Melb Central myki gates now available for use
http://twitter.com/#!/mykimate/status/33301513904328705

I just posted this over at whirlpool, but for those who don't visit there:

And here it is, the long awaited first go through the Melbourne Central myki gates. Featuring very special guest butt.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PI22YE1VUY

notes: They were being used quite a bit, stood there for about 15 minutes watching. Saw some disabled people in wheelchairs go through, they were able to use the gates themselves once shown how, it would almost certainly have to be easier than metcard I think. The wider gate is a tad wider than the wide metcard gate.

A lot of confused people kept looking for the metcard slot, which was highly amusing! More signage needs to be put up about this until people realise what's going on.

Some of the gates were actually open but you could still use them to touch on or off.

AO's were at the metcard frankenbarriers but were ignoring the myki gates almost completely.

There are various lights on top that I hadn't noticed before, not sure what they are all for yet. Not just concession it would seem.

I've also posted on WP regarding the new myki gates:

Went to Melbourne Central again on my lunch break. All the myki barriers are working, however two have been locked open. In the 10-15 minutes I was there there would have been at least 30 people pass through them, including a person in a wheelchair and someone with a bike who both used the wide gate. There was also a person with a pram that tried to use the wide gate, however she was touching her Metcard. In fact there were a number of people who tried to use Metcard on them. There is a sign that says "myki only", however it's been placed out of the way of the gates and is therefore not noticeable.

AOs were also out in force, however they were ignoring the myki gates and only concentrating on the Metcard ones, even though I heard one of them say to the other, after watching people walk through the open myki gates, "We should get them closed".

The gates, without actual timing, are IMO, at least twice as fast as using Metcard on the Metcard ones.

I also observed one myki user firstly attempt to place his myki on the actual screen, then continue to try and wave it across the reader, with predictable "Please Touch Again" result.

I believe a video may be on the way...

EDIT: Jeeves has beaten me to it, there's the video. I may or may not know who the special guest butt belongs to...

EDIT2: Also observed that when someone is touching on one side, the other side's green arrow doesn't change to a red cross, however the screen of the reader on the opposite side changes to "Validation Disabled" until they walk through.

As the fares are going up in March, if I buy a monthly Metcard before 12 March I would get the cheaper current fare.  Does anyone know if I top up my Myki for say a 30 day period now, will I still get the current fare even though the 30 days takes me into the new fare increase period.

Another question about the Myki website, why doesn't it have a calendar?  It's most annoying having to get out my calendar and count up the days when I want it to finish.  I don't just roll over the Myki from month to month and some months like it to finish on a certain date.

I now have my husband hooked on the Myki.  He loves it.

Sueb, no you won't pay more.  As long as you buy the pass prior to March 12.  If your current pass expires after march 12 it doesn't matter, as your card can hold two passes at once, once the first one expires the second one will activate when you next touch on.

If you are buying a monthly (or longer... remember you can buy any number of days between 28 and 365!) May I suggest you buy a 33 day pass on a Monday.  This will actually last you til the friday five weeks later... and then if you happen to travel the weekend following your pass expiry, you will only pay $3.00 for the weekend cap to do so.  

Of course if you don't travel on weekends it might not be of benefit to you, but one of the great things about myki is the ability to buy passes of a varying length to suit when you might be going on leave etc.

Personally I just bought a yearly myki pass via the PTUA where you get a significant discount, or your employer could offer it as well.  Worth getting prior to the fare rise if you are able to and it suits your circumstance.

I often hear that Myke "Doesn't work"  ( people on the radio etc etc...)  I have been using it for over 6 months now and haven't yet had a hiccup.  So I was wondering what it is about Myke that "doesn't work"?  Just a question.

Read the freds, dude

Some people just don't wanna know. This is because some are political hacks and it's in their interests to dump on it.

Some others are just being fools.

Another question about the Myki website, why doesn't it have a calendar?  It's most annoying having to get out my calendar and count up the days when I want it to finish.  I don't just roll over the Myki from month to month and some months like it to finish on a certain date.

I often hear that Myke "Doesn't work"  ( people on the radio etc etc...)  I have been using it for over 6 months now and haven't yet had a hiccup.  So I was wondering what it is about Myke that "doesn't work"?  Just a question.

I use the Myki on the bus and train every day.  I have no trouble with the trains but often the Myki machine is out of service on the bus or doesn't recognise my card even though there is nothing wrong with it and it has plenty of top up on it.

Hi all. Awfully long time lurker, first time poster. Mainly because it's taken till now to have a Myki related problem.

