MyWay+ system launches in Canberra, but not without some hiccups
Day one of the ACT government's MyWay+ rollout has not been without a few hiccups. (ABC News: Courtney Barrett Peters)
Canberra's new public transport ticketing system launched this morning — but not without several hiccups.
Some commuters found they were unable to tap on and off this morning, with the ticket validator machines at some light rail stops displaying error messages.
Others reported problems with the new MyWay+ app, website and QR code not loading.
"It's kind of frustrating. I tapped on at Dickson, but it's not letting me tap off," one commuter said.
"It reckons I don't have any coverage on my phone, but it's got four bars," said another.
"I can't find my balance, it says I just need to wait, [but] nothing comes up and it won't generate the QR code."
Transport Canberra was unable to confirm how many ticket validator machines were offline, but Transport Minister Chris Steel said it was "a small number of validators, particularly the light rail validators, at some of the stations".
"Those will be fixed over the next few hours and days to make sure they're operating, but staff will be available to provide advice to customers as they arrive at some of those stations," he told ABC Radio Canberra.
The QR code for MyWay+ was broken for many commuters. (Supplied: John Griffiths)
"We hope that most of the system will be operating as expected today."
Mr Steel said he had confidence in the MyWay+ rollout, but that it was still in "a transition period".
As such, people are being charged "the minimum fare possible today".
"At the moment we'll be taking very much an educative approach. We don't want to leave anyone behind today," Mr Steel said.
"Today's about everyone getting used to using the new system, tapping on and off with their credit and debit cards, and the concession card holders using their MyWay+ travel cards, or indeed, using the other payment options available linked to their account."
New system promises ease
The new MyWay+ system will allow users to tap on and off at a validator with a new MyWay+ transport card or certain contactless bank cards.
It also allows users to pay for their fare using their digital wallet or through a new app.
The MyWay+ system offers a number of different ways to pay for fares with Transport Canberra. (Facebook: Transport Canberra)
However, there is some set up involved in those payment methods which some commuters said they had found difficult.
"This is a new way to use public transport, and the best way to actually understand how to use it is to try it out," Mr Steel said.
"Download the app, have a look at the functionality. Try using public transport, and I think people will find, over time, that it's a much easier way with a greater range of different options to pay."
Mr Steel said 60,000 people had already downloaded the new app, and around 8,000 MyWay+ cards have already been sold.
He also urged commuters to transfer their funds from their old MyWay card to the new one.
"We want people to claim that old credit as much as possible," he said.
"There is about $9.5 million worth of [credit] sitting there. $500,000 has been claimed already, but we want to see as much of that claimed as possible.
"We haven't set an end date at this point in time in terms of claiming it, it'll be open for people to do for quite a long period yet."
The new system has launched for all public transport in the ACT, including light rail. (ABC News: Lily Nothling)
Fee-free Friday travel starts next week
The ACT government also confirmed today that fare-free Fridays on public transport, promised at the ACT election as a one-year-trial, would begin on Friday December 6.
Commuters will have access to free travel on all bus services from around 5:30am to 11:00pm on Fridays, and light rail services from 6:00am Friday to 1:00am on Saturday morning.
"We believe this is going to be an effective way to encourage more people onto public transport while reducing transport costs for all Canberrans at a time when they need it most," Mr Steel said.