History of public transport ticketing in New South Wales
An automated multi-ride ticket system called MetroTen, based on optical mark recognition rather than magnetic stripe technology, was used on Sydney's government buses from 1985 until 1992.
The early systems, along with the simple paper tickets used on the rail network, made policing fare compliance somewhat labour-intensive.
The cost-saving reduction of ticketing staff on state public transport resulted in the responsibility for fare compliance being transferred from the service operators onto the passengers.
Of the "el cheapo Metroten ticketing system that the former Labor Government installed", transport minister Bruce Baird told Parliament, "Many people know that rorting has gone on.
This replaced a system of paper tickets, token (coin) operated turnstiles and flash periodical passes (including the existing TravelPass range).
The change was heralded by the installation of a Datafare 2000 drivers' console and two AES Prodata green ticket machines (later known as validators) in each of State Transit's 1,600 buses.
While the State Transit equipped two stops—Circular Quay and Manly—with ticket vending machines, CityRail was required to outfit almost 300 stations with them.
The government was forced to allay fears that automated ticketing would mean that more stations would have staffing withdrawn once vending machines were in place.
Among the government public transport operators: PrePay was a concept introduced by State Transit in 2004, where a ticket has to be purchased before boarding the bus.
During this time, no cash was accepted on any State Transit route when getting on from any of these stops and a prepaid magnetic stripe ticket have to be used instead.
For many passengers, particularly those travelling longer distances, the reduction in the number of fare bands meant substantial price cuts for public transport.
Like the previous ticketing range, MyZone used the existing magnetic-stripe automated fare collection system on trains, government buses and ferries.
Private bus services and the light rail required manual checking or validation of the ticket by the driver or conductor.
The system is for public use but is restricted to special excursion trips operated by two Sydney transport heritage groups.
Existing single, return, weekly and other periodical ticket products were rebranded as "MyTrain", and the number of fare bands was reduced from 20 to five.
The introduction of MyZone did not alter the existing TravelPass, TimeTen or timed ticket products used in Newcastle.
The system's use is restricted to special excursion trips operated by two Sydney transport heritage groups.
[24] As a result, the contract to install and operate the integrated ticketing project, or Tcard, as the plan became known, was finalised and awarded to the ERG Group at the end of 2002.
In a bid to smooth the introduction of Tcard, the government established the Public Transport Ticketing Corporation to oversee the project.
[25] In April 2007, an official letter from the Public Transport Ticketing Corporation was sent to ERG Group expressing numerous concerns, such as software problems dogging the project.
[26] Beginning in August 2006, commuter field trials were held on selected lines of Sydney Buses and the Punchbowl Bus Company.
[35][36] On 18 March 2008, the School Student Transport Scheme Tcard system was switched off in response to the terminated contract.
On 3 July 2008, after three months of a terminated contract and a $200 million lawsuit by ERG Group, it was revealed that the a smartcard system project had been revived by cabinet.
[37] On 12 April 2010, the Government of New South Wales announced that a new contract had been awarded to the Pearl Consortium for the roll-out of a new system.
