Melbourne joins other Australian cities with long-awaited tap-and-go transport trial

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A long-awaited trial allowing some public transport passengers to travel without a myki has begun in Victoria. Melbourne's a step closer to joining other Australian cities that have tap and go technology, but it's off to a sluggish start, with the trial only available on select lines.

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00:02There's no ticket to ride on some Victorian train lines, and commuters are all on board.

00:08It's so much easier to tap on with the phone.

00:09This is a great idea and should be rolled out on the other lines immediately.

00:12Passengers on the Craigieburn, Upfield, Seymour and Ballarat lines can now tap on and off

00:17using a credit card, smartwatch or phone as part of a new trial.

00:22Though concession holders and anyone changing lines or switching onto a tram or bus

00:27will still need to use a MyKey card.

00:30Desperately waiting to do that.

00:31I think I'd take the train more, tap on more on trams, etc.

00:36The first morning of the trial saw a few takers,

00:39with just 650 passengers tapping on using their credit cards and phones.

00:44Look, I prefer the MyKey, I use the MyKey, so I'd rather just use the MyKey.

00:49But if successful, the trial could lead to a broader rollout later this year.

00:54If this public trial goes well, we'll then obviously look to expand that

00:58and switch on across the network progressively.

01:00Melbourne's public transport ticketing system has long lags behind the rest of Australia,

01:05with contactless payments available in almost every other capital city.

01:10I didn't even know it existed because in Sydney we get to just tap on with our credit card.

01:14It's like often I've left my wallet or card and you can't buy a MyKey anywhere

01:17and you're just like, come on, it's 2026.

01:20Sydney's had an operational tap and go system since 2017

01:24and yet Victorians, Melburnians, are still waiting for an effective tap and go system on every single line.

01:31The $1.7 billion upgrade to the state's ticketing system has been hit with multiple delays

01:36and the government is still unable to say when tap and go technology will be rolled out across the entire

01:42network.

01:42Much of our time frames will be determined by the success of this trial. Early indications are good.

01:48The trial will run until the end of April.

01:50before part 1

01:50feelings of spaceええ

01:52at you cesane

01:53hope you

01:53we

Melbourne joins other Australian cities with long-awaited tap-and-go transport trial

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