The end is nigh for Metcard

[Peter1805]

Interesting, but not sure it would happen. A completely "pre-pay" system would be preferable, in my opinion..

You can't buy a ticket, or top up, with a train driver. People just need to get used to topping up before they get on. With the level of traffic (passenger and vehicular) together with tight timetables, the whole system would be a lot more efficient, in my opinion.

[B7RLE]

The problem with that is drivers short changing the box you wouldn't be able to track them down easy and also you could make the offender angrier by doing that possibly making the situation worse

[BroadGauge]

The problem with that is drivers short changing the box you wouldn't be able to track them down easy and also you could make the offender angrier by doing that possibly making the situation worse

Huh? It's the job of the passenger, not the driver to put money in there.

Your post makes little sense.

[dbowen]

You can't buy a ticket, or top up, with a train driver.

Hardly a valid comparison (to buses). Every railway station entrance has (or will have) a place to top-up.


Daniel

[Connex]

Switch train with tram, and then you end up with the same result in Peter1805's example. You can't buy a ticket from a tram driver, or top up on trams. And there's limited tram stops which aren't in the city that have myki machines (if any?)

[Connex]

First of the Metcard TVMs have been removed from Melbourne Central.

There's more machines earmarked for removal from City stations from the week beginning the 13th of February.

[Peter1805]

Now bus drivers are going to get more Metcard-addicts trying to buy their 10-trip tickets etc from us..

It's already started. Even though it costs them more, they don't want to change.

[dex]

You sell the 10x 2hr? We were told not to sell them. Im not noticing any extra people using myki, a few have sworn to go back to their cars. Seeeeeya later!!

[Andy O]

Unfortunately i hate to say it Dex but i will be one of those avoiding public transport. At the moment i very rarely use it due to my shift work and lack of pt available for that particular trip. But any future instances where i choose to make a day trip into the city for example will no longer be on public transport. I refuse to have have a myki account and have money tied up in it for the fact of using it once every couple of months at the most.

[mitty]

^Every time I see that attitude I cheer. More chance of a seat for me.

[CAL]

Noticed that the two Metcard machines have gone on the Collins Street bridge entrance at Southern Cross Metro Entrance with 1 remaining at the V/Line Platforms and 1 oppisit Red Rooster.
The lines for tickets were out onto collins street for the metcard machine and ticket office too with only 1 person selling metcards during peek hour. Also the solo Myki machine up on the Collins St entrance also had a massive line.

2 Metcard machines gone yet no myki machine to replace it or staff to sell tickets

[Peter1805]

Noticed that the two Metcard machines have gone on the Collins Street bridge entrance at Southern Cross Metro Entrance with 1 remaining at the V/Line Platforms and 1 oppisit Red Rooster.
The lines for tickets were out onto collins street for the metcard machine and ticket office too with only 1 person selling metcards during peek hour. Also the solo Myki machine up on the Collins St entrance also had a massive line.

2 Metcard machines gone yet no myki machine to replace it or staff to sell tickets

This whole thing is an interesting experiment in human behaviour. Many people are so terrified of change that they are still baulking at using Myki. If they did, it would be saving them money every day...

But then, many people still smoke, which not only costs them thousands of dollars every year, but hastens their death with every puff...

[Mike M]

This whole thing is an interesting experiment in human behaviour. Many people are so terrified of change that they are still baulking at using Myki. If they did, it would be saving them money every day...

But then, many people still smoke, which not only costs them thousands of dollars every year, but hastens their death with every puff...

I have (reluctantly) switched to Myki myself but to say that users are saving money every day is just not right. Other than the weekend & public holiday cap the fares are exactly the same for a current user of multi trip metcards.

In fact I can think of three examples of cheaper fares under metcard that will be lost when Myki has taken over completely:

1. City Saver tickets.

2. Vaildity of weeklies & monthlies in any zone at the weekend.

3. 2 hour tickets vaild until the end of service after 6pm.

I'm happy to be corrected if I am wrong on any of these.

[Peter1805]

You are probably right with what you've said, but lots of people who are still using Metcard are just buying daily or 2-hour tickets, on buses anyway, and they would certainly be saving money with Myki.

[kiwiguy]

This whole thing is an interesting experiment in human behaviour. Many people are so terrified of change that they are still baulking at using Myki. If they did, it would be saving them money every day...

But then, many people still smoke, which not only costs them thousands of dollars every year, but hastens their death with every puff...

I have (reluctantly) switched to Myki myself but to say that users are saving money every day is just not right. Other than the weekend & public holiday cap the fares are exactly the same for a current user of multi trip metcards.

In fact I can think of three examples of cheaper fares under metcard that will be lost when Myki has taken over completely:

1. City Saver tickets.

2. Vaildity of weeklies & monthlies in any zone at the weekend.

3. 2 hour tickets vaild until the end of service after 6pm.

I'm happy to be corrected if I am wrong on any of these.

The only one you are correct about is 1, however City Saver is an underutilised ticket anyway, and if used more than once in a day is more expensive. Before myki officially went live on trams and buses it worked fine with City Saver, however it was removed to remove the touch off requirement on trams.

