It seems Victoria's public transport payment system is finally ready to join the 21st century, after years of frustrated residents demanding that we ditch those pesky Myki cards for good. Soon, we'll be able to tap on a train, bus or tram with a bank card – catching up to many other major cities around the world. It's about bloody time.
Public Transport Victoria (PTV) has just kicked off a trial of a new contactless payment system in regional Victoria, allowing passengers to tap on with a credit or debit card, as well as with Apple Pay on phones and smart watches. It was first announced that the system would be getting an overhaul back in May 2023, as part of a plan to eventually phase out physical Myki cards.
However, the trial is on a small scale, only taking place on four bus lines in the town of Wangaratta in north-eastern Victoria. PTV is collecting feedback from people who partake in the trial as they test new ticketing features, to be sure that they work properly. This includes brand-new readers, which will roll out gradually across the state after the trial. The new readers will also still be compatible with Myki cards, so that travel isn't disrupted and passengers can still use the old payment method if they want to for now.
The trial started on November 25 and will run for up to six months. We don't want to get our hopes up, but that could mean the new system could roll out on a wider scale sometime next year. According to PTV, Victorians will start to see the new readers around the state once testing is completed. We'll be keeping a close eye on the trial progress, so watch this space for more details as they come. Find out more about the trial here.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.