Passengers on several Victorian train lines will begin testing tap and go payments on public transport from Monday, marking the first stage of a trial aimed at expanding ticketing options across the network.
The Victorian Government confirmed that the new payment system will initially operate on the Craigieburn, Upfield, Ballarat and Seymour lines. Travellers on those routes will be able to tap on and tap off using a Mastercard or Visa credit or debit card, as well as compatible smartphones and smartwatches.
The trial forms part of the state’s broader upgrade to its ticketing system and will run through March and April. Participation is optional, allowing passengers to choose whether they continue using a myki card or try the new technology.
Officials say the first phase has been designed to test how the system performs in everyday conditions while ensuring that station staff can provide assistance where required.
Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said the public trial would help confirm that the technology works reliably before it is expanded across the network.
“This public trial will ensure we have full confidence in the technology before it’s rolled out across the entire network,” Williams said.
She added that tap and go payments are intended to make public transport use quicker and easier for passengers.
“Tap and go technology will make it quicker and easier for passengers to travel.”
Only full fare passengers will be able to take part in the initial trial. People travelling on concession fares will continue using their myki cards for now, although the government has indicated they may be included in later phases.
Passengers who plan to transfer between different types of public transport during a trip are advised to continue using myki from the start of their journey. This includes transfers between trains, trams and buses.
Officials say using myki for multi mode travel during the trial will help avoid situations where passengers could be charged incorrectly.
To help passengers identify where the technology is active, specific card readers and station gates on the participating lines will be clearly marked. The decorated readers will show which devices accept tap and go payments.
The trial will operate on stations along the four nominated lines, including stations within the City Loop.
Station staff will be present to guide passengers through the process and answer questions about how the system works.
Victoria’s public transport network has relied on the myki ticketing system since it replaced the earlier Metcard system more than a decade ago. While myki allows passengers to tap on and off with a travel card, the introduction of contactless payments is intended to give passengers more flexibility.
Many large transport networks internationally have adopted similar systems that allow travellers to pay directly with bank cards or digital wallets.
Transport authorities say the Victorian trial will provide important feedback about passenger behaviour, payment reliability and system integration with existing ticketing infrastructure.
Once testing on the selected train lines is complete and the technology is confirmed to be operating smoothly, tap and go payments are expected to expand across the rest of the rail network that uses myki.
A later stage of the rollout will introduce the system on buses and trams.
Public transport advocates have welcomed efforts to modernise ticketing systems, although some groups have raised questions about how concession fares and daily caps will be handled in the long term.
The government has indicated that the staged approach will allow these issues to be assessed during testing before the technology is introduced more widely.
For passengers on the four trial lines, the coming weeks will offer an early look at how the new payment system works in practice.
Further details about the ticketing upgrade and the tap and go trial are available here.
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