Train passengers in Victoria will soon be able to use bank cards, smartphones, or wearable devices to tap onto public transport.
Public transport minister Gabrielle Williams said there would be a staggered rollout across the rail network next year.
It comes after US company Conduent Business Services was awarded the state’s public transport ticketing contract in 2023, as part of a new 15-year agreement.
According to 9 News,the move follows a “successful” trial that ran for on four local bus service lines in the regional town of Wangaratta.
“Commuters will start to see the new ticketing assets and new readers rolled out across the network gradually over coming months,” Williams said.
Commuters in Melbourne have been locked into using physical cards for decades, however Android users could opt to use an electronic card.
From next year, that will change.
More than 20,000 new card readers will be installed across the metropolitan and V/Line networks over the coming months.
“As a part our new ticketing system contract we have provided for the replacement and roll out of new ticketing readers,” Williams said.
“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.”
Only full-fare adult tickets will be charged to bank cards and devices in the initial rollout.
“We’re taking a very considered and cautious approach to how we do this roll out, because we know that we need to both build this new system and keep the current system operating so that we’re not unnecessarily disrupting commuters in their day-to-day travels through our city and state,” Williams said.
“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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