Myki facts for kids
Physical adult Myki card
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| Location | Victoria, Australia |
|---|---|
| Launched | 2008 |
| Predecessor | Metcard |
| Technology |
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| Operator | Conduent (current) NTT Data (previously) |
| Manager | Public Transport Victoria |
| Currency | AUD |
| Stored-value | Myki money |
| Credit expiry | Does not expire (Card expires after 4 years but balance is transferable) |
| Auto recharge | Auto top-up |
| Unlimited use | Myki pass (for 7 days or between 28 and 365 days) |
| Validity |
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| Retailed |
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| Variants |
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Myki (pronounced MY-kee) is a special card used to pay for most public transport in Melbourne and other parts of Victoria, Australia. It's like a credit card but for buses, trains, and trams! Myki replaced an older system called Metcard and was fully ready to use by the end of 2012.
The Myki system was created by a group of companies called Kamco. It is now managed by Public Transport Victoria, which looks after all public transport in Victoria. The first contract for Myki was very big, costing about A$1.5 billion. A new company, Conduent, will take over running the Myki system for the next 15 years starting in late 2023. They plan to add new features by 2025, like being able to pay with your regular credit or debit card.
How to Use Myki
Getting a Myki Card
You can buy a Myki card at train stations, Myki machines, or shops that show the Myki sign (like most 7-Eleven stores). You can also buy one online or by calling Public Transport Victoria. You can't buy a Myki card on a tram or bus. A regular Myki card costs $6, and a child or concession card costs $3.
Adding Money to Your Myki
After you have a Myki, you need to add money to it. This is called "topping up." The money on your card is called "Myki money." You can top up your card at the same places where you buy it. You can also set up "auto top-up" so your card automatically adds money from your bank account when it gets low. There's even a PTV app to top up your card!
Touching On and Off
To use your Myki, you hold it against a Myki reader. This is called "touching on" when you start your trip. At the end of your trip, you "touch off" (except for tram trips only in Zone 1). The system then figures out the correct fare and takes the money from your card. If you don't have enough money, your card might go into a negative balance, and you'll need to top up before you can use it again. You don't need to touch on or off for tram trips that are completely inside Melbourne's "Free Tram Zone" in the city centre.
Myki on Your Phone
"Mobile Myki" lets you use a virtual Myki card on your Android phone with Google Wallet. It works just like a regular Myki card. You hold your phone against a Myki reader to touch on or off. Remember, you still need to register your Mobile Myki card, just like a physical one. Mobile Myki is not yet available for iPhones.
Where You Can Use Myki
You can use your Myki card on:
- Melbourne's trains, trams, and bus services.
- V/Line trains that travel within a certain area around Melbourne (like to Seymour, Traralgon, or Bendigo).
- Local buses in bigger regional towns like Ballarat, Bendigo, and Geelong.
Different Types of Myki Cards
There are Myki cards for different people: full fare (for adults), concession (for students or people with special cards), child, and seniors.
Myki cards used to be green with fun designs. Now, they are mostly grey and black, so you can't tell the difference between a full fare and concession card just by looking at the front.
There's also a "Myki Explorer" pack, which is great for visitors. It includes a Myki card with some money already on it, plus discount vouchers for tourist places, instructions, and a wallet.
Registering Your Myki Card
You can "register" your Myki card with Public Transport Victoria (PTV). This is a good idea because it protects your money if you lose your card. It also lets you see your travel history online and set up auto top-up. PTV can also remind you when your card is about to expire.
How Fares Are Calculated
Myki uses a "zone" system to calculate fares. Melbourne is in Zone 1 and Zone 2. Outside Melbourne, there are more zones (3 to 16). The Myki system always tries to give you the cheapest fare based on where and when you travel.
You can pay for a two-hour trip or a whole day of travel. If you travel a lot, you can buy a Myki pass for 7 days or even 28 to 365 days. This gives you unlimited travel within your chosen zones for that time. If you buy a 365-day pass, you get some days free!
If you forget to touch off at the end of your journey, the system might charge you a "default fare." This is usually the most expensive trip you could have taken from where you touched on.
Recently, a new rule was added: no matter how many zones you travel through, the daily fare will be capped at the same price as a Zone 1+2 fare. This means it won't cost you more to travel further, which is great for people living outside the city!
Myki Card Expiry
Myki cards do expire, but the date isn't printed on the card. A physical card lasts for four years from when you buy it. Mobile Myki cards expire after two years. If your card is registered, you can check its expiry date online. PTV will also contact you before it expires.
If your Myki card is expiring soon or has already expired, you can get a new one for free at train stations or PTV Hubs. Any money left on your old card will be moved to your new one right away.
Myki History
Myki replaced the old Metcard system in Melbourne and other ticketing systems in regional cities. Work on Myki started in 2002. The first trials of Myki happened on the Geelong bus network in 2007.
Myki first became available to the public on four bus routes in Geelong in December 2008. By early 2009, all buses in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, and Seymour were using Myki.
Melbourne Roll-out
Myki readers were installed in Melbourne starting in July 2007. Myki became valid for travel on all Melbourne trains from December 2009. Then, in July 2010, Myki could also be used on Melbourne buses and trams.
During 2012, the old Metcard system was slowly turned off. By December 29, 2012, Myki became the only way to pay for public transport in Melbourne.
Regional Use
Myki started being used on regional train services (like V/Line trains) in July 2013. Now, paper tickets are mostly for travel outside the Myki zones.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic caused some changes to Myki. For example, in July 2021, you could no longer top up your Myki on buses.
There were also some temporary discounts, like 30% off for off-peak travel (when fewer people are travelling). Vouchers were also given out for free public transport days to encourage people to visit the city.
Myki Issues and Criticisms
The Myki system has faced some criticism:
- Cost: Some people thought the $1.5 billion cost was too high.
- Delays: The project took much longer than planned to be fully ready.
- No Short-Term Tickets: Unlike many other cities, Myki doesn't offer simple short-term tickets for visitors or people who only travel sometimes. Millions of these tickets were even printed but never used!
- No Onboard Sales: You can't buy or top up a Myki on trams or buses, which can be tricky if shops are closed.
- Privacy: Some people worried about the amount of data Myki collected about people's travel.
- Forgetting to Touch Off: If you forget to touch off, you might be charged more than your trip actually cost.
