ACT Bus Forum

Had to leave 122 on the Tuggy bricks today to get MyWay ticketing equipment installed.

337 'Wilhelmina' is now fitted up with MyWay kit, including a black box located beneath the Wayfarer machine; first Scania I've seen with MyWay equipment.

The two Scanias I got today also had ticket machine fittings (339 and 350).

Thanks for the info 'smitho', but just as a general reminder;

Quote from: MyWayThere are many more buses with the MyWay (TM) fittings than are listed. As every bus will eventually get fitted, IMO there's little point in listing them on the wiki or even in this topic. Only notable changes (such as the first artic or buses which have the system fully installed) should be mentioned from hereon (again, IMO).

I noticed a weird antenna looking thing sticking out of Bus 726 on the drivers side today & I wondered if this would be the GPS thingy for the new ticketing system? It looks similar to the internal antenna in the top right of the front window in Bus 994. I also saw another 700 series artic today, & I didn't notice this antenna thing.

Quote from: Bus 400 on August 11, 2010, 07:54:43 PM
I noticed a weird antenna looking thing sticking out of Bus 726 on the drivers side today & I wondered if this would be the GPS thingy for the new ticketing system?

I would have thought antenna's would be more stealthy these days - surely they're not testing to see if it works better in or out of the bus?

Bus 701 & 702 also has these things.

If you are referring to the antenn/aerials behind the drivers cab and before the first saloon window, those have been there for like 15 years

But the base looks so shiny (compared to the rest of the bus).


But after having a squize at the ACT Bus Gallery will admit defeat.

lol :p

Some Tuggy driver training for MyWay starts next week...

Which could explain the 'missing' Renault from Woden - if they intend to do on-bus training at Tuggy.

It looked like some were being trained in Bus 756 at Belconnen Depot on Sunday.

Quote from: MyWay on August 19, 2010, 12:11:09 AM
Which could explain the 'missing' Renault from Woden - if they intend to do on-bus training at Tuggy.

No, they're just doing it in a training room at Tuggy - works quite OK; groups of 5 drivers per class.

I heard that 975 was going to be a myway trail bus, however I am not sure if that is the case still.

Bus 893 is one of the buses with both ticket systems. The old driver module is located on the flat bit at the front of the bus & all it does is read the cards. The My Way system is on standby. But is very similar to TransPerth.

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894, 899 and 300 are all fitted out for the trial

Quote from: Metrobus on August 27, 2010, 10:26:07 PM
894, 899 and 300 are all fitted out for the trial

Noticed a sign to drivers on the exterior of 300 today - saying that the bus is not to be taken into service without the approval of starters office...I guess because of it being one of the trial buses.

391 is on the trial

Quote from: Metrobus on August 28, 2010, 10:18:17 PM
391 is on the trial

Yeah - observed the driver of 391 last night in Civic interchange...he was taking passengers through how to use the system and issuing MyWay cash tickets..

475 has the system rob showed it off to me this morning. I will have to take a closer look at it in the next couple of days

Where did you see Bus 475? As I suspect it is only a few pieces of metal out at Adelaide.

Had my first passenger with a MyWay transfer ticket this am (on Redex)...

As seen today in 391 the weekend loops tend to confuse the shit out of the GPS, especially in the Belconnen town centre as it was jumping to the inbound run on the outbound. Certainly a problem they are going to need to sort out.
(https://www.actbus.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fayende.com%2FBlog%2Fimages%2Fayende_com%2FBlog%2FWindowsLiveWriter%2F6318175f1493_12C15%2Fimage_1.png&hash=d4c1ee215319ee5d87449b5e8a8f45e234314f92)

For those drivers who have had the training, how do drivers end each run on the machine? I know in Perth, they have to place their card on the reader & enter a pin to sign off on the run & then enter a pin again to sign on.

There is a button with a logo on it (assuming it is Wayfarer's) you press select new trip and then select the run from the list. If the driver has to cover a run (from another shift) they will need to sign out and sign back on with the shift number of the other run.

Quote from: Metrobus on September 04, 2010, 11:06:01 PM
There is a button with a logo on it (assuming it is Wayfarer's) you press select new trip and then select the run from the list. If the driver has to cover a run (from another shift) they will need to sign out and sign back on with the shift number of the other run.

Yes, that's more or less my understanding; unlike now, the "Insert Trip" function in the new system definitely requires the relevant shift number...

Quote from: smitho on September 05, 2010, 08:44:12 PM
Yes, that's more or less my understanding; unlike now, the "Insert Trip" function in the new system definitely requires the relevant shift number...

It requires the shift number but that will give you a list of all the runs on that shift.

Training of Tuggeranong drivers in MyWay system is nearly completed.

I noticed a big sign on Bus 126 about it being part of the My Way trial & that it can only be taken out only if a driver is directed to. So what runs is the trial being used on, or is it just that each driver has to have a go on a My Way bus?

Also I wonder why some of the darts still have no ticket system? Is ACTION trialling another ticket system where people jump on for free or something? If it is all darts, then  you have 25 perfectly good buses going on used on a trial. Then you have the MAN's & Scania's entering service during the trial, but they still have the new ticket system set up. Why can't these buses have the My Way set up from the start & if need be, link the old system around it.

Because that would make sense.....

They will be starting to install the new machines in all buses from next week (20 September). Belconnen depot will be done first. So it won't be long before the Darts have at least one ticket machine.

Work on fitting MyWay kit to Tuggeranong buses starts tomorrow with the first of the equipped buses going out into service on Monday. Drivers' cards issued earlier this week.

(With driver's permission) I decided to test my TransPerth Smartrider on the ACTION MyWay reader today. The MyWay reader does pick up the card but comes up with a message about the MyWay card having an error & to reapply MyWay.

Every smartcard does the same thing.

Tuggeranong PR3s were being called in this morning to have the full MyWay kit fitted, together with any outstanding standard buses beyond number 790 still without the full kit (seems that most had been equipped by last Friday).

Quote from: smitho on November 02, 2010, 01:37:59 PM
any outstanding standard buses beyond number 790

Well, that would answer the question of how far the current set of withdrawals are going to go.

I can't wait to see one of these units of a CNG Scania. Recently I was on 312 (which has a rough idle) & the driver module sounded like the back half of a CNG Scania. So having a bit of an idea of how rattly quite a few of the CNG Scania's have been these units will rock & rattle.

The problem was fixed my placing a bunch of tickets under where the lid closes.

Had 338 the other day - it has had the full kit for a fair while - rattling wasn't a problem....(it just didn't work - locked for some reason!)

Quote from: Buzz Killington on November 02, 2010, 10:04:26 PM
Well, that would answer the question of how far the current set of withdrawals are going to go.

It answers the question of which buses are expected to be withdrawn prior to MyWay going live.

I am starting to notice that buses with the MyWay kit are having validators removed/turned off.

With Bus 332 even missing the old driver module.

All this appears to be catching out passengers who think the validators aren't working, so they pretend to have a card & walk straight past. However when the driver calls them back, they have their fare in their hand ready.

Quote from: Bus 400 on November 11, 2010, 01:27:36 PM
I am starting to notice that buses with the MyWay kit are having validators removed/turned off.

There are also buses without the new machines which don't have working validators. My guess is that ACTION is no longer fixing the old equipment. [SPECULATION ONLY]

My cash fare punters on 359 would've been scratching their heads yesterday if they looked at the back of their tickets.

Instead of the usual ACTION messages, there was a bright yellow advertisement courtesy of TransPerth, reminding passengers "to use the TransPerth Journey Planner to plan your journey..."!

Some drivers may of noticed that the clock on the driver module is a bit hard on the eyes. Well, today I noticed some units have had a clock change. The new clocks are larger & the day & seconds have been removed. The new clock is certainly easier to read & will help out the older drivers who have trouble reading small print (& some younger drivers as well).

Quote from: Bus 400 on November 19, 2010, 07:14:45 PM
Some drivers may of noticed that the clock on the driver module is a bit hard on the eyes. Well, today I noticed some units have had a clock change. The new clocks are larger & the day & seconds have been removed. The new clock is certainly easier to read & will help out the older drivers who have trouble reading small print (& some younger drivers as well).

Yes, that was recognised as an issue to be fixed in the early days of the MyWay trial - pleased to hear that it's happening now...haven't had any buses with the new clock format yet but it sounds a definite improvement. The seconds feature was a pain.

New MyWay software was being trialled by several Tuggy drivers yesterday; if it works, it will avoid the need for drivers to 'select trip' at both the depot and again at the interchange when starting out.

Also featured the enlarged and simplified digital clock - big improvement. 

There appeared to be quite a few MyWay machines not working this morning.

The one on my morning bus kept on changing screen saying service was not avilable and then would go back to ready-to-go mode.

Did it enter service every time you passed a bus stop?

I'm not really sure i'll have a look tommrow. However that could be a possible.

That's what they should be doing, it stops people tagging off when not at a stop

As Metrobus has said that is how the system should work. Each stop has a zone and when it enters that zone it should automatically switch the system from "Please Wait" to "Please Tag". It is to prevent people from tagging off and screwing up data collected from tag on, tag off. Also, as far as I am aware the driver can disable a reader/readers from his or her console. 

In systems with zones, this helps to prevent people tagging off early & paying a Zone 1 fare instead of a Zone 3/4 fare.

I have been informed of another change to the MyWay system. Due to a few complaints with issuing ticktets & the French words used to cancel the ticket*. Well when a driver presses the button for the ticket, the ticket won't be printed until the driver presses the "enter" button (the button that is mainly used as a "enter" function).

*For those who aren't aware, in the process of cancelling a ticket the word "annul" is used. Annul is French for cancelled.

Had my first use of MyWay this afternoon. First bus I boarded the readers were non-operational. Second bus was working and tagged on and off perfectly fine.

If the readers are not working, you are supposed to tag on using the driver's console.

Quote from: MyWay on December 06, 2010, 11:37:41 PM
If the readers are not working, you are supposed to tag on using the driver's console.

I'm not sure if this is related, but a bus I jumped on the other day - neither ticketing system was working - however I think the driver dude pressed a button every time someone jumped on?

No where in any of the trial brochure or letters that have been sent out does it state we can tag using the drivers console. It states however that if MyWay is not operational to show your MyWay card for free travel. No drivers have stopped me flashing my card yet, either :P. Had another bus with reader malfunction today, the next bus brokedown so no tag on or off.

