MyWay (ticketing system)

The MyWay card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. It is promoted by Transport Canberra and is valid on Canberra Light Rail and ACTION buses.[2]

MyWay

Location	Canberra
Launched	February 2011
Technology	Contactless smart card
Manager	Transport Canberra
Currency	AUD
Stored-value	Pay as you go
Credit expiry	2 years if inactive, otherwise never[1]
Auto recharge	Auto top-up
Validity	ACTION Light Rail
Retailed	Online Canberra Connect shopfronts MyWay Centres MyWay Recharge agents
Website	www.transport.act.gov.au

The MyWay card uses contactless smart cards with MIFARE technology onto which credit is loaded. Passengers are required to 'tag on' when boarding the bus or entering a light rail station and 'tag off' when exiting, at which point the appropriate fare is calculated and deducted from the stored value on the MyWay card. MyWay cards were made available to ACT Seniors Card-holders on 21 February 2011 and released to the remainder of the community on 7 March 2011.[3]

The MyWay system uses Parkeon software and equipment including Wayfarer 200 consoles[4] and Axio card readers.[5] The system was built and installed by Parkeon's Australian distributor, Downer EDI.[6] Instead of being developed from scratch, MyWay was adapted from Transperth's SmartRider system which also uses Parkeon hardware and software.[7]

A further 5% discount (for single-trip fares) applies if a MyWay card is topped up using direct debit or BPAY.[8]

The card was issued to the general community including school and tertiary students on 7 March 2011. ACTION's old magnetic strip tickets continued to be valid during a transition period until 11 April 2011.[3] In September 2017, Transport Canberra began looking for a replacement ticketing system to coincide with the opening of the light rail. A contract was scheduled to be awarded in May 2018,[9] however as of January 2021, a contract has yet to have been finalised.[10]

References

1. "Conditions - Transport Canberra". Transport Canberra. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
2. "MyWay". ACT Government - Transport For Canberra. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
3. Welcome to MyWay - the new, easier way to travel on ACTION buses Transport for Canberra
4. "Wayfarer 200". Parkeon. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
5. "Axio". Parkeon. Archived from the original on 21 September 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
6. "Parkeon wins again down under" (Press release). Parkeon. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
7. Banks, Lisa (24 August 2011). "Canberra MyWay user base reaches 86,000". Computerworld. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
8. "Add Value to a MyWay Card". ACT Government - Transport for Canberra. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
9. Transport Canberra starts search for MyWay replacement Canberra Times 15 September 2017
10. Bushnell, Ian. "Back to square one on MyWay replacement a broken promise, say Libs". The RiotACT. Retrieved 14 January 2021.