00:00Hundreds of thousands of commuters in Victoria top up, tap on and off with their Mikey cards
00:08every day.
00:09But a more convenient option is nearly here and you won't need a Mikey at all.
00:13Oh finally, I mean that's long overdue isn't it?
00:16I mean that would be so much easier for everyone if that was to happen.
00:19We could have just done what Sydney has had for years, they've got a great transport system.
00:24The Victorian Government is now in the final stages of testing tap and go technology without
00:29a Mikey card.
00:30Public transport users will soon only need a credit card, physical or digital.
00:35But not before Department of Transport staff test the technology in labs.
00:39It's quite a standard practice to use public servants, our DTP personnel to stress test new
00:46technologies.
00:47We saw it with the Metro Tunnel for example.
00:50Moving to ticketless travel has been part of the plan for Victoria since US company Conduant
00:54took over the ticketing system in 2023.
00:57But it's faced delays.
00:59We might be almost the last in Australia to get it.
01:02So look, it's great news that it is progressing but it can't come soon enough.
01:06No specific date has been set for the mainstream rollout of the technology.
01:10The only thing we've had in Victoria over the last decade is multiple media releases promising
01:15to do something at some time.
01:19Never actually delivering an easy to use system for Victorians.
01:24The Government says there's a lot to iron out first.
01:27There's Androids, there's Apples, there's different ages of not only phones but watches.
01:33New machines that can read debit and credit cards and smart phones and smart watches were
01:38installed across the train network late last year.
01:41As soon as testing is finalised, full-fare passengers will be able to ditch their Mikey.
01:46After the lab tests there will be public trials at select train stations, before rolling out
01:51properly to all train stations, with buses and trams to follow.
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