Quote from: p_stampy on December 07, 2010, 10:27:02 AM
I'm not sure if this is related, but a bus I jumped on the other day - neither ticketing system was working - however I think the driver dude pressed a button every time someone jumped on?

My bad - myway was the only one working.

How do u get one of these myway cards to participate in the trial?

You had to apply about a month or two ago to ACTION, applications are closed. You will have to wait about a month before it comes online.

So you can't tag on using the driver module?

And at my school they were taken photos for new Id's today, and one side is school side while the other is the MyWay card. So our Id's are both id's and bus tickets.

That's actually a very good idea. I'm shocked!

Same in Perth.

Quote from: Buzz Killington on December 07, 2010, 07:12:03 PM
That's actually a very good idea. I'm shocked!

I totally agree!

Quote from: Sir Pompously on December 07, 2010, 04:59:19 PM
No where in any of the trial brochure or letters that have been sent out does it state we can tag using the drivers console.

This information needs to be made available to passengers (instead of telling them how to change their mind). Sounds like something you can mention in your feedback.

If MyWay system is not operational, then you may get a free ride - if the driver's console is working/installed, then the system is operational. Either the training was poor or the drivers are forgetting that tagging on can occur on the driver's console.

Quote from: MyWay on December 08, 2010, 12:02:09 PM
training was poor

And ACTION's back down again :D

I will be mentioning that in my feedback. I am actually creating a log of each trip I do, and any errors I encounter to help create some feedback for ACTION.

MyWay now has its own section on ACT Bus (rather than being under 'Fares').

You'll also find some new information in the section - trial information, fares and a brochure.

http://bit.ly/actbusmyway (http://bit.ly/actbusmyway)

Wow, that Trial Fares document  (http://actbus.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=867:myway-fares-for-user-trial&catid=47:myway&Itemid=58) is horrible! It looks like they are introducing a new fare category called "Adult Concession" which (I guess) excludes students - but not sure whether that's only Primary/Secondary Students or Tertiary Students as well (since most Tertiary students would be adults).

So, from what I can gather, a concession off-peak single trip fare (Monday to Friday only???) is $0.60 yet a "School Student Daily Trip" (that what it says - WTF is a Daily Trip? Is it Daily or is it a Trip) is $0.95 (the current faresaver rate) and for Eligible tertiary students $1.26 (without calling it either Daily or per Trip).

Will School Students and Eligible Tertiary Students travelling off-peak get the 60 cent fare?

Why is the Weekend and Public Holiday single trip fare for Concessions $1.26 when the concession off-peak single trip fare $0.60 - but the $1.70 off-peak daily cap applies during weekends?

When I was a computer programmer, I would send back Functional Specifications that were this poorly written.

i've just ordered mine , good thing i got paid today!!!

So does that mean if i order a student card i'll get with-in a week(roughly) not next term?
Very confused.  And according to one of my teachers our ID will have myway chips soon. What to do?

If your school is getting integrated School ID/MyWay cards, then DO NOTHING!

Alright but they are talking a few months as we just got new IDs. How much does a myway card cost? Is it 20?

From Monday (or from now, if you're a senior..) we'd like to hear your thoughts of and experiences with the MyWay system.

Non members can also submit their thoughts via our contact form - http://bit.ly/mywayfeedback (http://bit.ly/mywayfeedback) 

From Metrobus via Facebook:

But apparently the people at Westfield Station the other day gave me the wrong details, I cannot change the card to a student one, that must be ordered online, so until that arrives i am paying an adult fare.

From 743 via Facebook:

MyWay fail #1: cards not available at one of the agencies listed on the Transport For Canberra website.

MyWay success #1: I now have one :-)

Another fail... One of the MyWay agents at Westfield is not open ( the news agency at the top is closed)

another failure is on 148 the myway reader is not working, this bus is the bus i catch to work most days but i'm not sure if the driver console is working or not

I wonder wether ACTION will one day have a link to MyWay balances directly via their own Fares page.

Quote from: Metrobus on March 07, 2011, 04:02:07 PM
Another fail... One of the MyWay agents at Westfield is not open ( the news agency at the top is closed)

That newsagency is now on level 2 near Dan Murphy's

Quote from: lukeo25 on March 07, 2011, 04:51:08 PM
another failure is on 148 the myway reader is not working, this bus is the bus i catch to work most days but i'm not sure if the driver console is working or not

Driver's console will always be working - if it wasn't, driver can't sell cash tickets.

Quote from: Bus 400 on March 07, 2011, 08:02:51 PM
I wonder wether ACTION will one day have a link to MyWay balances directly via their own Fares page.

I would expect ACTION will remove its Fares page once the magnetic tickets are shut off and re-direct to MyWay since Transport for Canberra sets the fares.

Quote from: Metrobus on March 07, 2011, 07:55:43 PM
117 (17) No working GPS so I didn't pay a fare.
429 (313) No working MyWay readers and the driver refused to tag me on via the console.

For the first case, driver should have manually forwarded the bus stops (like they've been told to do). Often if you move it to the current stop, the GPS will resume picking up the stops. But this is also a very good reason why the change-of-mind tag off is a STUPID IDEA! If they want to keep that feature, then it needs to be modified to only allow a change-of-mind within 2 minutes of tagging on.

For the second case, this is what the FAQs state:

QuoteWhat if I can't tag on because a card reader is not working?
If all card readers fail to work on board a bus and, despite your attempts, you are unable to tag on, you can travel for free to complete your trip. You should not tag off at the end of this trip.

You can use the online feedback form (https://www.contact.act.gov.au/app/ask/c/173%2C2918%2c2920) to advise of the time and route service where you were unable to tag on due to equipment malfunction.

Not sure what is meant by "all card readers" since the rear reader does not normally allow tag on. Is the driver's console counted as a card reader? It's not clear.

But what is clear, Metrobus, is that you need to report this via the feedback form.

Quote from: MyWay on March 08, 2011, 01:59:20 PM
the rear reader does not normally allow tag on

What's the reasoning there? Surely boarding times at interchanges could be sped up further if people were allowed to enter via the rear doors. Presumably with the tag on/off requirements there will no longer be an option to validate on the platforms during peak hour?

That's why I said "normally". Rear door tag-on is possible; but so far there's been no word on when or if it will be used.

Will be used on my bus.

Should speed up loading on the Irises no end................ :P

For those wondering how long the MyWay cards ordered online take, well mine took a week. It came directly from the manufacture of the cards, which is Monitor WA (http://www.monitorwa.com.au/default.html (http://www.monitorwa.com.au/default.html)) this is the same company that produces/replaces the Smartrider cards for TransPerth.

Mine came yesterday and yes I was surprised to see the WA post mark on the envelope. Stupidly it comes with no information at all just the card.

I can see lots of seniors getting confused at how myway works, not knowing how to add more credit, wondering why they can't buy their pension off peak tickets anymore and for the ones that do understand it will get confused once their $!0 bonus runs out.

Already seen a lot of that, Last week I saw an elderly lady try to shove her card up the bottom of the reader, that was pretty funny...

Yeah, I saw somebody attempt that too.

I got my card today at long last, I'm not using until Monday

I still havent gotten around to getting one yet.

..my current faresaver 10 has lasted me almost a month at the moment. (Both my buses to/from work seem to be missing ticket machines. Win)

I just used my card for the first time

Quote from: bubzie on March 17, 2011, 11:36:16 AM
..my current faresaver 10 has lasted me almost a month at the moment. (Both my buses to/from work seem to be missing ticket machines. Win)

ditto

Quote from: Buzz Killington on March 08, 2011, 04:59:09 PM
Surely boarding times at interchanges could be sped up further if people were allowed to enter via the rear doors.

Wouldn't that be a safety issue? Bus operator visibility outside of the rear doors is relatively limited. At least with the front they can safely shut the door knowing there's no one about to rush in at the last minute out of view; this is not the case with the rear doors and someone could be shut in between them.

I think a better idea would be to permit passenger set down through the rear doors at ALL bus stops, not just Bus Stations. Canberra's still the only place I've ever been where you can only get out through the front in suburban areas. This way the rear unit would become exclusively tag-off and would perhaps allow the front reader to be freed up for more tag-on. Even Metro Tasmania with their passenger-operated rear doors let people out the back!

In other news, I had a little MyWay hiccup today. Yesterday, I caught 341 on a 900 from Tuggeranong to the City, with no troubles. It turned up on the 2 I caught from Dickson to Hackett today and I tagged-on with no trouble, but when I tagged-off at the front unit it said that I'd had a change of mind and deducted no fare (so, yay for free trip!). I've had no trouble before on a journey of that length. The rear unit had both the red and green lights constantly illuminated with the "Service has been temporarily suspended" message so I'm sure something was up!

On a school run the bus driver lets kids off at the back at a few stops where more than half the kids gets off.

Quote from: 743 on March 21, 2011, 06:17:05 PM
In other news, I had a little MyWay hiccup today. Yesterday, I caught 341 on a 900 from Tuggeranong to the City, with no troubles. It turned up on the 2 I caught from Dickson to Hackett today and I tagged-on with no trouble, but when I tagged-off at the front unit it said that I'd had a change of mind and deducted no fare (so, yay for free trip!). I've had no trouble before on a journey of that length. The rear unit had both the red and green lights constantly illuminated with the "Service has been temporarily suspended" message so I'm sure something was up!

That is because the GPS was still stuck on a certain bus stop & it was stuck on the same bus stop when you tagged on. The same thing happened to me today, I tagged on at Fairbairn Park & tagged off at City Bus Station. That change of mind message came up & I had a glance at the driver console, it was stuck on some stop back in Aranda from a previous trip.

I did a full day of bussing today to test the machines, the above mentioned scene was my only troubles with the system. Everyone else appeared to have everything down pat (except for tagging off), a bigger point just needs to be made to drivers about signing off on each run & the option about reselecting bus stops if the machine freezes. Other then that it is no different to the TransPerth system, except for the limited number of trip views online. The next big test will be if ALL the machines recognize daylight savings changes in April & October.

In relation to the back doors being used, I was told it had to do with a few incidents in Australia where people have been seriously injured/killed when the bus driver thought the back was clear, closed the doors & started to drive off. But a piece of clothing/body part has been caught in the back door & you can guess the rest.

