[CT] Early commuters hail MyWay fare system

[Barry Drive]

From The Canberra Times online.

By CHRISTOPHER KNAUS
07 Mar, 2011 01:11 PM

ACTION's new MyWay smartcard system has received a positive response from commuters this morning, despite initial confusion over new fare structures.

Today is the first day MyWay cards had been made available to the public, signalling the start of a month-long transition period during which magnetic strip tickets will be phased out.

The new system is based on reusable smartcards, which can be loaded with credit online, or at various MyWay centres, Canberra Connect Shopfronts, or participating newsagents.

Full story at the Canberra Times

[Bus 400]

Mrs Hamilton said a smartcard system should have been introduced in Canberra a long time ago.

"They've had them in Sydney for a long time ... we're a bit slow in Canberra,'' she said.

What are the smartcards this lady speaks of in Sydney? I thought Sydney was like the last capital city in Australia to have this ticket system. That is besides Adelaide who are only now starting work to electrify their railway lines, so they don't count.

[Buzz Killington]

"Because if you don't swipe it when you get off the bus, they don't know how much to charge from the card,'' she said.

Hmmmm...

[Barry Drive]

Haven't seen the print edition, but online this story has been replaced with "Smartcard proves winner with bus commuters"

Many of the quotes have been removed, including the one saying that Sydney has had smartcards for a long time.

[Bus 400]

The print version is the newer online story.