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Melbourne commuters, we’ve got huge news. The long-awaited tap-and-go trial has launched across parts of the city’s rail network, allowing passengers to pay for public transport using the same contactless tech they use to buy a coffee.
Passengers travelling on the Craigieburn, Upfield, Ballarat and Seymour Lines will be the first to test the technology, which allows riders to simply tap on and off with a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card, or a linked smartphone or smartwatch.
The trial marks a major step forward for Victoria’s public transport system – and could soon mean the end of scrambling to top up your Myki before your train departs.
For now, the trial is limited to passengers travelling on a full fare. Concession travellers will still need to use their Myki cards, though they may have the chance to join the program in later stages of the roll-out.
The new payment option will only work on the participating lines, including stations in Melbourne’s City Loop. To make things easy to spot, the readers and ticket gates accepting contactless payments have been specially decorated so commuters know exactly where to tap.
It’s also worth noting that the trial is designed for straightforward train journeys. Passengers planning to transfer to another train line, tram or bus will need to start their trip using a Myki card to avoid being overcharged.
Running throughout March and April, the public trial is optional and designed to give passengers a chance to test the system while transport authorities fine-tune the technology. Station staff will be stationed at participating stops to help guide commuters through the process and answer any questions along the way.
Once the trial wraps up and the technology has been tested in the real world, the plan is to switch on tap-and-go payments across the rest of the rail network that currently uses Myki. Eventually, the system will expand to buses and trams, too – a move that would bring Melbourne more in line with global cities where contactless transport payments are already the norm.
Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams said the trial would ensure the technology is ready before a broader rollout.
“This public trial will ensure we have full confidence in the technology before it’s rolled out across the entire network,” Williams said, explaining how the move should make travelling across the city quicker and easier for everyone.
If all goes to plan, the days of fumbling through your bag for your Myki – or racing the ticket barrier while your balance loads – could soon be numbered.
Find more details about the ticketing upgrade and plan your journeys around the city over here.
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