If indeed it ever started for Metro Rail. The results for the past month are in and there is no improvement in the Connex run system. Funny that. I thought new stickers would fix everything.

By now Metro Rail must have heads in hands wondering what the hell they’ve got themselves into. The one day heat wave has again caused havoc with services with some lines stopping completely, even after that nice John Brumby man promised it would never happen again.

Justin has already pointed out in a previous article that Melbourne’s public transport system doesn’t work. In a brief conversation I had with a former full-time, now part-time Transport Ticketing Authority consultant, I was told that Melbourne’s train lines are now beyond ‘maintenance’. Think about that for a moment. The system is now so damaged that it cannot be repaired; it must be completely removed and laid down again.

This is not the fault of the current Labor Government. It is even not the fault of the previous Liberal Government. This is basically a problem which goes back to the times the train lines were first installed. Maintenance work has been neglected from the beginning, and we’re now paying the price. It’s going to be a strong Government that tells us all trains are to be replaced by buses and we’re starting again.

Metro Rail are no dummies. They run the Hong Kong system and know how to make trains work. I think however, that they may find Melbourne’s network a different kettle of fish, particularly now that the Government has decided to throw MYKI into the mix.

It was always going to be a big ask for a new operator to come in and fix our transport mess. As far as I can work out scheduling and day to day operations is the precinct of the operator, infrastructure is and always should be the responsibility of the Government of the day. The time for blame shifting and finger pointing is over, just fix it.

And now….onto MYKI. There is still a massive question as to why the Labor Government felt that they had to re-invent the wheel here. There was already a system developed by an Australian company and used extensively in Western Australia AND Hong Kong. MYKI spokespeople have said that, because of Melbourne’s ‘unique’ public transport system, they had to take a ‘ground-up’ approach.

Firstly, of course the spokespeople are going to say that, they are, after all, in the employ of the people responsible for hoisting what is potentially the biggest of white elephants onto the Victorian people. This is a new ticketing system that is three years late and hundreds of millions of dollars over budget (although I’m told that the $1.35 billion total also includes running costs for five years).

Secondly, what is unique about our transport system? It includes trains, buses and trams. The Hong Kong system includes trains, buses, trams, monorails, ferries and the users can use their little plastic card to buy milk, bread and other items from their local 7-11. Surely this ticketing system (developed by an Australian company) could adequately cope with Melbourne’s train set?

MYKI statements today included the ripper that 60,000 people have signed up for their ‘Free’ MYKI card and obviously this means that they are keen to embrace MYKI. Ummmm, noooo, people just don’t want to have to pay the fee for the MYKI card down the track. You would think that, with all the money the Victorian taxpayer has spent on this system, that free cards would be a given. Alas no, this is not the case and Kamco/MYKI have seen another way to gouge money out of Victorians. I would like to know how many people have actually chosen to ‘top-up’ their accounts with ‘MYKI money’.

Another thing, MYKI have already issued a statement that says that they will be selling our information to other companies. So why the hell would I be willing to provide my bank account details so that I can obtain a wonder card? The new system also means that the Government can track your movements on the public transport systems. Where are the Civil Libertarians when you actually need them? Stop protesting the treatment of criminals and actually grab onto something that infringes on the rights of all Victorians

Given the insane amounts of money this is costing, I hope I’m wrong, but I have a feeling that MYKI will be yet another unmitigated disaster. I won’t be using it, but then again I don’t use public transport so other than the fact that I am being forced to help fund it, MYKI doesn’t actually affect me at all.

On the brighter side, I figure that if no-one uses it the Government will have no option but to scrap it. Stand up people, if the system doesn’t work, don’t use it. It will give the Government little choice but to find an alternative.

Election in November, election in November, election in November….

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