MyWay: ACTION's New Ticketing System

[Barry Drive]

Admittedly I only had a very quick look, but I couldn't find any info on MyWay on the ACTION site.

The info has now been added. http://www.action.act.gov.au/myway.html

[Maxious]

The info has now been added. http://www.action.act.gov.au/myway.html

You will save on bus fares. The MyWay card ensures you pay the cheapest available fare every time. As a bonus, you receive a further discount when you use the Autoload and B-pay options. Regular users can get free travel when they reach a monthly limit.

I am intrigued! How will it be cheapest compared to monthly tickets? And if you're using a monthly ticket above and beyond (6 days of 2 daily trips), will that be enough for the monthly limit? Or is it based on the amount you recharge per month ($40/$80 a month enough?) And how will they get people to tag off if it's equivalent to the current system?</speculation>

[The Love Guru]

Possibly you'll be charged $3.80 for an adult if you fail to tag off, if you do tag off you'll pay the faresaver 10 price for 1 ride. Only a guess but it seems the logical option.

[Barry Drive]

I am intrigued! How will it be cheapest compared to monthly tickets? And if you're using a monthly ticket above and beyond (6 days of 2 daily trips), will that be enough for the monthly limit? Or is it based on the amount you recharge per month ($40/$80 a month enough?)

It will use the 'best available fare' method. Essentially you will pay for your monthly tickets in instalments: First you will be charged a single fare ($3.80/$2.45 or whatever it will be when the new system comes in); then when you use it again the same day, you might be charged off-peak fare (+ 0.70 or 2.05) or another fare-saver ($2.45). At some stage you might then advance to a weekly ticket and by week 4 you will be charged the equivalent of the monthly ticket at which point you won't be charged any more until one month after your first journey, then it starts again.

Not sure how it will handle the School Term ticket if the student uses the card on weekends or school holidays.

[Buzz Killington]

RiotACT are on the topic

[smitho]

Possibly you'll be charged $3.80 for an adult if you fail to tag off, if you do tag off you'll pay the faresaver 10 price for 1 ride. Only a guess but it seems the logical option.

That's how the Oyster Card works in London - you get charged heaps more if you don't tag off.

[Barry Drive]

According to Wikipedia:

Users must touch the Oyster card only once at the point of boarding. Because London buses have a single flat fare, there is no need to calculate an end point of the journey.

But there is a maximum (default) fare for rail journeys of £6 during peak and £4.30 at other times plus there is a penalty fare of £50 which can be imposed for failing to touch out.

[smitho]

According to Wikipedia:
But there is a maximum (default) fare for rail journeys of £6 during peak and £4.30 at other times plus there is a penalty fare of £50 which can be imposed for failing to touch out.

That's right you only tag on with Transport For London (TFL) buses. But when using the Tube, you tag on and off as you go through the barriers at each station.

Where I had problems was interchanging between the Tube and Network Rail services. The Oyster card only got extended to London region Network Rail (what used to be called Network South-East) just before I was there.  The little tag off readers were difficult to find at some Network Rail stations ....no signs, so I overlooked them a few times and got stung with the default fare, which could be over 3 times the short, single trip Oyster fare. 

[Buzz Killington]

The introduction of MyWay has the potential to attract new patronage - I think ACTION should be getting on the front foot here (ha!) by sending out a card to every home in Canberra, pre-loaded with say, $10.00 credit.

Before anyone mentions cost, think about how many Wayfarers are busted each day, meaning busloads of passengers getting free travel.

[Sir Pompously]

Well, Myki offered free cards to people and sent them out, even with your name printed on it. That offer is now over, but will be back soon. I think something like that could work. It does not come with money, but it is easy to load on your own. Atleast you are then not paying $10 for a card.

[Buzz Killington]

Good point. Send out a blank card and offer a $10 credit for those who register it online. Makes it easier to monitor the uptake.

[Barry Drive]

Qld gov is doing just that - issuing Go cards with $10 credit through the Courier Mail.
It might depend on whether ACTION has opted for the personalised card, a la Myki, or not.

[Barry Drive]

An informed source reports the new system will only sell single-trip & daily tickets on bus (and these will be paper tickets). All others, including off-peak are only available through the MyWay smartcard.

[Bus 400]

That is the same as Transperth, hopefully the paper tickets are larger like in Perth.


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[smitho]

Letter in today's Canberra Times is critical of ACT Government's apparent intention to have just 10 ticketing outlets for MyWay. Writer notes that notes that not everyone has the internet and a credit card.

