By Vanessa Chircop and Laura Wakely
AS part of the transition to force commuters onto myki, Williamstown train passengers will no longer be able to buy Metcards at the station.
Starting in February, Metcard ticket vending machines will be progressively removed from some CBD locations and the Williamstown line.
Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said the State Government last year decided to retain myki.
“The extensive review of myki last year found that it would cost more to scrap it and start again, so our job is to bring it in and work to improve the way it is rolled out,” he said.
Mr Mulder told Star senior citizens had all been posted out a free myki card to make the transition easier.
“We’ve given a commitment now – that myki will be fully operational by the end of this year,” he said.
“We have to go through a transition period.
“We want to make that as smooth as possible. “We don’t want to get to October, November and all of a sudden start pulling out machines and trying to switch everyone all of a sudden.
“We need to be able to gauge how the system is coping with a gradual increase and that’s why we’re doing it the way we do it.”
Mr Mulder admitted that new technology doesn’t always run smoothly but encouraged commuters to talk to station staff when they have problems. “I’ve been using mine for some period of time now… I see the queues for the tickets … I beep, and I’m straight through.”
Transport Ticketing Authority Chief Executive Bernie Carolan said by the end of April, public transport passengers will be able to purchase and top up myki cards at around 800 retail locations across Melbourne.
“While it will take a number of weeks to set up all retailers, passengers will know their local retail outlet has converted to myki by looking for the myki poster in the window.”
