We’re running a trial to help us make the Melbourne Tram Network operate even better.
Technology will be installed on some tram routes to help explore how passengers use the network. We’re conscious that our passengers travel habits are always changing and the trial will allow us to look at ways to implement improvements to our service.
A Wi-Fi sensor will be used on some trams and at some stops to help us analyse passenger numbers and direction of travel.
As you would expect, we generate and collect information every day to help us improve our service. We expect the ability to understand passenger travel preferences when examined with the information we generate providing tram services will help guide us on how to provide travel options that will better match passenger demand.
Just like all the information we use to plan our service improvements, we will collect this anonymised and non-identifying information according to all applicable laws, terms and conditions. We take privacy very seriously at Yarra Trams.
If you prefer, you can also ‘opt out’ of participating in the trial by turning off WiFi while travelling or submitting the short form below.
If you still have any questions, please contact our Privacy Officer using the information at the bottom of this page.
What information is being collected?
The Wi-Fi sensors will collect Media Access Control (‘MAC’) addresses, tram route and travel times and log data which includes date, time, the Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), device type and Wi-Fi sensor identification (‘Trial Data’).
The Trial Data once collected will be filtered, anonymized and aggregated.
Please note the MAC address from a device on its own is not capable of revealing a person’s identity and most mobile devices are broadcasting this information most of the time. We do not collect any private or personal information nor your name, your phone number, your email address, your browsing history nor your contacts. The Trial Data is pseudonymized and encrypted and aligns with Victorian privacy principles, legislation and public transport fare conditions.
Within 6 hours of collection, the pseudonymized and encrypted Trial Data will be further anonymized, encrypted again and merged with all other Trial Data so that it can be analyzed in aggregate.
We have been very careful to ensure that the collection and use of this information is allowed under the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic), Transport Integration Act 2010 (Vic), Public Records Act 1973 (Vic), and relevant Victorian Government ICT procurement and contractual frameworks.
How do we use the information we collect?
The Trial Data collected will be processed and aggregated into statistical information (i.e., graphs, numerical data, etc) which will then be used to examine travel patterns and behaviors.
The trial will be used to help us determine if the ability for us to use this information and these statistics will help inform network improvements and allow us to stay in touch with the changing ways that Victorians are using public transport.
Trial Data is strictly to be used by Yarra Trams to help us operate the network and supports essential functions such as service planning, demand management, performance monitoring, and service optimisation.
How do we store and protect your information?
We’re partnering with a company called Flowly to undertake the trial. They have provided this system in Australia and in many countries all over the world and have expertise in ensuring that the data is collected, transmitted and stored appropriately.
Flowly will retain any data collected on our behalf, in line with Flowly’s and Yarra Tram’s data protection policies and all Australian and Victorian Privacy laws and principles. This means that Flowly will not hold information for longer than is reasonably necessary and for a purpose other than what Flowly obtained the Trial Data for. Any data collected as part of the Flowly Trial will be stored in a secure data center here in Australia. When information is sent from the sensor to the data center it is both pseudonymized and encrypted.
Both Yarra Trams and Flowly take the privacy of our customers very seriously, and accordingly, a range of technical and organizational measures are in place to control and safeguard access to and use of the Trial Data.
How can you opt out of the trial?
To opt out you can turn off your WiFi during your tram journey or you can send us the details of your MAC address, and we can exclude it from being included as part of the Trial Data. If you would like us to exclude you from the trial it is important to let us know within 6 hours of your journey (collection) – as our anonymization and encryption is so strong, once it has been added to the aggregate Trial Data even we cannot identify your information in our records.
Your Wi-Fi MAC address is sometimes referred to as a hardware or physical address, and is a unique, 12-character alphanumeric attribute that is used to identify individual electronic devices on a network. An example of a MAC address is: ‘00-B0-D0-63-C2-26.’
To find out your device’s Wi-Fi Address information, including the MAC address click on the logo that best describes your device;
If you wish for your MAC address to be excluded from the trial paste or type it into the box below and click SUBMIT.
Contact us
You can also request further information or exercise your right of access, rectification, erasure or limitation of the processing of your data by email at contact@flowly.re, in line with the terms of this collection statement.
If you would like to raise concerns regarding the trial you may also contact the Yarra Trams Privacy Officer.
Privacy Officer
Yarra Trams
GPO Box 5231
Melbourne VIC 3001
Tel: (03) 9619 3200
Email: Privacy.Officer@yarratrams.com.au
You will not have to pay a fee to access your MAC address (or to exercise any of the other rights under the Australian Privacy law). However, we may charge a reasonable fee if your request is unfounded or excessive. In order to action or investigate your request, we may need to request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity (this is so we can check your right to access the requested MAC address or to exercise any of your other rights). We may also contact you for further information in relation to your request so that we can responsd to your request.
We aim to respond to all legitimate requests within one month of receiving them. Occasionally, it may take us longer than a month if your request is particularly complex or if you have made a number of requests. In this case, we will notify you and keep you updated about our timing for a response.
The MAC (Media Access Control) address, sometimes called physical address, is a physical identifier stored in the WiFi interface of your device.
Based on your Android version :
- Click on the Settings or Preferences application;
- Open the menu General → About Device → Status;
- Note down the Wi-Fi MAC Address information.
The MAC address is made up of 6 groups of 2 characters separated by ":", such as "01:80:C2:F4:8C:77".
The MAC (Media Access Control) address, sometimes called physical address, is a physical identifier stored in the WiFi interface of your device.
- Click on the Settings application;
- Open the menu General → About;
- Note down the Wi-Fi Address information.
The MAC address is made up of 6 groups of 2 characters separated by ":", such as "01:80:C2:F4:8C:77".
The MAC (Media Access Control) address, sometimes called physical address, is a physical identifier stored in the WiFi interface of your device.
- Click on the Settings application;
- Open the menu System → About;
- Click on More info button;
- Note down the Wi-Fi Address information.
The MAC address is made up of 6 groups of 2 characters separated by ":", such as "01:80:C2:F4:8C:77".