Quote from: 743 on March 21, 2011, 06:17:05 PM
Wouldn't that be a safety issue? Bus operator visibility outside of the rear doors is relatively limited. At least with the front they can safely shut the door knowing there's no one about to rush in at the last minute out of view; this is not the case with the rear doors and someone could be shut in between them

Possibly, but I'm talking peak hours in interchanges - they used to have the portable ticket machine on the Blue Rapid platforms in Woden and Civic in peak hour (not sure on Belco or Tuggers but I doubt it) with an attendant who gives the driver an 'all clear' to shut the back doors.

I notice the attendant is still there in the AM at Woden but haven't noticed if he still has his machine or if he assists with loading via the back doors still.

Quote from: bubzie on March 17, 2011, 11:36:16 AM
..my current faresaver 10 has lasted me almost a month at the moment. (Both my buses to/from work seem to be missing ticket machines. Win)

I'm regretting I didn't stock up on them. I'd think it's almost worth it for ACTION to have a last-ditch effort to get the old machines running but I guess there's a hard cutoff coming soon anyway.

Been using MyWay for a week or two and seems fine. A few minor glitches, mostly in my favour, when the route seems wrong or the GPS hasn't recorded a distance. Better so far than myki in Melbourne, which I've had quite a few issues with at various times.

The bpay topup seems slow though - hasn't credited after 3 full days; with other bpay options they often go through the next day (even weekends). So a bit worried I won't have enough credit for travel shortly  :-\

Autoload is your best option, as soon as your fare goes below the minimum threshold it is automatically topped up with the amount you set. The accounts are sorted out via computers later on, IF you don't have sufficient funds in your bank account to complete the transaction your MyWay card will have the money taken away.

I actually had to validate my magnetic ticket today for the first time in weeks.

All buses a fitted with safety strips on the doors, if the sensors in them are set off the doors spring open, an alarm and the door interlock comes on, this is the case for the front and rear doors throughout the entire fleet and makes it almost impossible to injure someone with the doors.

Am I right in thinking that if you are an infrequent bus user that there is no real need to tag off? Ie all tagging off does is give stats to Action and if your a regular user cap your daily/monthly usage?

If so won't take too long for people, especially monthly ticket holders to not waste their time tagging off.

But they'll be charged $2-4 each trip rather then $1.26-$2.52. Also the $4 deafult fare doesn't come with a 90 minute transfer, so if they catch more then bus each way that is $8-16 a day.

To get the daily /monthly cap you must tag off everytime. If you fail to tag off you will be charged $4 even if you have reached the cap (from what I can gather). However, you MIGHT not be charged the penalty fare for all transfers within 90 minutes of the initial tag on if you tag off the first trip.

But I can't be sure because the tag off penalty is currently inactive.

Also the failure to tag off penalty will not count towards the daily cap - but the regular fare should (ie $2.52 will be recorded towards the cap even though $4 was charged).

Ah looks like I missed the fare conditions at the bottom of the page that says you will be charged $4 to board reduced to $2.52 if you tag off (after the transition period). Bit like Oyster in London when used on the tube. You would think the website would have the good old * to say you really need to read the conditions further down the page.

Now why with a flat fare structure ACTION needs people to tag on and off is beyond me. Sure I understand the need for statistics, but think this will be one big PIA for the cattle for little extra gain for ACTION. Surley the boarding stats and being able to follow a passengers journey on subsequent boardings would give a fair idea of where the passengers are going without the need for this.

Being the cynic I am, I do wonder if ACTION are trying to condition us for a return to sectional fares in the future where tagging on and off will be needed.

Quote from: ajw373 on March 23, 2011, 09:36:58 PM
Ah looks like I missed the fare conditions at the bottom of the page that says you will be charged $4 to board reduced to $2.52 if you tag off (after the transition period).

Not quite: that's the Brisbane way of doing things. The fare will always be deducted from the card at tag off, unless you failed to tag off on the last trip in which case the default fare (for the last trip) will be charged when you next tag on.

Quote from: ajw373 on March 23, 2011, 09:36:58 PM
Now why with a flat fare structure ACTION needs people to tag on and off is beyond me. Sure I understand the need for statistics, but think this will be one big PIA for the cattle for little extra gain for ACTION. Surely the boarding stats and being able to follow a passengers journey on subsequent boardings would give a fair idea of where the passengers are going without the need for this.

Agreed, but the system they bought was based on a tag on/tag off method. Had they chosen the INIT (http://www.initag.com) tender, there would not be any tagging off.  (And don't call me Shirley.)

Quote from: ajw373 on March 23, 2011, 09:36:58 PM
Being the cynic I am, I do wonder if ACTION are trying to condition us for a return to sectional fares in the future where tagging on and off will be needed.

A lot of people think this; I am not one of them. It does not make any sense to spend millions on getting the system in place, testing it, fixing up errors only to subsequently spend a lot more money to re-develop the system to implement a sectional/zonal fare structure. If they wanted to do that, the best time to do it is at the start. Also a sectional fare structure would prevent a monthly trip cap from being applied (or at least make it harder).

And, by the way, MyWay is run by Transport Planning, not ACTION!

Quote from: Bus 400 on March 23, 2011, 08:04:11 PM
Also the $4 deafult fare doesn't come with a 90 minute transfer, so if they catch more then bus each way that is $8-16 a day.

Not sure about this. The MyWay fare chart simply says that if you don't tag off you will be charged the default fare for the trip - a 'trip' always includes a 90 minute transfer.

Quote from: MyWay on March 24, 2011, 11:53:44 AM
Not quite: that's the Brisbane way of doing things. The fare will always be deducted from the card at tag off, unless you failed to tag off on the last trip in which case the default fare (for the last trip) will be charged when you next tag on.

You sure? If that was the case how would it check that someone had sufficient balance? Also would it allow an adult on if they had $3 balance considering the fare will be $2.52 or will it expect to see $4. Oyster in London (on tube only as bus is a flat fare) works this way. Ie it takes the maximum fare at tag on and refunds the balance at tag off. To enter a station your card needs the maximum fare to enter. Fail to tag off means your charged the maximum fare, and like Myway that trip doesn't count for the daily cap. If the above is 100% true at what point does Myway determine if you haven't tagged off, and what mechanism then sends that information to the card or to each and every bus in real time?

You need to remember the card keeps a track of it's own balance, and if something changes the system needs to update the card. Using London as an example (having just moved back after 4 years living there), none of the machines on the buses were able to write new instructions to the the card. All the ticket machine could do is read the balance and process the fare and write the new balance back. If the credit dropped below the threshold it would then add the auto top-up amount to the card and later that night when back in the depot send the info to the main computer system. The only info about cards that was sent to the ticket machines were cards that were blocked for what ever reason. Otherwise the amount of data sent to each ticket machine would be HUGE. Anyway the point being if Myway doesn't take the full fare when you tag on, how on earth would the next bus know you haven't tagged off and then charge the maximum fare for the previous ride. Especially if the user was a once in 6 months type user? Do you think each and every machine would keep track of every tag off to do this? That's what would be needed to do it as you suggest. It simply doesn't make logical or IT sense to me.

Quote from: MyWay on March 24, 2011, 11:53:44 AMAgreed, but the system they bought was based on a tag on/tag off method. Had they chosen the INIT (http://www.initag.com) tender, there would not be any tagging off.  (And don't call me Shirley.)

I think you will find it had tag off because ACTION (transport ACT or who ever they are) specified it. Working in IT and comms I cannot see any reason what so ever why the system couldn't be tailored to exactly how the customer wants it, ie tag on only or tag on/tag off.

Quote from: MyWay on March 24, 2011, 11:53:44 AMA lot of people think this; I am not one of them. It does not make any sense to spend millions on getting the system in place, testing it, fixing up errors only to subsequently spend a lot more money to re-develop the system to implement a sectional/zonal fare structure. If they wanted to do that, the best time to do it is at the start. Also a sectional fare structure would prevent a monthly trip cap from being applied (or at least make it harder).

Don't agree on this one. I, again as an IT person I believe the best way (if they were moving back towards sections) would be to introduce the new system as a more or less direct replacement for the existing system and change later. There would be bugger all development needed, again I have no doubt what so ever that the exiting system has the ability to operate like that in-built now. As for caps, caps can still be applied on a zonal/sectional system. Again look towards London to see how it's done.

Quote from: ajw373 on March 24, 2011, 03:17:07 PM
You sure?

Try reading what I said again:

QuoteThe fare will always be deducted from the card at tag off, unless you failed to tag off on the last trip in which case the default fare (for the last trip) will be charged when you next tag on.

Every card has a lot of data on it. Including the TOTO status and the last trip taken. So if your TOTO status is "Tagged On" and it was for (say) Bus 412 doing route 5 which departed City at 12:17 on 24/3/11 - if you tag that card on another bus (or the same bus doing another route), then it treats it as a new tag on and therefore knows that the last trip wasn't tagged off and may apply the default fare. It's not difficult. And it does make sense.

As for the balance threshold, SmartRider (Perth) has a rule which says you need a minimum 2-section fare on your card at all times. MyWay does not seem to do this - I am unaware of whether there is a minimum threshold. What I do know is that if you have a negative balance on your card you cannot tag on (which also means that you CAN have a negative balance).

Quote from: ajw373 on March 24, 2011, 03:17:07 PM
I think you will find it had tag off because ACTION (transport ACT or who ever they are) specified it.

Maybe. But the two short listed tenderers were Downer EDI (as agent for Parkeon) and INIT. INIT's best known system, Metrocard, does not use a tag off system (even though Tassie's system would work better if it did). I doubt that they would have been shortlisted if the system they were offering did not meet with TAMS's requirements. And yes, it's possible that Downer was chosen because its system offered tag off and INIT didn't, but it is also as likely that Downer won the tender for other reasons (such as price).

You have to remember that TAMS wanted to buy a proven system rather than develop their own from scratch, even if that meant buying a system with a tag off requirement when it isn't necessary.

Quote from: ajw373 on March 24, 2011, 03:17:07 PM
I believe the best way (if they were moving back towards sections) ...

You are pre-supposing facts not in evidence. Yes, sectional fares could be put in IF the current system was set up to enable this to occur by changing data on some tables. But if such a system were required (sectional fares which can be adjusted through the use of data tables), then, in the opinion of an IT person who has had plenty of experience with building and testing IT systems (i.e. ME), it would need to be built and tested when the system first goes in to make sure it will work if and when it is eventually needed. However if TAMS need to pay additional money to Downer to modify the system to apply sectional fares, it won't happen.

I've done some quick study on the Oyster card and its Monthly Trip cap is different to MyWay - Oyster is more like Myki. I maintain my argument that sectional fares and the MyWay monthly trip cap will not work well together.