[Barry Drive]

Hadn't heard about 10 outlets - sounds like plenty to me, especially if they are located at Interchanges and major shopping centres. Anyway, with the Autoload option all you need to do is nominate a bank account for direct debits.
But it would be better if small top-ups (maybe $10 max) were allowed on the bus.
Hopefully these sort of things will be worked out during the trial period.

[Bus 400]

And with Transperth they give you a form to fill in & send it off, so no need for a computer or credit card.

[Barry Drive]

Another source tells me that the tag-off enforcement will be linked to the transfer system. In other words, you must tag-off if you intend to transfer otherwise you will be charged for a new journey.
Which, of course, is exactly the wrong way to encourage tagging-off.

[p_stampy]

I was thinking about this last night... why doesn't it just work the same way as it does now (one swipe lasts 90 minutes). The tagging off seems like a pain in the arse. I say that meaning mostly at interchanges where everyone is rushing around, not in the suburbs when you're the 3rd last person to hop off...

In saying that, the swipey card sounds like a great idea. I didn't even know such thing existed for busses until October last year when we went to Brisbane :)

[Barry Drive]

I was thinking about this last night... why doesn't it just work the same way as it does now (one swipe lasts 90 minutes). The tagging off seems like a pain in the arse. I say that meaning mostly at interchanges where everyone is rushing around, not in the suburbs when you're the 3rd last person to hop off...

A very good question. They could, if they wanted to.

Tag-on / tag-off systems are best suited for zone/sectional structures, because the correct fare is determined at the end of the journey. A flat fare structure does not require tagging-off. (As already mentioned, London does not tag-off on buses.)

ACTION are only implementing tag-off to collect passenger journey data; but, if what I have reported is true, they may not get useful data because they are not providing enough incentive to tag-off at the end of the journey - just the middle.

Perhaps they will bring back a sectional structure after the system is bedded in.

[Sir Pompously]

On 104.7 News, they had Jon Boy talking about MyWay, stating that they could be using it for Pay Parking aswell. He is right that the card has multiple uses, in Japan they use their smart cards not only on transport, but in shops and vending machines aswell. My personal view is that it may also have a use in School Canteens, as the smartcard can be set up to add money in types (Like Travel, and Canteen) etc. But that is if they write the software to allow it.

[Bus 400]

Could Deanes & ACTION's smart card ticket systems be integrated so that the public only need the one card? Of course the same fare structure would be used for each company.

If some maybe the same card could be used around Australia & one day all you need to do is tag on a QANTAS plane in Canberra (instead of checking in), get off in Sydney & then head to Central & tag on the Indian Pacific (instead of check in again).  Or is that just a dream.....

[Sir Pompously]

That is possible but the same fare structure is difficult. NSW is done on section based fares, unlike the ACT. Section fares go back to Tramway days, no need to introduce them here (Or re-introduce shall I say). The minimal fare is set by the NSW Government.

And a Big dream to involve private airlines and trains into a smartcard system. Government or subsidised services I could understand, but premium services such as Airlines or the Indian PAcific would be a no.

[Buzz Killington]

That is possible but the same fare structure is difficult.

I have a feeling that he means that ACTION and Deanes retain the same (current) fare structure, as opposed to them having the same (identical) fare structure. But if I'm correct, it wasn't the best wording.

[Sir Pompously]

I think you may be correct Buzz. Aslong as the current fare structure is kept seperate for each company, it is possible to intergrate. It is not like TCard where they tried hundreds of types crammed into the one system, ACTION and Deanes would be easier to intergrate.

[Bus 400]

I have a feeling that he means that ACTION and Deanes retain the same (current) fare structure, as opposed to them having the same (identical) fare structure. But if I'm correct, it wasn't the best wording.

That was it, I knew what I was thinking but the fingers didn't react to what I was thinking.

[Buzz Killington]

That was it, I knew what I was thinking but the fingers didn't react to what I was thinking.

Have you ever considered a career in politics?

[Bus 400]

I can recall a time when that has been considered. But to protect my image I decided not to go on that path.

[CanberraTransport]

A first look at the new ticket...

Note: Attachment has expired.

[p_stampy]

that is one hawt looking card.

I can't wait for it :)

[smitho]

Article in today's Canberra Times (page 3 from memory) has more.

Note that the card appears to be de-ACTIONed.....