So my first 6 months on Myki was painless, the only problem I had was not finding enough places to top-up; wish the changeover was a lot quicker (trams in particular). Anyhow, apart from an online topup which didn't go through which was rectified by the call centre, my first major problem occurred a few days ago when my Myki inexplicably died. It's a concession card, but having finally escaped Tertiary education I only have until the end of this month remaining. Coincidence, or am I giving the Myki developers too much credit? I suppose it would be possible to require a concession Myki to be re-enabled each year, but given the system is still having the bugs ironed out... So, I dug around on the Myki website and found something mentioning a free replacement card if concession status changes.

I guess my question is this: do free changeover cards happen for people coming off concession to full fare, or only those going onto concession? Or will I have to shell out $10 for another card and then get the balance transferred? At least I won't be charged the extortionate $9.80 fee to transfer my $12 balance to my new card...

Hi all. Awfully long time lurker, first time poster. Mainly because it's taken till now to have a Myki related problem.

So my first 6 months on Myki was painless, the only problem I had was not finding enough places to top-up; wish the changeover was a lot quicker (trams in particular). Anyhow, apart from an online topup which didn't go through which was rectified by the call centre, my first major problem occurred a few days ago when my Myki inexplicably died. It's a concession card, but having finally escaped Tertiary education I only have until the end of this month remaining. Coincidence, or am I giving the Myki developers too much credit? I suppose it would be possible to require a concession Myki to be re-enabled each year, but given the system is still having the bugs ironed out... So, I dug around on the Myki website and found something mentioning a free replacement card if concession status changes.

I guess my question is this: do free changeover cards happen for people coming off concession to full fare, or only those going onto concession? Or will I have to shell out $10 for another card and then get the balance transferred? At least I won't be charged the extortionate $9.80 fee to transfer my $12 balance to my new card...

from the ticket book

change of concession status

Where a customer moves from concession to full fare (or vice versa), or changes between child or senior and another concession type, a new myki must be issued.
Customers may surrender their old myki at a staffed railway station or the MetShop and receive a new myki of the appropriate type at no charge.

Hi all. Awfully long time lurker, first time poster. Mainly because it's taken till now to have a Myki related problem.

So my first 6 months on Myki was painless, the only problem I had was not finding enough places to top-up; wish the changeover was a lot quicker (trams in particular). Anyhow, apart from an online topup which didn't go through which was rectified by the call centre, my first major problem occurred a few days ago when my Myki inexplicably died. It's a concession card, but having finally escaped Tertiary education I only have until the end of this month remaining. Coincidence, or am I giving the Myki developers too much credit? I suppose it would be possible to require a concession Myki to be re-enabled each year, but given the system is still having the bugs ironed out... So, I dug around on the Myki website and found something mentioning a free replacement card if concession status changes.

I guess my question is this: do free changeover cards happen for people coming off concession to full fare, or only those going onto concession? Or will I have to shell out $10 for another card and then get the balance transferred? At least I won't be charged the extortionate $9.80 fee to transfer my $12 balance to my new card...

The easiest way to rectify your issue is to go to the myki Discovery Centre at Southern Cross station. If your myki is found to be faulty, they'll replace it straight away at no cost, you'll need to complete a balance transfer form and wait up to 10 days for the transfer to your new card.

Another question about the Myki website, why doesn't it have a calendar?  It's most annoying having to get out my calendar and count up the days when I want it to finish.  I don't just roll over the Myki from month to month and some months like it to finish on a certain date.

No idea SueB, but it's a good idea.  Might be worth submitting a feedback form via the Myki website.  Here's a link:

https://www.mymyki.com.au/NTSWebPortal/Common/Auxillary/Contactus.aspx?menu=Feedback

put in as much detail as you can about what you'd like to see.  

At the very least it would be great to be able to put in a date (say for instance the day you are going to go in leave in a month or so's time) and have myki tell you how many days it is to that date so you can buy the appropriate length pass.

Another question about the Myki website, why doesn't it have a calendar?  It's most annoying having to get out my calendar and count up the days when I want it to finish.  I don't just roll over the Myki from month to month and some months like it to finish on a certain date.

No idea SueB, but it's a good idea.  Might be worth submitting a feedback form via the Myki website.  Here's a link:

https://www.mymyki.com.au/NTSWebPortal/Common/Auxillary/Contactus.aspx?menu=Feedback

put in as much detail as you can about what you'd like to see.  

At the very least it would be great to be able to put in a date (say for instance the day you are going to go in leave in a month or so's time) and have myki tell you how many days it is to that date so you can buy the appropriate length pass.

Thanks Mitty.  Here's my suggestion I have sent to them.  I'll keep everyone posted.

"It would be extremely useful if there was a calendar function when choosing how many days when you want to top up your pass.  I have to get out a calendar and count up the days manually before I can enter them into the computer.  This function is available on many other websites and would be extremely useful.  It would work it out automatically for you so you don't have to count up days.  Thanks."

...myki at a staffed railway station...

Not yet. As far as I know, no train station booking offices have been fitted with myki equipment.

