MPTE Walrus Smart Card

[Barney]

RE: MPTE Walrus Smart Card

(25/09/2015 18:42)Quackdave Wrote:  On Arriva buses, I do tend to get an amber light and the message "No journeys remaining" or something like that, and then a red light after the driver has pressed some buttons, but I've not been refused travel to date. I did take it in to the Merseytravel centre today to ask if the above meant there was something wrong with it, and the lady there confirmed that it was activated and has over 2 weeks remaining; she said they'd been inundated with complaints, and that the main problem was that "some drivers don't realise they have to scroll down". I've never used that type of ticket machine, so I don't really understand what that means (possibly that they have to scroll down to see the expiry date on screen?), but presumably your brother-in-law encountered such a driver.

I do hope that the software is upgraded soon, because even though I've always been able to travel, it's still a bit disconcerting to see red lights, negative messages and several seconds' pause.

Clearly there is a problem. My brother-in-law has a very relaxed personality and avoids confrontation at all costs but I do wonder what may happen if this situation occurs with a more volatile personality. Bus drivers have a difficult enough job at the best of times but if they are having to deal with faulty card readers on the last bus of the day this can only lead to bigger problems.