Metcard

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Metcard is the brand name of the ticket used to access public transport in Melbourne, Australia.^[1] It is a universal ticket which allows users to ride on the city's Metlink network, consisting of suburban trains, trams, and buses. The Metcard is a credit card sized ticket made out of cardboard or plastic and uses a magnetic strip to store fare data. Metcard is operated by OneLink Transit Systems under a contract to the State Government which is managed by the Transport Ticketing Authority.^[2]

[edit] History

A 'handy hints' Metcard

Back of a validated Metcard

Metcard replaced a functionally identical yet technically simpler system of punch tickets and scratchies used on the Melbourne public transport network. Scratchies were easy to cheat and the system was eventually abandoned in 2002,^[3] but not before tickets for many years of use were printed.

Moves towards automated ticketing were first made by the then state Liberal Government in 1992. Tenders were called for the design, supply, installation and on-going maintenance of such a system, with the the 'OneLink Transit Consortium' announced as the preferred tenderer in September 1993. The contract was signed in May 1994, with the major technology supplier being the ERG Group.^[4]

Testing of prototypes commenced in December 1993, and the roll-out of the system was carried out from August 1996 to April 1998, and acceptance occurred in November 1997.^[4] Public field trials were carried out on buses from August 20 1996, and on rail services from September 18 1996.^[5] The system commenced full revenue service from May 1998 at a cost of $330 million.^[6] Contractual issues between OneLink and the Victorian Government were not settled until May 2002 with the payment of up to $65 million in a staged settlement.^[7]

Controversy surrounded Metcard at its introduction, due to cost over-runs, the abolition of tram conductors and the unreliability of ticket purchasing and validation machines. The machines were attacked by vandals frequently (often by pouring liquids into the coin slot), and have seen several revisions to their design since.^[8]

Consistent with the privatisation ethos of the government of the day, Metcard's operation was entirely outsourced, with the transport operators (at that time government-owned) having nothing to do with the system. Metcard even had its own website and branding which became stronger than the anonymous and constantly renaming government then privatised operators.

An audit released by the State Government in 2001 showed over 1 in 4 (27.2%) of the machines at train stations did not work, and 11.9% of mobile equipment in buses and trams was non-operational.^[9] The State Government renegotiated with ticketing network contract operator OneLink Transit Systems to improve the service to commuters. Following these improvements, a 2002 audit showed an increase in availability of machines to 92.1% at train stations, and 98.3% on buses and trams. Usability was also improved, with tram machines able to sell daily tickets. Furthermore, vandalism across the network dropped by 62% between 2001 and 2002.^[8]

V/Line tickets were aligned with the Metcard system in April 2006, with each V/Line ticket to stations in the Metcard area having the relevant zones printed on them.^[10] In March 2007 the Nightrider bus service was also brought under the Metcard system.^[11] Zone 3 was removed from the Metcard system (and merged into zone 2) on March 4 2007,^[12] due to a State Election promise made by Opposition Leader Ted Ballieu and matched by then Premier Steve Bracks.^[13]

The original Metcard contract with OneLink was to last nine years, expiring in March 2007. In 2005 the contract was amended to permit the system to be extended and modified as work on the replacement myki project progresses, with the contract being able to be terminated on six months notice.^[2]

[edit] Operation

A 'large' MVM 1 Metcard vending machine

Metcard validator, as found aboard buses and trams

Metcard operated barrier gates at Southern Cross Station

All forms of public transport can be accessed by using a single Metcard. Metcards are a time and zone based ticket, with validity periods ranging from 2 hours to yearly, and two zones covering the Melbourne metropolitan area. Further information on the range of Metcards available is published in Metlink's [Victorian Fares and Ticketing Manual].

Metcards can be purchased in the following ways from:

• Rail stations Ticket Vending Machines
• Ticket Vending Machines on board trams and the Stony Point train
• Bus drivers
• (staffed) stations
• The Met Shop (inside the Melbourne Town Hall on Swanston Street)
• Authorised Metcard outlets such as newsagencies and milk bars
• The Internet http://store.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/
• Phone orders (1 800 652 313)

Ticket availability varies, with the sources above each stocking slightly different ranges beyond the standard two-hour, daily and seniors tickets.^[14] Availability on board buses is particularly restricted, with neither the Sunday Saver nor off-peak tickets being available from drivers. Similarly ticket vending machines at railway stations do not stock Sunday Savers or some types of off-peak tickets. Payment options vary from coin-only (small Metcard machines on trams and at railway stations), EFTPOS, coin and some notes (large ticket machines at stations) to EFTPOS, credit card, coin and all notes (premium railway stations).