Eventually yes, not now.

Is it possible to travel interstate on myki yet?

I.e. is it possible to travel from Melbourne (Southern Cross) to Adelaide, Sydney or Canberra?

I am particularly interested in getting to adelaide . . . . .

Is it possible to travel interstate on myki yet?

I.e. is it possible to travel from Melbourne (Southern Cross) to Adelaide, Sydney or Canberra?

I am particularly interested in getting to adelaide . . . . .

It not possible to travel interstate on myki at the moment  till  fulll roll out of MYKI to the V/Line Network.

At the moment there is no V/Line service that goes to Sydney and my understanding only Countrylink that has a train service to Sydney.

If MYKI was to be valid on Countrylink it  my understanding it would be only valid to Albury.

Bugger.

As a Yarra Trams employee I was interested to see if I could get to Adelaide on the Gmnts purse!

Bugger.

As a Yarra Trams employee I was interested to see if I could get to Adelaide on the Gmnts purse!

My understanding that you have a employee travel pass and that you just need to show it when travelling on a non myki service such as a V/Line service for example from Melbourne to Geelong service.

Bugger.

As a Yarra Trams employee I was interested to see if I could get to Adelaide on the Gmnts purse!

Hmmm, totally opposed to the floods levy and trying to go interstate for free because you are a tram driver in Melbourne.

Don't like paying for much do you??

Is it possible to travel interstate on myki yet?

I.e. is it possible to travel from Melbourne (Southern Cross) to Adelaide, Sydney or Canberra?

I am particularly interested in getting to adelaide . . . . .

Take your Myki EFTA to the booking office at Southern Cross, and ask for a V/Line coach ticket to Adelaide using your EFTA. They will provide you with a free ticket.

But I believe they might charge the non Victorian bit. The rules state as far as Wolseley and Albury.

They might still give it to you all the way but they don't have to.

Bugger.

As a Yarra Trams employee I was interested to see if I could get to Adelaide on the Gmnts purse!

Hmmm, totally opposed to the floods levy and trying to go interstate for free because you are a tram driver in Melbourne.

Don't like paying for much do you??

If you actually read my posts, you will be aware that while I am against a short term flood levy, I am all for a permanent disaster levy that can be used for all types of disasters - something similar to the Future fund. I don't see what makes the floods so special. What about the cyclone damage? Shouldn't there also be some sort of levy for that? Or do you propose that we have an individual levy for each disaster as they come along?

As for using my staff myki to get to Adelaide, if I can use my employee entitlement and save myself money, I will have more money to spend while on holiday - give with one hand, take with another if you will. It is not as if I am stealing anything, simply asking wether I can use my entitlement (as per my EBA) for planned upcoming travel.

Back in your box, foamer!

Bugger.

As a Yarra Trams employee I was interested to see if I could get to Adelaide on the Gmnts purse!

You should be able to do that anyway unless entitlements have changed since I was there.  Though it might depend on the nature of your employment - some entitlements are only for staff on the "Railway Award" i.e. operational, not administrative, staff.

Victorian staff on that award can travel on any V/Line service.  You just need to reserve if it is a reservable service.  To reach Adelaide you can travel via the Daylink coach from Bendigo or the Murray Link coach from points along its route many of which connect (albeit indirectly) from Melbourne.  

You can also travel to Canberra (via Albury or Bairnsdale) and Batemans Bay (via Bairnsdale) both of which are Vline services.  There used to be a coach link over the relatively short distance between those two places but it no longer runs.

Since a Staffki cannot be used on such trips (because rollout has not yet occurred) your previous staff travel pass and ID would be sufficient.

It is not possible to reach Sydney by V/line service nor on a Victorian staff entitlement other than the leave pass.  The nearest one can get is Canberra (then by Countrylink train) or Bateman's from where there is an early morning coach into Sydney.

Bugger.

As a Yarra Trams employee I was interested to see if I could get to Adelaide on the Gmnts purse!

Hmmm, totally opposed to the floods levy and trying to go interstate for free because you are a tram driver in Melbourne.

Don't like paying for much do you??

If you actually read my posts, you will be aware that while I am against a short term flood levy, I am all for a permanent disaster levy that can be used for all types of disasters - something similar to the Future fund. I don't see what makes the floods so special. What about the cyclone damage? Shouldn't there also be some sort of levy for that? Or do you propose that we have an individual levy for each disaster as they come along?

As for using my staff myki to get to Adelaide, if I can use my employee entitlement and save myself money, I will have more money to spend while on holiday - give with one hand, take with another if you will. It is not as if I am stealing anything, simply asking wether I can use my entitlement (as per my EBA) for planned upcoming travel.

Back in your box, foamer!

Come and work in the real world away from the Government purse.

Then you will see what it is all about.