Quote from: ajw373 on March 23, 2011, 09:36:58 PMYou would think the website would have the good old * to say you really need to read the conditions further down the page.

Maybe you should have read the ACT Bus MyWay fares page  (http://www.actbus.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=886) instead.

Quote from: MyWay on March 24, 2011, 11:53:44 AM
Not sure about this. The MyWay fare chart simply says that if you don't tag off you will be charged the default fare for the trip - a 'trip' always includes a 90 minute transfer.

I overheard a Transport for Canberra worker explaining what I said to an elderly lady at the Civic MyWay Centre. They attempted to explain this to her 3-4 times.


Also TAMS bring word that the Belconnen MyWay Centre will finally open on Monday http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/222099/MR168_0311_Belconnen_MyWay_Centre_opens.pdf.

Bus 784 now sports MyWay readers at the front & rear doors, but no MyWay driver console is installed.

Quote from: Bus 400 on March 25, 2011, 08:40:03 PM
I overheard a Transport for Canberra worker explaining what I said to an elderly lady at the Civic MyWay Centre. They attempted to explain this to her 3-4 times.

What is said at a MyWay centre and what is true are often two very different things. Just ask Metrobus.

SmartRider has a 60 minute rule:

QuoteAn exception to the default fare rule will apply if the next tag on occurs within 60 minutes of the previous tag on.

In this case, the next tag on location will instead be processed as the incomplete tag off location. This ensures that you are charged the relevant fare rather than the penalty fare, in the event of unintentional failure to tag off whilst transferring from one service to another.

This rule only applies when the tag on occured on board a bus.

Did a test today by not tagging off then a tag on with 15 minutes. Normal fare charged, transfer accepted and no "default fare" error message displayed. Looks like MyWay also has a 60 minute rule, or some variation of it.

Quote from: MyWay on March 30, 2011, 01:58:25 PM
What is said at a MyWay centre and what is true are often two very different things. Just ask Metrobus.

SmartRider has a 60 minute rule:Did a test today by not tagging off then a tag on with 15 minutes. Normal fare charged, transfer accepted and no "default fare" error message displayed. Looks like MyWay also has a 60 minute rule, or some variation of it.

Yes, it shows up later as a "synthetic" tag off. Useful to know.

As its the weekend I thought Id ask you guys instead of trying to call up ACTION. I started off with $20 on my MyWay card and have used up all but $1.10 of the credit. I topped up my balance online with another $20 two Fridays ago and my bank account was charged on Tuesday. But this isn't shown on the balance page on the ACTION website. Am I right in assuming that the credit will applied once I tag-on or is there actually something wrong here?

Yes, that's the theory. I know that the Perth system shows unapplied credits on its web system. Looks like with MyWay you must tag-on for the credit to be put on the account. Let up know what happens - all information is useful.

My Autoload set up was activated on my MyWay when I tagged on a bus on Tuesday, I handed in the form on the previous Monday.

When I tagged on this morning the machine gave a message saying something along the lines of $20 has been added.

464 is MyWay only, they have completely removed the old system, there is a plate covering the hole in the dash that the bracket for the old validator used to be.

Whilst this is not the first bus to receive this treatment, it is the first bus to get it after entering service (ie. The only ones like it are from 432 and up)

Bus 345 only has the brackets where the Wayfarer drive module & validator once sat. I'm not sure if it is 345 or not, but there was a Tuggeranong bus that went MyWay only in the first week of MyWay's going public.

EDIT: 466 has had the same treatment as 464.

424 would have been the first to get this treatment. But it may not have ever had both systems installed.

Addendum: 424 had the old system taken out but did not have a blanking plate installed where the validator bracket used to be. So it may be correct to say that 464 was the first bus to have the blanking plate installed after the bus entered service, but it was not the first to have the old Wayfarer system completely removed.

The frequency at which I'm being charged no fare because of the "change of mind" issue is becoming a little concerning. I'm sure a lot of people would appreciate the free ride but it can't be doing ACTION much good. I'm surprised there isn't a built-in failsafe or something where, say, if you're on the bus for more than two or three minutes, then it would still charge a default fare, even if the GPS is locked. Surely that's more than enough time for someone to realise they're on the wrong bus? I don't really think "change of mind" is even a valid excuse for not being charged a fare - the bus destination board, and/or bus operator should be enough to prevent this ever happening!

The whole "Change of mind" thing is stupid.

Speaking of stupid, that word is the best way to describe the way it takes fares of school students:
On a school day it will charge me $0.95 a trip capping at $3.80, but on a weekend (or school holiday day) I get charged $1.26 a ride capping at $1.70 even if it is a school holiday day and I travel in peak apparently I will never pay more than that. Is it just me or is this strange?

During the trial I got a whole day of travel for about $2.52 thanks to change of mind. In other cities; Change of mind is not available on buses or trams for Myki, but can be used at train stations. Brisbane allows change of mind on all modes, however you have to tag off at the same reader within 20 minutes (ok for train stations, but 20 minutes is too long for buses). Do not know about smart rider, could not see change of mind there. However, for Canberra, change of mind should be available but only for 2 minutes or less after touching on and after that time it should charge a standard fare aslong as the passenger tags off, no matter what the GPS Says.

Smart rider does have change of mind at Train stations for about 15 minutes; unsure about buses.

But agree: it should either have a time limit or be restricted to the driver console.

Quote from: MyWay on April 10, 2011, 08:37:07 PM
Smart rider does have change of mind at Train stations for about 15 minutes; unsure about buses.

Buses are the same.

What do the different suffixes on the transaction history route list indicate?

I saw N and S and presumed they were north and south, but I've since had O, A and C.

They are all used on different variations of runs Buzz. Every short working etc has a different myway code to that of the full run, so that the myway console only starts the run at the correct point. I'm not even sure the use N and S to show North and South. There are many runs with a large number of variations.

Thanks Guru, I suspected that may have been the case.

As for N/S meaning North and South, that's not the case. I've had N on a number of southbound routes.

For those who have submitted a form to have their unused magnetic tickets credited to their MyWay account, apparently they have been a bit overwhelmed and as a result the credit will likely take longer than the 14 days currently quoted.

I had one ride left on my old ticket, I'm not going to bother :/

I got charged $1.41 for a ride at 4:40 this arvo.. that seems rather cheap?

$7.60 daily cap? Can't find any way for that to work. Need to check your history to explain it.

Quote from: Buzz Killington on April 21, 2011, 08:48:00 PM
I got charged $1.41 for a ride at 4:40 this arvo.. that seems rather cheap?

Bpay top up?

The MyWay balance history now shows your last 100 transactions. This is a good job & a step in the right direction.

Quote from: MyWay on April 21, 2011, 10:02:37 PM
$7.60 daily cap?

That would be it. Generally my daily travel isn't such that I would approach the cap let alone pass it so the thought didn't even occur to me

Below is the new Concession cards that can be used to obtain a concession fare:


(https://www.actbus.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi611.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ftt193%2FBus400%2FMiscellaneous%2FConcession2011_crop.jpg&hash=c2225c3bdedc4bcdb973fd41adb8c52d7993fa0f)


Some of the cards are different such as the Centrelink card, but also note that Kambah High School is still used as an example. I do wonder how old the young lady in the photo is.

Thats a woman!?

There was a glitch on my afternoon bus trip today. I tagged on in Deakin, and when I tagged off in Isaacs the ticket machine said "Change of mind" and didn't deduct any money from my account :o

Quote from: Bus It on May 02, 2011, 05:27:16 PM
There was a glitch on my afternoon bus trip today. I tagged on in Deakin, and when I tagged off in Isaacs the ticket machine said "Change of mind" and didn't deduct any money from my account :o

Happened to me twice last week, despite the time between tagging on and off being about half an hour.

That could be quite a floor in the system, oh well I hope it happens to me a lot  ;D

* flaw

Change Of Mind has stopped happening to me lately - which I reckon is a good thing. Perhaps some of the issues are starting to be ironed out. Autoload works perfectly, 5% discount included  ;D

Quote from: 743 on May 02, 2011, 09:29:06 PM
Change Of Mind has stopped happening to me lately - which I reckon is a good thing. Perhaps some of the issues are starting to be ironed out. Autoload works perfectly, 5% discount included  ;D

You really want to pay for bus rides??? More bus rides should be free :) That's why the old system was so good

I really do think that there is one main part of the MyWay system that could do with improving. If the driver's console was equipped with the function to tag off all School students that are currently on that bus, then that would save heaps of time once the bus has arrived at the school (the final destination).

You can't "auto tag off" since the card needs to be updated when tag off occurs. What you need is trips which won't attract the penalty for failing to tagging off. It's not difficult. The problem is that TfC want the passenger stats.

Quote from: Bus It on May 02, 2011, 10:39:28 PM
I really do think that there is one main part of the MyWay system that could do with improving. If the driver's console was equipped with the function to tag off all School students that are currently on that bus, then that would save heaps of time once the bus has arrived at the school (the final destination).

Yes but most school buses stop at different schools. Our morning bus can be pretty packed but getting 2 thirds of the kids off can take only a minute. The driver does open the back door though.

The speaker in the front unit in 124 was playing up a treat yesterday. When a tag on / off was registered, it would make a noise the equivalent of the standard beep mixed in with someone scraping their fingernails on a blackboard.

Quote from: Metrobus on May 14, 2011, 10:56:51 PM
sprinting to Belconnen as I didn't find my MyWay card until the 905 was passing

To save this trouble happening again, you can leave your MyWay in one of the back sleeves of your wallet, then just hold your wallet against the reader. I don't think ACTION advised the public much about this during the early days. Which is why lots of people thimble through trying to find cards to tag on/off. While I did learn this while in Perth.

Quote from: Bus 400 on May 16, 2011, 09:21:16 PM
To save this trouble happening again, you can leave your MyWay in one of the back sleeves of your wallet, then just hold your wallet against the reader. I don't think ACTION advised the public much about this during the early days. Which is why lots of people thimble through trying to find cards to tag on/off. While I did learn this while in Perth.

Dangerous assuming that Zac actually knows where his wallet is!

He could just keep it in his bra

(https://www.actbus.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fladyjecca.files.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fflaming-middle-finger.jpg&hash=f58c698772a189ca6669670de3ca3f37a313d684)

I would keep it in my wallet but my "Paypass" eftpos card interferes with it.

and suddenly pay pass doesn't seem like such a good idea! Try Visa Pay Wave :P also LOL at the bra joke

For those that have heard the news on ACTION bringing back some sort of paper ticket for charities.