Metcards are 'validated' when entering or exiting railway stations, and getting on trams or buses. The first validation prints an expiry date and time on the back of the ticket. Subsequent validations of most types of tickets do not print extra times but the data was intended to be used to count passenger numbers (in order to improve transport services). Revalidation of already validated tickets, whilst functionally unnecessary, is still required by law^[1] and occasional campaigns continue to remind passengers of this.

When transport operations were franchised, revalidation data was also used to apportion revenue share between operators.^[4] This has since been abandoned in favour of fixed percentage allocations (40% train, 40% tram and 20% bus).

With the lack of barriers at all but a few major railway stations and trams not having conductors, enforcement is the responsibility of roaming Authorised Officers (ticket inspectors). Authorised Officers (AOs) check that passengers have the correct ticket and, if using a concession ticket, have a suitable concession card. AOs do not issue fines directly but issue an infringement notice. The passenger then receives a letter from the Department of Infrastructure, who may issue a fine. They can either pay the fine, or contest it by letter or in court.^[15]

[edit] Zones and fares

The Melbourne ticketing system is based on 'Zones' and calculated depending on travel zone, with higher fares for trips that include both travel Zones. The Melbourne zonal fare system is broken up into two ticketing Zones: Zone 1 (Yellow) and Zone 2 (Blue). The two zones form concentric rings, with Zone 1 comprising the inner suburbs, and Zone 2 covering the remainder of metropolitan Melbourne. Zone overlap areas exist on the borders of the two zones. In these areas tickets for either zone are acceptable.^[16]

A separate fare and ticketing system exists for V/Line (country) services. However since April 2006 holders of V/Line tickets to Melbourne have access to both Zone 1 and 2, while V/Line tickets to Zone 2 stations are valid for Zone 2 only.^[17] Fares in most towns just outside Melbourne were also aligned to Zone 2 Metcard prices as part of this integration.^[10]

As of 2008, a daily Zone 1 full-fare (as distinct from concession fare) ticket costs $6.50 AUD, and a weekly Zone 1 ticket costs $28.00 AUD. Prices generally rise by inflation (CPI) on January 1 each year, though there have been occasional higher than CPI increases.^[18]

[edit] Future

Main article: myki

The Metcard system was scheduled to be replaced in 2008 by a smartcard-based ticketing system called myki, which will also cover all public transport in the state.^[19] However in February 2008 Victorian Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky announced that the full roll out of the system would not begin until the end of 2008^[20]. Approximately 7 weeks later, the system was delayed for approximately another 2 years, with an announcement that the service was now scheduled to begin its roll out in 2009, but not be fully operational until some time in 2010 ^[21]

The two systems would coexist until the transition is complete. The current Metcard equipment supports a similar system based on re-usable RFID touch cards for use by public transport staff and other pass holders,^[22] however this provides neither the flexibility nor advantages intended to be brought by the new system.

The new system has been announced as a Tag On / Tag Off system, where two validations are required per journey; one when boarding and again when alighting.^[19] This means passengers will have a single card and be charged for the actual fare used. This is unlike the current system where passengers who travel into different zones at different days and times may need to buy several types of Metcards beforehand.

Tag on/tag off has both benefits and costs. On one hand it allows fares to be automatically calculated, always giving the passenger the cheapest fare option. Also, unlike Metcard, special off-peak fares to encourage travel during quiet times could be implemented, for example. The main cost will likely be borne by passengers who do not tag off. Such passengers will likely be charged the 2 hour Zone 1+2 fare.^[19]

[edit] See also

• Automated Fare Collection System

[edit] References

• Victorian Public Transport Ticketing (unofficial)

[edit] External links

• Metlink fares & tickets - official website
• PTUA - Your Rights on Melbourne's Public Transport
• PTUA - Ticketing & Smartcard FAQ
• Unofficial Public Transport Guide to Melbourne