identified evaders who did a runner, hoverers who pretended to touch on, those who did not touch on their mykis, and those who had insufficient balances when travelling between zones.

PTV chief executive Jeroen Weimar said that as the number of passengers and services increased, PTV was exploring new ways to make it simpler and quicker to top up myki cards and travel with valid tickets.

"In addition to rolling out faster myki readers, contactless payment machines and trials of next-generation quick top-up machines at key locations, we're also trialling new technology to allow passengers to top up on the go," he said.

The surveys are conducted in May and October each year.

Almost 40,000 metropolitan passengers and more than 17,000 V/Line commuters had their tickets checked for the May 2018 survey.

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> New stats reveal thousands of Victorians fined for not having a valid ticket on public transport

FARE dodgers across Melbourne's transport network are coughing up millions of dollars in fines, with new figures revealing 167 people are caught daily without a ticket.

Transport for Victoria data shows there have been 61,258 fines issued for failing to produce a valid ticket in 2018, up from 57,484 for all of 2017.

Adults caught by authorised officers are charged $242, with infringements delivering a ­potential windfall of $14.8 million this year.

No fines were issued over the past two years for failing to vacate priority seating to disabled, pregnant and elderly people or for parking in station carparks without using public transport. In the 2017-18 financial year, it is estimated $39.9 million was lost in fare evasion across the state's entire transport network.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said overall the number of fines issued on the network had fallen.

"The more people pay their way, the more money is available to help fund public transport improvements," he said.

"Ultimately, public transport is a shared space, passengers are all in it together, and co-operation can help make the journey pleasant for everybody. It's disappointing that authorities are not catching anybody for unauthorised use of station carparks.

"This is a real issue at some stations, where parking spaces are regularly taken by local workers rather than being able to be used by commuters."

Another 6879 people were fined for putting their feet on chairs and walls, 300 were fined for smoking and 24 were fined for being obscene or threatening in 2018.

"Authorities can do more by continuing education and improving signage that encourages good etiquette and compliance with the rules," Mr Bowen said.

"For instance, it's common to see passers-by smoking underneath street bus and tram shelters, which causes ­issues for waiting passengers.

"Feet on seats is also disappointingly common, and can result in scarce seats on-board a train, tram or bus being unusable by other people."

A government spokeswoman said 95.3 per cent of people touched on in Melbourne.

"We have put in tough new contracts to ensure a better passenger experience — but we all have a role to play to deliver a more comfortable journey," she said.

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Train and tram travel to cost more as public transport fares rise from January 1

Daily Myki fares will rise to $8.80 and adult pass holders will be slugged an extra $35 when public transport fares increase at the start of 2019.

In a bid to keep trips affordable, commuters will receive the lowest fare adjustment in four years when prices increase at the inflation rate of 2.2 per cent.

Last year tickets prices jumped by 4.7 per cent as part of a cost increase put into the budget by the previous Coalition government.

From January 1, an adult two-hour pass will rise from $4.30 to $4.40 and a daily trip will move from $8.60 to $8.80.

Concession card holders will pay half price for their tickets and rule changes to ID card restrictions will give students easier access to discounts.

Town bus fares for regional Victorians will remained unchanged.

The Andrews Government has also announced free travel across the network for Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

All metropolitan and V/line services run on a Sunday timetable and will be free from 3am on January 25 until 3am Boxing Day.

Trips will also be free from 6pm New Year's Eve until 6am New Year's Day, with 350,000 people expected to head to the CBD over this time.

Extra services will run through the night with some high frequency services running in the hours after midnight.

"Free public transport during the festive period will make it cheaper and easier to spend time with friends and family, and leave the car at home," Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne said.

"We're keeping travel accessible and affordable while we deliver the biggest build in Victoria's history."

From term 1 next year, school students will also be able to use their school identification to get concession on public transport as long as it its approved by Public Transport Victoria.

Previously all students have had to pay as much $30 for passport photos and a dedicated PTV School Student ID.

Schools will need to ensure their ID cards meet the department's fraud prevention guidelines.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said: "This will make it simpler and cheaper for students to get concession fares on public transport."

"Many students around Victoria rely on public transport to get them to school and to get them around town — we're making it easier for them."

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> 'Ticking time bomb': Caught out with an expired myki

Just seconds after he touched on his myki and discovered the card had expired, Mike Smith was slapped with a $237 fine.

"Who even knows that myki cards expire?" he said.

Mr Smith had not used his myki card in a while when he stepped on the 57 tram at Newmarket in May last year.

When he touched on, a message flashed up on the myki reader saying the card had expired.

There was no expiry date on the card itself and Mr Smith had not received any alerts.

Before he got a chance to get off the tram, plain-clothes ticket inspectors nabbed Mr Smith, fining him $237 for using an expired myki.

This was despite more than $9 being loaded on his card.

"They [inspectors] heard that the machine didn't click right ... within seconds I got asked a question.

"There was no real opportunity to get off the tram."

Mr Smith is now taking Public Transport Victoria to court to fight the fine, arguing that he was unfairly punished.

Had Mr Smith's card been registered, he would have received two emails warning about the card's expiry, but like many commuters, Mr Smith didn't register his card.

"There needs to be some level of empathy in the system ... the card itself gives no warning that it will expire," he said.

"Credit cards have an expiry date on them plainly and simply so you can see it."

Public Transport Users Association's spokesman Tony Morton said this was a case of a person "doing all the right things but getting caught out on an administrative detail".