I have been made aware that some passengers have been issued with special cards for use on buses, which is the reason beuhind the "Welfare $0.00" on the driver console.

Also TransPerth have special Smartrider cards that are valid for 24 hours from first tag on. These are issued by Employment Agencies on behalf of Centrelink to help the less fortunate to get to job interviews.

So surely it would be easier to implement the TransPerth system. Or even a system where the Charities are given the option to purchase MyWay cards with a $2 value. These can then be issued to the less fortunate, when the less fortunate require a new $2 MyWay they can return the old card for a new MyWay card. The said charity then recharge the used MyWard with $2, this should keep to card waste to a minimum (this should help to keep some groups happy).

Quote from: Bus 400 on June 09, 2011, 10:12:21 PM
For those that have heard the news on ACTION bringing back some sort of paper ticket for charities.

I have been made aware that some passengers have been issued with special cards for use on buses, which is the reason beuhind the "Welfare $0.00" on the driver console.

Also TransPerth have special Smartrider cards that are valid for 24 hours from first tag on. These are issued by Employment Agencies on behalf of Centrelink to help the less fortunate to get to job interviews.

So surely it would be easier to implement the TransPerth system. Or even a system where the Charities are given the option to purchase MyWay cards with a $2 value. These can then be issued to the less fortunate, when the less fortunate require a new $2 MyWay they can return the old card for a new MyWay card. The said charity then recharge the used MyWard with $2, this should keep to card waste to a minimum (this should help to keep some groups happy).

Puzzled by thgose report's in today's Canberra Times which seem to give the impression this is a new initiative; when drivers were doing their MyWay training in the second half of 2010, we were told then that these tickets were on the way.

The report said that "books of ten" tickets will be able to be purchased by charities at the old Faresaver price. Not entirely sure what's new: perhaps more groups are now able to purchase these tickets than before.

Quote from: Bus 400 on April 21, 2011, 10:20:42 PM
The MyWay balance history now shows your last 100 transactions. This is a good job & a step in the right direction.

I presume this has been extended once more, as my balance check is currently showing all my transactions (130)

Must of as all my transactions, which adds up to 185 are shown.

185? I have 406! It's 200 transactions shown, so currently I can see 206 to 406.

Would have more if Change of Mind wasn't so prevalent (though does remind me of the good old days of broken/missing validators). I caught a peak hour 313 the other day from Woden to Belco and it was Change of Mind the whole way - ouch.

Just checking the MyWay website: in the FAQ section the time for a BPAY / Credit Card top up has been reduced to 3 working days. Can anyone who uses these top up methods confirm this?

A new feature on the MyWay Check Balance page is this paragraph:

Quote
Protect Your MyWay Account

   
• When checking your MyWay account details always access www.action.act.gov.au/ARTS/getbalance.asp (http://www.action.act.gov.au/ARTS/getbalance.asp) by typing the address into your browser.
• Always "sign out" from the site when you have finished.
• Never check your account details via a third party site or application.
• To protect your identity never provide your personal or security details, including customer ID or passwords, in response to any email, even if it looks legitimate.
• Always confirm that your data is encrypted by ensuring a symbol of a lock appears within the browser.

Take from this what you will.

A new MyWay ad was just on Channel 10.
All it does is remind people to tag on & off. You can get inboard at (TfC website).

The graphics are an improvement to some older ACTION TV ad's.

Pretty budget ad. Liked the bus 'driving' up the 'swirl' of the MyWay background at the end.

Well ACTION has always had pretty good TV ad's and when you think about it is one of the only government operators who advertise on tv. My favourites would have to be the 'new action' ads 'if i had my way' were all great, especially the long 1 minute ad. Also my next favourite would be the flexibus ad, which from memory (presumabely christians) complained about because it depicted/assumed the male had just been having sex and was running out to get his flexibus....

Obviously the christians don't realise, people DO have one night stands...

The MyWay Balance Check page has moved to the Transport for Canberra website: https://www.transport.act.gov.au/ARTS/getbalance.asp

This message appears on the ACTION page:

Quote
NOTE: This page will be decommissioned in the near future and we recommend that you take some time to update any bookmarks or links to this page now.

The MyWay check balance service is now available from the Transport for Canberra web site using the following link https://www.transport.act.gov.au/ARTS/getbalance.asp

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience associated with this change.

I know I wasn't, but was anyone else aware of this?

Quote

MyWay - Transferring between Deane's Buslines and ACTION for Oaks Estate Residents
Published 30/08/2011 09.19 AM   |    Updated 30/08/2011 09.20 AM
Keep your one-way or daily ticket and present it to the driver for your onward journey. One-way fares can be used up to 90 minutes within the purchase time, and Deane's Buslines return tickets are valid on ACTION buses for the full day of the purchase date.

Transferring from Deane's Buslines to ACTION

Purchase your single or return fare from Deane's Buslines
Present your ticket to the ACTION driver and provide proof of your Oaks Estate address such as a Driver's Licence, Pension or Concession Card, or a Deane's Buslines Student Term Pass
Transferring from an ACTION bus to Deane's Buslines

Purchase your single fare or validate your MyWay Card on an ACTION bus
Present your ACTION ticket or MyWay card to the Deane's Buslines driver within 90 minutes of purchase and provide proof of your Oaks Estate address such as a Driver's Licence, Pension or Concession Card, or a Deane's Buslines Student Term Pass
https://www.contact.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/1278/~/myway---transferring-between-deane's-buslines-and-action-for-oaks-estate

Yeah, saw something about that about a month ago.

The Deane's/ACTION ticketing arrangement for Oaks Estate residents was covered in our Bus Driver Training as recently as August.  It's also in the ACTION driver's handbook.  I've not had any passengers with Deane's tickets to date.

As some may have seen on twitter, MyWay tones were changed a few weeks ago to give multiple beeps when the failure to tag off fare applied.

Since that caused confusion, the tones are being updated again: a low single tone (which previously meant card read error or no funds) will now signal a successful tag on + failure to tag off.

Multiple beeps will now be used for all unsuccessful tag ons.

New tones should be in place by Monday.

Quote from: Kramden on October 30, 2011, 10:33:50 AM
The Deane's/ACTION ticketing arrangement for Oaks Estate residents was covered in our Bus Driver Training as recently as August.  It's also in the ACTION driver's handbook.  I've not had any passengers with Deane's tickets to date.

That ACTION driver's handbook must be something fairly new - haven't heard of such a thing, but it sounds a good idea. Must have a bo-peep next time I run into a new driver.

Anyone experiencing issues with the new tone arrangements?

Making the old failure tone the low balance tone is an epic fail and confuses everyone. That's the only issue I have with it.

Quote from: smitho on November 16, 2011, 10:28:40 PM
Anyone experiencing issues with the new tone arrangements?

Yes Smitho, and reported my grievances to the MY WAY geeks upstairs.  For weeks I sometimes get a passenger who sets off a no funds tone.  You ask them to try again, ditto.  Then (if I have time) I place their card on the console to check.  9 times out of 10 it DOES have funds.  When handing back to them, they try a third time and all works out fine.

All that done - and you're only trying to help out to see if there's a larger problem with their card - quite a few of them get the shits and carry on that they only re-charged their card recently.  It's as if they think you're having a go at them.  I laugh and say... "chill, it's just technology having a bad hair day".  Some however, are mildly impressed when I tap the card for them and it works.  I just tell them I've got the magic touch (grin).

When discussing this with another driver he said, "Well screw that, I haven't got time to be cheking tickets on my runs.  I just wave them through.  It's not my problem."

Then of course there's that other old chestnut: schoolies with cards that look like they've been eating them.  Bends, cracks, teethmarks, and so on....  You inform them in basic terms, i.e. words of no more than two syllables, that they need a new card because that one is broken and they look at you like you're speaking in tongues.  All in the day's work on the buses!  Gotta laugh.

Quote from: Metrobus on November 16, 2011, 10:33:28 PM
Making the old failure tone the low balance tone is an epic fail and confuses everyone. That's the only issue I have with it.

There is no "low balance tone" - see above. The "default fare" tone is now the low, single beep tone. This is not an epic fail since this time drivers have been notified about what tones apply.

Quote from: Kramden on November 17, 2011, 10:13:34 AM
For weeks I sometimes get a passenger who sets off a no funds tone.  You ask them to try again, ditto.  Then (if I have time) I place their card on the console to check.  9 times out of 10 it DOES have funds.  When handing back to them, they try a third time and all works out fine.

What you are getting in this circumstance is not a "no funds tone" (since there is no such tone), but (stupid?) passengers who are not tagging properly. They are more than likely trying to "swipe" their card rather than hold it steady. It's a common occurence, usually committed by people who don't know the difference between a smartcard and a barcode. It's not helped when media and others talk about "swiping your MyWay card".

(If only there were a video which explains this ...)

On the other hand if you encounter a single low beep, then tagging the card a second time will cause 5 beeps since it HAS successfully tagged on. In this circumstance you should inform the passenger that they are good to go.

I was at a presentation yesterday by Paul Peters of ESDD and he discussed My Way ticket machines, instead of buying them from newsagents etc and also using the cards for parking. I'd say that these things could be very near. he did use non MyWay images though, mainly to demonstrate his point. he did not mention recharging myWay cards at the machines (and i didnt ask). 

An update to MyWay released last weekend has made the following changes -

1. Both card readers will now switch off between bus stops to prevent passengers from tagging off early. I expect that new GPS footprints for bus stops will be released shortly - possibly when the Christmas shifts are loaded onto the buses. In the meantime, mapping of some bus stops is way out (non existent in some cases), so the driver will have to activate the readers manually.

2. "Change of Mind" tag off has been removed from front card reader. Change of mind can be processed through the driver's console only. A quick experiment has revealed that if the bus stop is not updated, tag off is impossible - it will just show message "this card is already tagged on" regardless of how long since it was tagged on. Therefore in the rare situation where a driver forgets to start a new trip, no one will be able to tag off successfully.

They sound like changes for the better.

A rising proportion of punters were waking up to the fact that they could evade paying fares by using the 'change of mind' feature.

New GPS footprints have been loaded.

Quote from: smitho on December 27, 2011, 03:52:38 PM
A rising proportion of punters were waking up to the fact that they could evade paying fares by using the 'change of mind' feature.

