New CharlieCard system goes online, promptly crashes

I tried it right after I saw it on UH this morning. I kept getting errors but hitting Retry would move me on to the next screen. I was able to sign up for an account and register my Charlie Card. I set it up for a recurring pass but it timed out during the final commit phase. I just checked now and it shows the new pass.

We'll see what happens when I try to use the thing to go home.

Update 8/3:
When I used the Charlie Card the next morning, the screen said "updated" but continued to list the 7/31/09 expiration. I checked my card at the fare machine and it listed two passes on my card, one expiring 7/31 and one expiring 8/31. For the rest of July, every time I used the pass if read 7/31.

This morning I was nervous as tried the card for the first time in August but it had the correct date and let me right through.

Then I sat down on the train, the card fell out of my pocket and went into the black hole behind the seat. Luckily, the attendant on my car was able to dismember the seat and retrieve it for me. Phew!

better at handling capacity crowds than their subways and buses are.

The sad thing is that they'll probably improve the computer system long before they add more trains and buses.