He questioned how anyone could think it appropriate to fine someone who has put money on their myki card and touched on, therefore "signalling their full intent to pay".

"What we now have is this situation where your myki is a ticking time bomb because it can catch you and when it does, you are liable to a fine," Mr Morton said.

Four years was a short lifespan for a card, Mr Morton said, especially in comparison with the 10-year lifespan of Queensland's Go Card and Melbourne's old Metcard, which had no expiry date.

"It's hard to see that four years is a reasonable estimate for the lifespan of these things ... it should be closer to 10 years like we see in other systems."

A Public Transport Victoria spokesman declined to comment on Mr Smith's case, but said authorised officers, conductors and other ticketing staff can provide information to passengers about expiry dates, which can also be viewed on myki vending machines and at ticket office terminals.

"Just like everyday items including passports, drivers licences and bank cards, myki cards need to be replaced after a certain period of time to ensure maximum security," a spokesman said.

"Expired mykis are replaced free of charge when they expire - we encourage passengers to speak to staff at a premium or staffed station or get in touch with the public transport call centre to arrange a replacement."

NTT Data, the company that developed myki, won a seven-year contract worth $700 million in 2016 to continue running the ticket system.

The Victorian government is currently carrying out trials of contactless technology for myki.

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Train, tram and bus users to use Myki on their phone across transport network within weeks

Train, tram and bus passengers statewide will use mobile phones to pay for their ride within weeks.

The hi-tech overhaul — to be rolled out in metropolitan and regional areas — comes amid a radical plan to offer free coffee to entice commuters to earlier services.

It signals the end of the line for the trouble-plagued myki card.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal 4000 people will be given the chance to trial the new smartphone technology.

The pilot — to be complete as soon as March before authorities decide on a mass expansion — will allow travellers to use their devices to "tap and go" on myki fare readers.

They will also be able to top up their myki account instantly — meaning commuters will no longer be caught out with no money.

All myki readers statewide are already equipped to handle the technology and won't need to be upgraded.

"It's so exciting to see this cutting-edge technology take the next step — with thousands of passengers getting chance to trial Mobile myki," Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne said.

The technology push comes as Mastercard floats a plan to offer free coffee and food to commuters who travel outside peak times using a new "mobile myki" account on their phones.

Mastercard said it is in talks with public and private transport operators and businesses across Australia's east coast.

Spokesman Surin Fernando said Melbourne's Myki network was ideal for the scheme, which has also been mooted for Sydney and Brisbane.

"We have the ability to provide offers to customers to drive consumer behaviour," he said.

The myki technology expansion comes after the Sunday Herald Sun last year revealed commuters on Melbourne's new E-class trams would trial using their phone to pay for fares.

Nearly nine out of 10 people who took part were happy with the experience.

Most of those in the initial trial were transport boffins but now ordinary Victorians will be given the chance to test the technology.

Public Transport Victoria is accepting applications from those interested.

They must have an Android phone.

Authorities are researching ways to make "tap and go" available on rival devices including iPhone.

"This is a great opportunity for passengers to help us shape the next generation of transport ticketing,'' Ms Horne said.

"We're building a smarter, more reliable public transport network for Victoria."

Just this month commuters on Tokyo's crowded subway were given free noodles and tempura if they caught an earlier train in a bid to reduce peak-hour congestion.

Commuters would be sent a code or voucher on their phone under Mastercard's proposal.

To apply to be part of the mobile myki program go to ptv.vic.gov.au/mobilemyki.

[ozbob]

Seeking Mobile Myki Testers

Minister for Public Transport
27 January 2019

Thousands of Victorians will help test the next generation of the next generation of public transport ticketing, with expressions of interest now open for the next phase of the Mobile myki trial.

Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne today announced that, following a successful first phase trial with a limited, industry-based test group of users, the Andrews Labor Government is seeking up to 4,000 passengers will get the chance to test the technology.

Mobile myki allows passengers to buy a myki, top up, touch on and off using their Android smartphone, making travelling quicker, easier and more convenient.

Passengers using Mobile myki in the first phase of the trial were able to top up in a matter of seconds, without having to queue for a ticket machine. Almost 90 per cent of users were satisfied with Mobile Myki and rated the speed of topping up as either good or very good.

Mobile myki, delivered in partnership with Victoria's ticketing provider NTT Data, uses all existing myki ticket gates and readers across trains, trams and buses in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, without the need for any new infrastructure to be built.

Passengers will be able to buy Full Fare, Concession, Child and Senior Mobile myki's using both myki money and myki pass. Auto top up will also be available.

Expressions of interest for the public trial are open from today, with the trial running until the end of March.  Passenger feedback and findings from the trial will inform the implementation of the technology more broadly.

Work continues to explore options for making Mobile myki available on other smartphones, and the existing physical myki card will remain in use across the network during and after the trial.

myki is one of the world's largest smart ticketing systems, with more than 17 million active cards and 700 million transactions each year.

Passengers can register their interest at ptv.vic.gov.au/mobilemyki.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne

"It's so exciting to see this cutting-edge technology take the next step – with thousands of passengers getting chance to trial Mobile myki."

"This is a great opportunity for passengers to help us shape the next generation of transport ticketing."

"We're building a smarter, more reliable public transport network for Victoria."

[verbatim9]

https://twitter.com/7NewsMelbourne/status/1089496995868270593