myki facing technical problems

It's not only Tcard/ERG that has been experiencing technical problems and delays.

Camco are having similar problems according to a news report from the Herald-Sun. Other than ERG's contract been extended does anyone know what other impact this delay may have on ERG?

Regards
Konkat


Transport smart card off tracks

Ellen Whinnett

August 30, 2007 12:00am

A COMPUTER problem will delay the new public transport smartcard for months, forcing government intervention in the $500 million project.

The Transport Ticketing Authority confirmed yesterday the software was not fully developed and a problem had delayed testing.

The news has angered a government increasingly concerned about the cost of the TTA and problems with the smartcard, called myki.

Jessica Harris, speaking for Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky, said software and public transport specialists would be appointed to the board of the TTA, an independent statutory authority.

The TTA would be instructed to give regular updates and the Department of Infrastructure told to more closely monitor the project.

"The minister has been concerned about some of the software difficulties," she said. "At this stage we remain committed to commencing a pilot this year, but will only do so if the technology works reliably."

TTA spokesman Bruce Atherton said it was working towards running a pilot on a single bus in Geelong -- which was announced back in May.

"TTA needs to be confident the software is reliable and the rollout of the system can proceed smoothly," he said.

"There are some issues with the software that need resolving before a pilot can go ahead, and we are working closely with the contractor, Kamco, to resolve these."

But he said engineering and electrical works at hundreds of stations and installation on more than 1000 buses and 100 trams had been completed.

In 2004, then transport minister Peter Batchelor said the system would be implemented in 2007.

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said Ms Kosky and Premier John Brumby had to take responsibility for "their inability to supervise the TTA's highly paid bureaucrats".

He said the report of the Auditor-General on probity concerns over the issuing of the smartcard tender, due next month, was now a year late.