For 2. The weekend cap with myki is $3.30. If you travel say from Zone 1 to Zone 2 at the weekend, you pay the difference between the Zone 1 2-hr fare ($3.28) and the cap, so a whole 2c more.

For 3. You're incorrect here. 2-hr fares with myki are exactly the same as with Metcard, that is, the 2 hours starts from the start of the next hour, and if you touch on after 6pm, the fare lasts until 3am the next morning.

[Mike M]

You are probably right with what you've said, but lots of people who are still using Metcard are just buying daily or 2-hour tickets, on buses anyway, and they would certainly be saving money with Myki.

I have to agree with you there, it's the same on trams & at railway stations. Perhaps it's just that a lot of occasional PT users just can't be bothered to make the effort of finding out what are the best value options for their travel. I know that I always have.

In that respect Myki will do their thinking for them by automatically selecting the best option.

[Mike M]

The only one you are correct about is 1, however City Saver is an underutilised ticket anyway, and if used more than once in a day is more expensive. Before myki officially went live on trams and buses it worked fine with City Saver, however it was removed to remove the touch off requirement on trams.

For 2. The weekend cap with myki is $3.30. If you travel say from Zone 1 to Zone 2 at the weekend, you pay the difference between the Zone 1 2-hr fare ($3.28) and the cap, so a whole 2c more.

For 3. You're incorrect here. 2-hr fares with myki are exactly the same as with Metcard, that is, the 2 hours starts from the start of the next hour, and if you touch on after 6pm, the fare lasts until 3am the next morning.

1. It may be an underutilised ticket & I know why it has been removed but for those who do use City Savers it is still an additional fare increase. I don't know why tram travel in the CBD isn't just made free, but i guess that's another issue.

2. I was wrong on after 6 tickets, I should have read the Myki manual more carefully.

3. It will be $1.04 for someone travelling from Zone 2 to 1 at the weekend & it's still a nuisance having to maintain a separate Myki Money balance for a pass holder. Why not have the weekend/PH cap & Zone 1 fare aligned? It would be so much easier.

[dex]

Are they scrapping the two hour and daily tickets?

[kiwiguy]

I don't know why tram travel in the CBD isn't just made free.

It is, it's called the City Circle

[mitty]

Noticed that the two Metcard machines have gone on the Collins Street bridge entrance at Southern Cross Metro Entrance with 1 remaining at the V/Line Platforms and 1 oppisit Red Rooster.

Those two machines aren't gone. They've been moved next to the Ticket Booth on the opposite side to where the only myki machine is up on that concourse at the moment, as it looks like more shops are being put on that concourse. Yay, let's make the place even more convoluted and annoying to get around. It's Melbourne Central all over again.

[CAL]

Noticed that the two Metcard machines have gone on the Collins Street bridge entrance at Southern Cross Metro Entrance with 1 remaining at the V/Line Platforms and 1 oppisit Red Rooster.

Those two machines aren't gone. They've been moved next to the Ticket Booth on the opposite side to where the only myki machine is up on that concourse at the moment, as it looks like more shops are being put on that concourse. Yay, let's make the place even more convoluted and annoying to get around. It's Melbourne Central all over again.

They were installed on the 8th of Feb. They took the machines from the Bourke St Bridge and Coach Terminal Booking office and moved them to Collins St end. Myki Machine was being installed last night at the Coach terminal booking office at Southern Cross last night.

[kiwiguy]

The first 7-11 stores have started selling myki from today. They will cease to sell Metcards. http://www.myki.com.au/Latest-News/Firs ... myki-cards

[Leyland B21]

yeah i topped up 3 cards earlier today at my local newsagency. Quite convenient. Still caught 3 outta 5 buses though today where the Myki was offline!!!

[Octopus Card Fan]

Admin= Font reduced to normal size.

Remember that the old Metcard also had it's share of implementation problems and people complained about the "old" system being better.
I have been to HongKong and have used their Octopus Card on the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system. The Octopus card can be used not only for Public transport, MTR, Bus, Ferry and some taxi's as well as at all 7-11 stores, Department Stores, Chemist Stores, Fast Food outlets , Car Parks and numerous other places. It is similar to the new Myki card, being a stored value card.
People are naturally resistant to change. While I realise that it probably will not reduce the fare evasion problem, it will not take very long for people to change their habit of having to "Touch on" and then at the end of the journey to "touch off". I noticed that the other day at Flinders street station a couple of younger passengers just jumped over the barrier, they obviously did not have a ticket, and the barrier attendant did nothing. I will take a change in peoples behaviour and attitude to reduce the fare evasion.
I have a Myki card and love it. When the Myki card will be as widely used as the Octopus card in Hong Kong, people will ask why did they not get it sooner.

Octopus Card Lover

[Peter1805]

yeah i topped up 3 cards earlier today at my local newsagency. Quite convenient. Still caught 3 outta 5 buses though today where the Myki was offline!!!

This is because most drivers still either don't know how to re-boot the device on their bus, or haven't been taught how, and/or because there seems to be an ongoing issue as to whether or not they are allowed to anyway..

Ludicrous situation, costing even more dollars to taxpayers than has already been wasted.