Melbourne to finally get Myki-less public transport on Monday – but only on four train lines | Melbourne
Melbourne is finally set to join other Australian cities in the touch-and-go era; Public trials of contactless credit and debit card payments will begin for commuter rail vehicles on Monday, the state government has confirmed.
Commuters on the Craigieburn, Upfield, Ballarat and Seymour lines will be the first to test the technology, allowing them to bypass the physical Myki card and pay via debit or credit card, smartphone or smartwatch.
Melbourne boasts the world’s largest tram network, but ticketing technology has been disappointing for locals and tourists.
Sydney pioneered touch-and-go technology almost a decade ago in 2017. Perth and Brisbane will complete their citywide contactless networks in late 2025, and Adelaide completed its train rollout last month.
But Melbourne’s rollout was far from comprehensive.
The Allan government said only the four specified lines – including stations on the city loop – would offer touch-and-go technology during the trial, which will run throughout March and April.
Passengers transferring to trams or buses outside these areas will still need a Myki card; Failure to use the card outside the trial area will result in a fine.
Seniors, students and health card holders will also need to use Myki cards if they still want to benefit from discounted prices, as the technology will only support full adult fares.
Victoria’s transport minister Gabrielle Williams said the limited public trial would help “make it quicker and easier for passengers to travel” before the technology is rolled out across the network.
“This public trial will allow us to have full confidence in the technology before it is rolled out across the entire network,” Williams said.
As part of the hearing, Colour-coded ticket readers and barriers will be used on trial lines to direct passengers to the new technology, and authorized officers will be on hand across the network to assist with the transition.
The Victorian government first promised the new technology in 2023 and said at that time that the state would “now reach the 21st century”. At the time, it was proposed that the technology be rolled out within the next two years.
The Allan government attributed the delay in implementing touch-and-go technology to the large-scale replacement of infrastructure across the state. Around 3,000 new ticket readers were installed at 280 stations late last year to support the transition, which is managed by global transport company Conduent.
The hearing became a milestone for the government’s $1.7 billion ticketing overhaul aimed at modernizing a system that has long lagged behind its interstate counterparts.