(1) blue and yellow colour scheme rather than the ACTION corporate green and gold ....blue and yellow are the ACT "national" colours and are widely used on generic ACT Government items
(2) no reference to ACTION or the ACTION logo on the front of the card....
(3) instead we have this new (unannounced) creature called "Transport for Canberra" (*perhaps borrowing from the Transport for London outfit, the umbrella organisation of the London City administration which coordinates public transport in that city ie the bus operators, mainline rail, Tube and light rail).

This would leave open the option of other bus operators in the ACT such as Deanes and Serco using the card and / or the card being used to pay for other ACT government services such as car registration, rates etc.

[Buzz Killington]

The card looks quite nice. Thanks for the cap CT.

[Irisbus Rider]

Yeah, nice 'scoop' CT (he he).

The card does look nice, and I like the idea of a multi-use card, particularly if it involves intergration on a level beyond public transport. Would this be a first for Australia?

[Barry Drive]

No. I think Bus400 can confirm this, but the Perth SmartRider can be used for parking. Which makes sense since Parkeon also makes parking ticketing equipment.

[Bus 400]

Correct, at TransPerth stations only (from memory), passengers can tag on at the machines & the $2 parking fee is deducted & ticket printed, more information can be found here.

On my trip over there in July, I'll try & photograph what the machines look like.

[particleman]

Serco

Serco runs buses here?

[Sir Pompously]

Well, Serco Sodexho operate a Defence Shuttle service, but that is about it.

[smitho]

Well, Serco Sodexho operate a Defence Shuttle service, but that is about it.

Yeah, I don't know of any other Serco operation in the ACT - noticed one of their shuttle buses in a new livery today, with a far more prominent display of 'Serco Sodexho'...still boring white and black colour scheme though.

It'd be interesting to know how many buses and drivers they have as the service is very intensive. It must be costing Defence quite a bit to run.

[Bus 400]

Below is a photo of a TransPerth parking machine thingy:



I'll post the parking ticket when I get back.

[Barry Drive]

The MyWay ticketing trial is set to commence on 30 August and will run for 3 weeks.

[Bus 400]

With the actual trial, do we know what groups of people are participating in the trial?

[Barry Drive]

It will be ACTION employees (whatever that means) who will be trialling the MyWay cards. I still don't know what the goals of this first trial are.

The trial is supposed to start tomorrow (25 August).

[Barry Drive]

The MyWay page on ACTION's website has been updated, including the following information:

• Pilot Test – During August and September ten ACTION buses will be fitted with MyWay equipment for a small scale test to be conducted by ACTION staff and contractors.
  
• Trial Period – During September–November 2010 a larger scale test of onboard equipment and the MyWay processing system will be conducted.
  

[Bus 400]

You missed the big one:

New paper tickets for cash fares

ACTION is fitting new equipment to buses in preparation for the MyWay smartcard system later in the year.

Some buses now have a new bus driver console and smartcard reader fitted.
New driver console - If you pay by cash when boarding an ACTION bus you may now be issued with a new cash fare ticket. The paper ticket is time stamped and allows you to catch other buses for free within the 90 minute transfer time.

When issued with one of the new paper tickets, remember to keep the ticket to show the driver of the next bus you are catching.

Does this mean we can't validate the cards or purchase daily tickets on these buses anymore?

[The Love Guru]

There will be a reduction in the on-board tickets available. Will provide more details when they are publicly released.

[Barry Drive]

Does this mean we can't validate the cards [or] purchase daily tickets on these buses anymore?

No, it doesn't.

Passengers will still be able to use their pre-paid magnetic stripe tickets on all ACTION buses until the introduction of the MyWay system.

In other words, until the system is fully rolled-out existing magnetic tickets can still be validated.

As Chris_Guru said, there will be a change in what will be sold by the driver (for example, transfer tickets will be paper tickets). But you will find out all of this soon enough. As I said - the "pilot test" starts tomorrow.

[Bus 400]

Phew, my last purchase of a Faresaver 10 was not in vain (my last one lasted from February (2010) to today).

[smitho]

I still have a partially used pack of the old tear-off style 'Fare Go' tickets (equivalent to Faresaver 10) somewhere!

Perhaps it's time I asked for a refund....

[Barry Drive]

I still have a partially used pack of the old tear-off style 'Fare Go' tickets (equivalent to Faresaver 10) somewhere!

Perhaps it's time I asked for a refund....

Put them up for sale on ebay - you might get a better price.

[Barry Drive]

Canberra blogger D.C.Haas has posted a blog about the MyWay system. You can read it here.