MyWay+ Ticketing System: Persistent Failures Raise Questions About Government Credibility
There is now a significant credibility problem for the MyWay+ ticketing system, and for the ACT government which heralded its arrival with such enthusiasm. The $64 million public transport system was introduced with substantial fanfare in November 2024, yet it continues to malfunction more than a year after its troubled launch.
A History of Technical Difficulties
The system was not functioning correctly from its very first day of operation, and it remains problematic fourteen months later. This ongoing situation makes passengers—and potentially voters—question whether MyWay+ will ever operate as originally intended.
On November 27, 2024, the rollout was accompanied by signs on new ticket machines installed on buses stating clearly: "This card validator is temporarily out of order." More recently, on February 2, 2026, the ACT government announced: "The updated bus network is currently not available through the MyWay+ app or Journey Planner on the Transport Canberra website due to a data transmission issue."
Real-World Consequences for Commuters
The latest technical glitch meant that Google and Apple maps could not display real-time information about bus movements. This left passengers with no reliable way of knowing whether the bus they were waiting for had already departed or was still en route. The timing was particularly unfortunate, as Monday marked the first day back for schools across the territory.
All the familiar family confusion about getting children out of the house and to school on time was significantly amplified by this uncertainty around public transport schedules. The difficulty for the government, particularly for Transport Minister Chris Steel, is that each new problem becomes magnified in the public consciousness because of the system's extensive history of previous failures.
Broader Context of Transport Systems
Undoubtedly, no public transport system operates completely smoothly. Passengers throughout the world regularly experience disruptions to buses, trains, and trams, often accepting these as an inevitable aspect of urban living. When the neighboring Queanbeyan bus ticketing system was introduced, it also experienced initial difficulties.
Drivers expressed frustration with the new ticket machines, and various glitches occurred. However, Queanbeyan passengers generally accepted these as typical teething troubles that would be resolved over time. Canberra's situation appears fundamentally different, with a system that has repeatedly failed to meet the ambitious claims made for it during its promotion.
Systemic Issues or Political Failure?
When teething problems persist for over a year, legitimate questions arise about whether something more ingrained is occurring. Is there a fundamental deficiency in the system itself, or in the political decision-making that drove through its disastrous launch? Even before the most recent in a long line of technical issues, passengers continued to notice that electronic arrival time boards at bus stops frequently remained blank and non-functional.
Damning Legislative Report
In October 2025, the serial failures were detailed in a scathing report prepared for the ACT Legislative Assembly by an all-party committee of MLAs. The report was blistering in its assessment of the new system's launch, which was originally intended to provide "seamless" ticketing and travel across Canberra's buses and trams.
The document was peppered with critical phrases including "poor decision," "too large and complex," "undertaken so poorly," "clearly not ready for launch," "poor project management," and "questionable choice showing poor judgement." Following the report's release, Transport Minister Chris Steel eventually apologized, but only after his superior, Chief Minister Andrew Barr, had done so.
Minister Steel had initially declined to offer a formal apology, instead expressing regret. He stated: "With the benefit of hindsight, a later launch might have provided opportunities to address some of the issues." In a statement issued on Monday, Transport Canberra said it "apologises for any inconvenience" caused to passengers.
Moving Beyond Apologies
However, the time for further apologies has arguably passed. Words come easily, but Canberra's public transport users want concrete assurance that their morning commutes will not be disrupted by yet another system failure. The ongoing technical problems with MyWay+ have created a significant challenge for the ACT government's credibility, particularly regarding its ability to manage large-scale technological projects effectively.
As the system continues to underperform, questions remain about whether fundamental design flaws exist, whether adequate testing was conducted before launch, and what accountability mechanisms will ensure proper resolution. For Canberra residents who rely on public transportation, the promise of a modern, efficient ticketing system remains unfulfilled, replaced instead by ongoing frustration and uncertainty.
