Victorian public transport passengers will be able to pay their fare using a bank card, phone or smartwatch from next year, with new technology soon hitting the train network.
More than 20,000 new myki readers will be installed across the train network over the coming months that will allow travellers to tap and go without a myki card, with installation in trams and buses to come shortly after.
areas, requires buses to be highly capable and durable.
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The move follows a successful trial of ticketless bus travel in Wangaratta, where almost 80 per cent of full fare commuters used ticketless payment instead of cash and paper tickets during the trial in December and January.
“From early next year, we will begin rolling out tap and go technology across our public transport network – providing passengers more ways to pay for their travel,” public and active transport minister Gabrielle Williams says.
“This project crosses every mode of public transport and requires extensive testing, so we will take a careful and considered approach as we roll out tap and go technology.”
In 2023, US-based company Conduent was awarded a $1.7bn, 15-year contract to run the ticketing system for Victoria’s train, tram and bus networks, yet there were many concerns for the past 12 months on whether there would be delays and if Conduent would pull out.
Unlike other public transport ticketing systems, which accept credit cards, smartphones and smart watches for payment, Myki still requires a physical card, which costs $6 upfront before credit is added.
While there is a mobile Myki version for Android devices, which allows them to pay using their phone, there is no app for iPhones, despite the government allocating $1 million in 2019 to develop the service.
The switch to the new system is long overdue, with Melbourne trailing behind other cities and states who have had the technology installed for years.
Sydney went ticketless in 2019, while in Queensland, the system has been in place on trams since late 2020 and on trains since mid-2022.
“As a part our new ticketing system contract we have provided for the replacement and roll out of new ticketing readers,” Williams says.
“That doesn’t require us to replace all the surrounding infrastructure at the metro tunnel stations… we simply just have to swap out the readers themselves.
“This represents a pretty big change to our ticketing system here in Victoria, a very significant upgrade, and a very significant increase in offering for Victorian commuters.”
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