State finally launches ticketless travel – with a catch
Passengers can finally travel ticketless on the state’s train system, putting it on par with the rest of the country, but there’s a catch.
Train passengers on selected Victoria lines will be able to take part in the trial, which will allow users to ditch their plastic myki cards and use tap-and-go debit cards instead.
Craigieburn, Upfield, Ballarat and Seymour lines will be the first to test the technology, which will be available only to full-fare commuters.
For the trial, special ticket readers and barriers will be color-coded so passengers know which ones are touch-and-go.
Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said: “This public trial will allow us to have full confidence in the technology before it is rolled out across the network.”
“Tap-and-go technology will make it faster and easier for passengers to travel.”
The trial will be the first major test of the upgraded myki system after the Victorian government signed a $1.7 billion contract with US company Conduent in 2023.
It was hoped that the contract would bring the state’s public transportation ticketing system into the 21st century.
The specialist public transport ticketing company has been tasked with upgrading its troubled myki system to accept credit and debit cards, smartphones and smartwatches.
Android phone users can already use the digital myki card to pay for public transport, an option previously unavailable on iPhones.
The rollout of the Myki system began in 2007 but was delayed due to million-dollar cost overruns and system problems.
It did not become fully operational until 2012, when it was replaced by the Metcard system.
Visitors to Melbourne must purchase and add funds to a myki card, which costs $6 for adults or $3 for concessions, children and seniors, unlike Sydney Opal cards which have no purchase fee.
Train passengers in major cities such as Sydney, London and Singapore can turn on and off using credit and debit cards, and Brisbane is also implementing similar technology.
Participation in the trial is voluntary and will end in April before wider deployment begins.