I doubt that, given the limitations built in. 99% of change of mind would have been due to GPS errors and failure to end trip.

Quote from: ACTbusspotter on January 03, 2012, 10:02:26 PM
New GPS footprints have been loaded.

Despite this, Marcus Clarke bus stop still active!

Quote from: ACTbusspotter on January 03, 2012, 10:02:26 PM
New GPS footprints have been loaded.

Didn't stop people tagging off along Anketell St before the bus got to the interchange today!

I think there is a single footprint covering the Anketell stop at "Southlife" and the interchange proper.

This was between the pool and the interchange.

Quote from: Buzz Killington on January 06, 2012, 09:51:51 PM
This was between the pool and the interchange.

Hmmm, interesting one; I'll look out for that.

Most Bus Stations have a large footprint enabling early tag off to occur. This can cause problems though, especially at City where on more than one occasion it activated early but by the time you get to the platform it has deactivated.

On the weekend I tested out the default fare, below is what I found out:
(DISCLAIMER: Some of you may of already known this)

-You are charged the default fare on top on normal fare, so with my $1.90 fare I was charged $1.48 on top to equal $3.38 fare.
-There is no autoload discount on the default fare.
-While the $1.48 doesn't count towards your daily cap, the $1.90 charged with the default fare does count.

While I'll admit this isn't my greatest work (I'm not aiming for an Oscar), below is a recording of the "Don't Forget To Tag Off" ACTION MyWay TV Advertisement. This version misses the school children at the beginning, which is silly since it was played on Eleven during The Simpsons:

http://youtu.be/w692dVjipCQ

Was sitting on my bus at the interchange the other day and a guy who got on in front of me evidently had a change of mind, got up and tried to tag off. Obviously with the changes which prevent someone from doing a change of mind themselves, he got buzzed. He tried a few times, then handed it to the driver who appeared to tag the guy off from his console.

The guy then promptly tags back on, and gets off the bus.  Enjoy your default penalty fare, champ!

Put my myki to good use while in Melbourne over weekend. Worked well most of the time.

Down there, they don't talk about 'Tag on' / 'Tag off'....instead it's 'Touch on' / 'Touch off', which is much better terminology.

"Tag" is something graffiti vandals do, but for normal people, the term 'Tag' is meaningless. Is it any wonder so many punters are not sure what to do when they first use MyWay, or that so many punters try and swipe with the card, and so muck things up.

After about half a year of the new tones, I still feel dissatisfied by them. Still a fair number of people not knowing what's happening, some even just walking by the driver after a bad read / insufficient funds tone.

Here's my take on the tones:

• Tag On/Off Success - the usual (http://www.transport.act.gov.au/myway/video/Sound%201%20-%20tag%20on%20success.mp3 (http://www.transport.act.gov.au/myway/video/Sound%201%20-%20tag%20on%20success.mp3))
  
  
• Tag On Bad Read or Insufficient Funds - silence.
  
  Why? 99%^ of people listen for *a* tone and move on, and with a lot of people waving their cards around, it leads to a lot of bad reads and confused passengers. By not making an audio response, people are forced to read the reader's screen and calm down with their spazzing hands. The driver should be able to notice that no sound was generated and help in that case.
  
  ^ Anecdotal statistic
  
  
• Tag On Success with Default Fare from previous trip applied - double low tone then success tone, like this (http://www.manhinli.net/pub/TagOnWithDefault.wav)*
  
  The cards were successfully tagged on, so why make a completely different tone? Just warn quickly that you didn't tag off the last time and then confirm that tag on was okay...
  
  * Mashed from http://www.transport.act.gov.au/myway/video/Sound%201%20-%20tag%20on%20success.mp3 (http://www.transport.act.gov.au/myway/video/Sound%201%20-%20tag%20on%20success.mp3) and http://www.transport.act.gov.au/myway/video/Sound%202%20-%20default%20fare.mp3 (http://www.transport.act.gov.au/myway/video/Sound%202%20-%20default%20fare.mp3)
  
  
• Tag Off with forced Synthetic Tap On - extra long oscillating alert, like that of emergency vehicles.
  
  This is not done at the moment, so it's a suggestion from me.
  
  It is a rare event, but I find that there are some circumstances where people tag onto buses from the back reader (just like today on my bus - about 10 people tagged on from the back while the back door was open because there was a huge line at the front.)
  
  While from what I can see, they get charged a default fare immediately (because back readers are Tap Off only) they tend to also believe that they've done a Tap On, so when they leave the bus from the front, it taps on, leading to a lingering session which results in a default fare the next time they catch a bus.
  
  While they should get punished somewhat (because they shouldn't be hopping onto a bus from the back anyway,) not warning them won't deter them. (The people on my bus today got told to return to the front to get tagged on afterwards, so they'll get double charged for it!) Making an extra long oscillating tone should alert the driver to check and make passengers double check.
  

I also thought about differentiating between Tag Ons and Tag Offs, but that would have been too messy.

Punters on TransPerth trains and buses don't seem to encounter anywhere near the number of 'bad hits'...not sure why.

From June 2012, MyWay holders will be able to use their MyWay card to access the Bike & Ride Cages. As per the Transperth system, you will have to register to your card to be able to open the cage.

Also, the MyWay transaction history now shows your last 1,005 transactions.

Stops where MyWay footprint is misplaced or non-existent:-

........second stop into Mulley St, Woden-bound (near old Holder High buildings).

Some MyWay punters may or may of noticed recently that the footprints for each bus station has been altered. An example is for the southbound Blue Rapids heading through Woden. Previously you could tag off as the bus entered Woden. Now you can only tag off once the bus reaches the platform. This is because each individual platform has been added to the MyWay database & each platform is shown on your MyWay history whether it's a through service or just starting.

What used to happen for through-running routes was that the "arrival" bus station and the departing platform were both programmed. This rarely worked because once within the footprint of the arrival, the stop never changed. So they've just removed the arrival stop from the system.

The link to get your balance has altered with a new TAMS website, it can be found at https://www.transport.act.gov.au/catch_a_bus/myway/check_your_balance

The layout on your MyWay history has also changed, with it no longer showing if you were charged a default fare type or the transaction number. So basically it only shows the date & time of transaction, route number, stop name & fare total.

Quote from: Bus 400 on January 24, 2013, 09:07:51 PM
The link to get your balance has altered with a new TAMS website, it can be found at https://www.transport.act.gov.au/catch_a_bus/myway/check_your_balance

The layout on your MyWay history has also changed, with it no longer showing if you were charged a default fare type or the transaction number. So basically it only shows the date & time of transaction, route number, stop name & fare total.

I just checked last 50 records and it still had all the usual columns. Maybe only the 1000 record query has less info?

Quote from: Bus 400 on January 24, 2013, 09:07:51 PM
The layout on your MyWay history has also changed, with it no longer showing if you were charged a default fare type or the transaction number. So basically it only shows the date & time of transaction, route number, stop name & fare total.

The layout has only changed for the (new) mobile version of the site. The desktop version still gives you the full complement of information (regardless of whether you view the last fifty or thousand transactions)

For those that aren't aware, 10 more recharge places will open & the City & Belconnen MyWay Offices will close on the 28th June (https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5a_gpUL6MWeTE9OdURJLXVnVmM/edit).

Now if I'm not mistaken, the MyWay City was a 10 year lease that will now sit vacant, while we all pay the rent. Unless the ACTION lease in Bailey's Corner has expired.

Yet still no Add Value Machines at bus stations! I am racking my brain to think of another system that operates smartcards without Add Value Machines (usually combined with ticket functions for short term tickets), but I certainly have not experienced a system without other than Canberra. Rather than just "looking" at them they need to put them in, having them at major interchange facilities is better than having no where to top up!

One would hope that the current MyWay centre in the City will at least become a more prominently located information office. Whilst I do not agree with the closure (those centres have been busy every time I go to either one of them), I do agree with allowing tickets agents to be able to issue concession cards to give people more options. However this will not come until later in the year, so closing the offices now is a little premature.

I was just casually browsing the ACT Gov contracts register and noticed that the Quick & Go store is now a MyWay top-up agent. (This is also shown on the MyWay webpage (http://www.transport.act.gov.au/catch_a_bus/myway/myway_recharge_agents).)

But Kippax still doesn't have one.

Nor does the Curtin Centre, even though it is destined to get a top-up machine.

http://www.action.act.gov.au/fares/bus-fare-increase (http://www.action.act.gov.au/fares/bus-fare-increase)

Another fare increase in January....

Quote from: Barry Drive on November 19, 2014, 11:36:42 AM
I was just casually browsing the ACT Gov contracts register and noticed that the Quick & Go store is now a MyWay top-up agent.

But Kippax still doesn't have one.

Was mentioned elsewhere a while ago: Kippax Newsagent is now a MyWay "retail agent".

And now Ainslie Newsagent has been added to the list - the first agency in a local shopping centre. (Still none at Curtin, though.)

I just read the latest TC email alert update, and something about it doesn't quite makes sense - to me at least.

QuoteTrial to exit from the rear door on Red Rapid bus services now in effect
             
As from Monday 13 February 2017, customers are now able to exit the bus using both the front and rear doors at all stops on Red Rapid 200 services as part of an one month trial.

Ok, it's only 1 month, but still what's the point? Aren't the trams going to be replacing the Red Rapid in the next few years anyway, why not do it for the Blue Rapid or something, cause that's still going to keep going.

Quote from: Sylvan Loves Buses on February 18, 2017, 04:33:27 PM
I just read the latest TC email alert update, and something about it doesn't quite makes sense - to me at least.

Ok, it's only 1 month, but still what's the point? Aren't the trams going to be replacing the Red Rapid in the next few years anyway, why not do it for the Blue Rapid or something, cause that's still going to keep going.

In a few years the light rail is going to replace part of the Blue Rapid in a few years, so once again why bother.....

Why not train users now to exit from all doors now. Bit like training to enter from all doors & if you aren't at the door (either side) when the bus pulls up to the stop. You miss out as the bus leaves straight away.

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

Examined my MyWay record today. Times for some trips yesterday were 1 hour later than actual. Seems the end of daylight saving has caught the system or someone napping.

Out of curiosity, was it more than one bus and could you tell which depots?

The problem arises because the MyWay consoles set the time when their update is pushed at the depot - and if this occurs before the 2am changeover, the time will be wrong until the next update occurs.

