At the tram stop outside Melbourne Central Station, there is a black and yellow striped plywood box sitting where the myki machine used to be.
Note that the above photo was from October 2013 – fast forward to a year later and the yellow stripes have faded, hidden beneath a plethora of stickers and tags.
As to why the machine was removed – PTV blamed vandalism, at least while this notice was still visible.
Seriously – over a year and PTV still haven’t found a replacement ticket machine for one of the busiest tram stops in the city?
Footnote
The myki machine at Tecoma went MIA for an extended period back in 2012 – good luck finding an alternate retail outlet that far out of town!
Ten days without a Myki machine at Tecoma, or any signage to tell people what to do or where to go.
— Toby Nieboer (@tcn33) November 12, 2012
What was the story with this one near Bourke Street – I don’t recall ever seeing it uncovered. Could I be wrong and it was in use before being vandalised?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/86792135@N04/12495341024/in/photolist-mkcf1e-k3929X-k3aTyd-k391cX-mkeegU-mkcWtg-mkeeP7-mkefEq
The yellow and black striped boxes usually appeared in the leadup to a Myki machine being installed – in the early days of the rollout, they were a common sight.
The tram stops on Swanston Street were a little bit odd, in that it took an eternity for the myki equipment to actually be installed.
Corio station hasn’t had a Myki vending machine for months, but it did gain a stripey box a week or so ago. Is that progress?
A decade ago Corio didn’t even have an official train timetable on display, so anything is an improvement!