Quote from: Barry Drive on April 03, 2017, 09:44:35 PM
Out of curiosity, was it more than one bus and could you tell which depots?

The problem arises because the MyWay consoles set the time when their update is pushed at the depot - and if this occurs before the 2am changeover, the time will be wrong until the next update occurs.

566 and 412 were​ both ok today so it has been fixed by now

The record is incomplete so far (11pm today).

Initial leg to Westfield Belconnen not logged as driver said validator faulty. My companion used it though, and that record shows the wrong time for arrival Westfield Belconnen of 12.45pm (actually 11.45am); Bus446, 906C

Record 1455 12.49pm (actually 11.49am) 900T board at Westfield Belconnen; Bus582.
Record 1456 1.14pm (actually 12.14pm) alight Civic.
Missing record Civic to High Court, route 934; Bus421

Record 1459 3.46pm (actually 2.46pm) 934D board at Parkes Place, National Rose (High Court); Bus606.
Record 1460 4.31pm (actually 3.41pm) alight Westfield Belconnen.
Record 1461 3.53pm (correct) 906C board at Westfield Belconnen; Bus422.
Record 1462 correct for destination.

Note that according to the record we were on two different routes (934/906) and buses (606/422) simultaneously!

Hope that offers some clarification guidance.

There is a typo, sorry. 3.41pm should be 3.31pm.

Checked MyWay account again this evening. There is still no change to Sunday record.

Bought my first legit cash fare ticket in 3 years or something tonight. Rarely ever forget to take my my way card with me, but I left it in my suit pocket ::)
Doing this reminded me of the announcement of how cash fares will no longer be a thing in the very near future. Brings up many questions esp one of how people who forget their my way/TC cards will do.

Quote from: Sylvan Loves Buses on December 02, 2017, 11:14:07 PM
Bought my first legit cash fare ticket in 3 years or something tonight. Rarely ever forget to take my my way card with me, but I left it in my suit pocket ::)
Doing this reminded me of the announcement of how cash fares will no longer be a thing in the very near future. Brings up many questions esp one of how people who forget their my way/TC cards will do.

Well, on the routes I regularly use, forgotten, failed, or no credit cards; or not enough cash, seems common enough and very rarely indeed are 'sob' stories not accepted. The customer is usually waved on. Have never been on a bus when a ticket inspector was active, so I have no idea what happens then. (I had no problems travelling when my card failed and, later, a replacement card was not yet activated. The situation seemed accepted without question.) 

Another issue on fare collection/card enforcement is the safety of the driver. Years ago I overheard a driver talking to a colleague about fare enforcement - "I won't make a fuss, it is not worth getting punched". A very valid point for a driver operating alone.

Possibly, where children are involved, it may be policy for personal safety reasons, to always allow children to travel. 

Will Light Rail, being a different operator, be so lenient? If the operator is strict, then there will be a lot of angst out there to start with.

With minors it's definitely a responsibility thing, but I've been on the odd bus where the driver literally refused the boarding of passengers either cause he was in a bad mood or had the same person on more than one occasion giving the same excuses.

Brings up a valid point, how is this going to work for lightrail? I presume lightrail still has drivers now days and is not completely all automatic yet, but from the one time I was in Melbourne riding a few there, the system seemed to work pretty much on trusting the passengers, cause one driver can't control 4-6 entry points.

If the Gold Coast model is any guide, Canberra Metro will have full time ticket inspectors.

It is a contractual obligation for the Light Rail to have x% of ticket compliance. (The actual percentage is not published.)

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Bus 400 mentioned in ACTION Contracts that there's a new contract titled "Ticketing Equipment for Light Rail Integration".

I've read the contract and there isn't much useful information in what's publicly available. But what it suggests is that the much hyped **new ticketing system** will not be ready for 2019. Instead it looks like an extension to the MyWay contract with new equipment (AVM/TVM (https://www.parkeon.co.uk/our-solutions/product-catalogue/astreo-tvm/), platform validators (https://www.parkeon.co.uk/our-solutions/product-catalogue/axio-platform-validator/)) for the tram stops and should include additional ticketing machines for the extra buses.

I would also assume from this that Downer/Parkeon will be awarded the contract for the new ticketing system and that what's being installed will be compatible with what will be coming later.

If this is the case, then I would expect to see the new Wayfarer 6 (https://www.parkeon.co.uk/our-solutions/product-catalogue/wayfarer6/) ticket machines installed on buses. Apparently, these do just about everything: contactless bank cards, barcodes, 4G data, RTPIS, Wifi, text and radio messaging; and they're compatible with the Wayfarer 200 software so they can be rolled out to all buses before the new system is ready without the need for a changeover period.

As also mentioned elsewhere, 657 onwards entered service this week. They have been fitted with the new Wayfarer 6 console.

The only difference for now is that the paper ticket comes out horizontally, rather than vertically.

TC have announced they will be installing "Ticket Vending Machines" in October 2018.



So only 7 years late.

Yeah, so far I've seen the placements for these two of these, being in front of the office at Tuggeranong and in front of the blue directory pillar in Woden. It's bad enough that management have ordered the staff to cease using the window at Woden, how're the little old laddies and technophobes supposed to use these without help you'd have to wonder.

About time too, here's hoping they allow for cash users.

Quote from: Sylvan Loves Buses on September 19, 2018, 09:26:33 PM
It's bad enough that management have ordered the staff to cease using the window at Woden, how're the little old laddies and technophobes supposed to use these without help you'd have to wonder.

There's a customer service person hanging around during the day. I imagine that is/will be part of their job.

Yeah, but for how long... Ever noticed how often a TC vehicle is parked at the Tuggeranong parking spot, but there's never anyone inside the office, or there is but they ignore you when you tap on the window, same thing with Woden.

That's the Astreo ticket machine from the Parkeon website (https://www.parkeon.co.uk/our-solutions/product-catalogue/astreo-tvm/). We'll soon know if that's what we're getting. (And yes, Sylvan, it takes cash.)

(https://www.parkeon.it/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/astreo11.jpg)

I've also noticed that Transport Canberra have stopped referring to a new ticket system, and are promoting MyWay as the Light Rail ticket system:

At one of the 'Consultations' it was said that the Consortium for the Light Rail had to meet a standard for avoiding fare evasion. This could result in the Consortium conducting routine revenue protection activities. Considering the number of ACTION patrons waved aboard with sob stories, expired balances, etc. and a perceived almost zero ACTION revenue protection activity, there might be quite some angst coming for light rail users inclined to such habits.

There is actually a tender out for working on some survey about Fare Evasion on the trams https://tenders.act.gov.au/ets/tender/display/tender-details.do?id=91886&action=display-tender-details&returnUrl=%2Ftender%2Fsearch%2Ftender-search.do%3Faction%3Dadvanced-tender-search-open-tender

I haven't checked out the documents yet though.

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The contract requires Transport Canberra to conduct surveys every 6 months (from memory) to determine whether the fare evasion target is being met.

It may be that this tender is for that process. I had wondered how they were going to do it.

A few years ago when I went to Melbourne to visit my brother and ride the buses and trams there, I used what they had back then the Myki card (don't know if it's still that) and although you were required to tag on and off on the buses, you only needed to tag on with the trams. Would I be right in presuming that for our LR, it'll work the same way, but like the buses, not tagging off will result in the standard cash fare rated charge?

The tag on/off on the trams is due to the way their zones work, I believe all but the route 86 and 108 (?) run solely within one zone. If you go out of zone 1 then you are meant to tap off but I have no idea how that is patrolled. I generally tap on and off to be safe on Melbourne teams.

Given Canberra doesn't work on a zone or distance based fare structure yet still requires a touch off I would say the tram will be the same and it will be touch on and off like the buses.


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Tram tap-off in Melbourne only required for trips wholly within Zone 2 thus getting a lower fare apparently,

Quote from: Sylvan Loves Buses on September 29, 2018, 11:16:21 AM
A few years ago when I went to Melbourne to visit my brother and ride the buses and trams there, I used what they had back then the Myki card (don't know if it's still that) and although you were required to tag on and off on the buses, you only needed to tag on with the trams. Would I be right in presuming that for our LR, it'll work the same way, but like the buses, not tagging off will result in the standard cash fare rated charge?

I doubt it. It will be no different to the buses. Don't tag off get charged the full cash fare.

Quote from: Snorzac on September 29, 2018, 11:27:22 AM
The tag on/off on the trams is due to the way their zones work, I believe all but the route 86 and 108 (?) run solely within one zone. If you go out of zone 1 then you are meant to tap off but I have no idea how that is patrolled. I generally tap on and off to be safe


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The routes now are 75, Vermont South; 86, Bundoora RMIT; and 109, Box Hill. These extend into the Zone 1 overlap in Zone   2, thus all trips starting in Zone 1 only attract the Zone 1 fare. Ditto if starting in Zone 2 (the overlap of Zone 1 in Zone 2) and proceeding into Zone 1. BUT if the trip is entirely within  Zone 2 and it's overlap in Zone 1, a lesser fare applies which is gained by tagging off.
myki is still used.

An AVM was installed at Tuggeranong Bus Station today.


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We have news of all 4 AVMs being operational today.

No official announcement.

From part of my MYWAY record for yesterday:
12.26pm Tag off Rte 15 at Westfield Belconnen    ; actual.
12.45pm Tag on Rte 64N at Charleston after Blak ; actual Rte 3 at Westfield Belco
1.23pm Tag off Rte 64N at Charleston after Hall   ; actual Rte 3 at City Stn.
1.30pm Tag on Rte 313A at Westfield Bus Station ; actual Rte 313 at City Stn
1.44pm Tag off Rte 313A at College St CISAC       ; actual Rte 313 at Woden Stn.
1.48pm Tag on Rte 6 Woden                                ; actual.

Foul ups in the record like this of route numbers and/or locations are not all that unusual. (Tagging foul ups resulting in 'synthetic' entries, also occur from time to time.)

The system must be quite poorly implemented when supposedly GPS based locations can be so far out, and further, that it accepts obvious absurdities such as recorded tag off at College St CISAC Belconnen and a mere 4min later a tag on at Woden Bus Station! Low flying between them would be involved to achieve that.
Less probable, but not impossible, is the 38min between stops in Charleston, and the 14min to travel 3 stops from Westfield Belco to CISAC.

The record never seems to be corrected (even when reported), so could it be assumed the system quality is so poor that gross errors are not flagged and correctable? Or that TC have given up on it pending the mooted new contract? Otherwise, the finger tends to point at the training or culture of operational staff, which seems unlikely as most people tend to make a reasonable effort to get things right.

So is it of any significance? Yes.

An example - police can, in certain circumstances, access MYWAY records, thus a false entry could mislead and result in much un-necessary grief. Likewise, another example - a correct entry could provide an alibi for a registered MYWAY user wrongly suspected/accused of something illegal.
Then there is the general principle that accuracy is important to confidence in any system and useful for any usage reference and/or analysis.

As the good Professor asked "Why is it so".

They won't correct it - no point. And if the fare is wrong (which is unlikely with a flat fare structure), they'd just adjust the balance, not the transactions.

The first problem (route 64) would almost certainly be a driver error. While the system uses GPS to know where it is, it is still the driver's duty to select the correct route. But if a driver forgets to change the route (as in this case) the best course of action is to NOT change it if passengers have tagged on.

The second problem is more likely caused by GPS faults combined with driver either not knowing or not bothering to advance the stops.

Used the new AVM at Woden this evening for the first time. Operates nice and easily just like boarding a bus and talking to someone real, and also answers one concern I had about the lightrail and cash fares.

I'm not sure why anyone would have concerns about Light Rail fares just yet.

Regarding the incorrect GPS data discussed above, a big problem in Sydney is having failures in the console which stops it picking up the GPS, this means the driver has to manually advance every stop until the issue rectifies or doesn't...to be honest when you are driving it is easy to forget for several stops, I'm sure many people got a free ride at my hand where I forgot for half a route to advance the stops manually, it was also quite time consuming especially if you didn't pick anyone up for ten stops to then skip forward 10 in a row, as I usually didn't change it whilst I was driving as it was too much of a distraction so I would leave it until I stopped.

In most cases you're more likely to be undercharged in this instance so most wouldn't complain, as Barry Drive said above, with a flat fare this doesn't really matter at all, I do agree with your comments as above regarding police accessing the data however i would say this is already done at a minimal level and the chances of a GPS failure occuring at the same time that you are accused of a crime would be very slim.

Quote from: Sylvan Loves Buses on January 23, 2019, 10:57:15 PM
and also answers one concern I had about the lightrail and cash fares.

Fairly sure I mentioned in Sep that the Parkeon machine accepts cash. And while I've not tried it yet, it looks like you can purchase a cash fare with a debit or credit card (tap and go only).

My uncertainty was whether the bus station machines would include single trip tickets, but they've gone with one version of the interface for all machines.

Used the City Bus Station machine today, can confirm you can buy 1 - 5 single journey tickets per transaction which allows you to pay cash or contactless card. Daily tickets also available on there as well, assuming it will be identical on the LR Stops too.

My concern was that cash fares weren't going to be a thing with the lightrail from what I've read and heard from many sources. This will only remain a concern if these AVM's aren't at every LR stop.

I also tried every tab, so I'm aware of every function a patron can access with these machines. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't load my card with an extra 5¢ for fun.

Your many sources are all wrong, before construction even started the plan was always to have an integrated ticketing system across both modes which as in all other cities means being able to use and buy the same tickets, whether that be cash single, return, daily tickets etc. or a standard smart card fare.

All LR stops will have ticket machines, they *should* be identical to the new ones in the Bus Stations, unsure if there will be any difference to the colour or the background colour of the screen (hoping it is red considering the bus station ones are blue!)

As these machines are identical to the Sydney ones, the top up values are the same as theirs, IIRC are generally a selection of some of the following $5, $10, $20, $30, $40, $50 etc.

Quote from: Barry Drive on January 22, 2019, 02:21:00 PM
We have news of all 4 AVMs being operational today.

No official announcement.

We have an official announcement (https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/meegan-fitzharris-mla-media-releases/2019/public-transport-ticket-vending-machines-get-up-and-running)

We also have an ACT Bus news article (http://actbus.net/ticket-machines-operational/)

Sylvan - I recommend you take the time to read one or both of these. You will find these sources are far more reliable.

Meanwhile in Melbourne...
https://amp.theage.com.au/national/victoria/thousands-of-commuters-set-to-use-myki-on-their-phone-20190127-p50twe.html (https://amp.theage.com.au/national/victoria/thousands-of-commuters-set-to-use-myki-on-their-phone-20190127-p50twe.html)


We'll get there one day?

No, we won't have a MyWay card app*. As the Minister keeps pointing out, the "new ticketing system currently in procurement phase" will solve all problems**.

It will accept closed-loop payments (MyWay*** and registered accounts) and also open-loop payments (Visa/MasterCard, Apple Pay etc.)

This will require equipment with a constant data connection, so MyWay  top ups should be available hourly, provided the back end supports this.

---

* PTV recently renewed the Myki contract without altering the system requirements (other than new card readers for trams and train stations). So this is their way of introducing mobile phone payments. For TC to consider a similar app would be a waste of money with the new system 12-18 months away.

** a upgraded system is expected in Perth later this year. It may be very similar to what we will have next year.

*** in theory, MyWay cards as we know them will not be necessary - they could be replaced with RFID chips in school IDs and driver's licences.

Quote from: Barry Drive on January 25, 2019, 11:31:41 AM
We have an official announcement (https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/meegan-fitzharris-mla-media-releases/2019/public-transport-ticket-vending-machines-get-up-and-running)

We also have an ACT Bus news article (http://actbus.net/ticket-machines-operational/)

Sylvan - I recommend you take the time to read one or both of these. You will find these sources are far more reliable.

^^They need a vending machine at the Airport stop, which also dispensers Myway cards.

If they do that, then they'd also need one at Kingston Railway Station too.

Quote from: Barry Drive on January 25, 2019, 11:31:41 AM
We have an official announcement (https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/meegan-fitzharris-mla-media-releases/2019/public-transport-ticket-vending-machines-get-up-and-running)

The Official Announcement mentioned four of the major stations with AVMs and 'Belconnen Coming Soon'.

This may be another problem arising from the divided control of the Station at the Westfield Mall. Westfield provided the infrastructure and is apparently responsible for it. A few years ago, many of the platform 2 pavers came progressively loose but complaints were deflected by ACTION/Transport Canberra saying it was a Westfield responsibility. It took years before the pavers were relaid (and some are now coming loose again). It appears from the delay, that ACTION/TC were rendered quite impotent in getting a timely rectification.
Presumably, the provison of infrastructure (power and communication facilities) to service the machine must involve Westfield. If the paver experience is anything to go by, 'soon' might be rather a rather elastic concept.

Yeah. And there's still no sign of where it will be installed.

I would suggest the best option is inside the mall, replacing the NXTBUS terminal which no one uses.

Yup, that totally works...
(https://i.imgur.com/gbbLkJI.png)

As a 90yo pensioner tries to shove a $5 note into the receiver before he gets cut off by his nurse.

Quote from: triumph on September 28, 2018, 03:26:59 PMAt one of the 'Consultations' it was said that the Consortium for the Light Rail had to meet a standard for avoiding fare evasion. This could result in the Consortium conducting routine revenue protection activities. Considering the number of ACTION patrons waved aboard with sob stories, expired balances, etc. and a perceived almost zero ACTION revenue protection activity, there might be quite some angst coming for light rail users inclined to such habits.

Light rail inspections are intensive. I have been checked numerous times, including twice last Monday.

There however, seems to be no change in bus revenue protection. The chance of being checked is near zero (if my experience is anything to go by).

How much bus revenue is being missed? Would it be cost effective to ramp up bus ticket checking? The light rail activity suggests significant revenue loss potential, and that it is cost effective.

A related issue is faulty validators. I was recently on a full (nearly all adult commuters) peak hour bus with an inoperative validator. Inoperative validators are not particularly rare. Again how much revenue is being missed from this cause? Would better maintenance be cost effective?

Interesting, I've only had 1 check and have ridden the trams more than 10 times now.
I think on the buses checking should be more of a thing, although with how tight the new network is now it probably would've be as effective as the lightrail checks. TO's were doing it sometimes on rapids last network at the interchanges, but not often enough imo.

With the driver directly interacting with passengers boarding a bus, there technically should be little fare evasion on a bus, compared to light rail where anyone can walk on and off without potentially ever coming into contact with a staff member.

Quote from: Sylvan Loves Buses on October 04, 2019, 02:19:53 AMInteresting, I've only had 1 check and have ridden the trams more than 10 times now.

10 is hardly a sufficient sample size but considering bus checks were 1 in several hundred trips, 1/10 is already a lot.

Is MyWay getting an upgrade to allow for contactless payments in the future?

Microchips inserted into our brains that detect our movements on and off buses and charging for the periods on the buses sort of 'contactless'? I'm sure that'll probably be worked on at some point.

Quote from: verbatim9 on October 04, 2019, 11:07:57 AMIs MyWay getting an upgrade to allow for contactless payments in the future?

Short answer: no.

Long answer: new system expected in 2020.

Quote from: verbatim9 on October 04, 2019, 11:07:57 AMIs MyWay getting an upgrade to allow for contactless payments in the future?

Yes, that is part of the 'next generation ticketing system' the outgoing Transport Minister was constantly mentioning.

Quote from: verbatim9 on October 04, 2019, 11:07:57 AMIs MyWay getting an upgrade to allow for contactless payments in the future?

Making way for a new ticketing system for Canberra's light rail: https://t.co/vHCOiSoDk9 https://t.co/wd5FURUa7L

https://twitter.com/RailExpressNews/status/1227782518734282754

Transport Canberra have just announced several new MyWay agents (including Coombs, Watson & Deakin). But more significantly, Access Canberra no longer offer MyWay services.

Also: replacement ticketing system is now 2021, at the earliest.

It happened in Qld too 7eleven no longer provide Go card services.  Not too far away then for implementation of smart ticketing down there.

Sent from my moto g(6) plus using Tapatalk

Quote from: verbatim9 on August 16, 2021, 09:53:52 PMThe Riot ACT---> New public transport ticketing system another step closer (https://the-riotact.com/new-public-transport-ticketing-system-another-step-closer/486158)

^^Tender closes September 16 for the new upgraded ticketing system.

Got to experience my first use of one of those single-use emergency bus passes this morning, although I never thought trying to get home after being discharded from hospital at 5:30am in the freezing cold would be my first. Would've loved to have kept it my bus ticket collection, but I know you have to hand them over.

Replacement contract for the new ticketing system has been signed according to the lead item of the ABC 7 o'clock news tonight.