Contactless Payments For Trains Expand

Train passengers on the Werribee and Geelong lines can now use a bank card, smartphone or smartwatch to pay for their journey, as Victoria expands its contactless public transport payment system.

The rollout began on 7 June and includes the Werribee, Williamstown, Sunbury, Frankston, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Bendigo and Gippsland lines, along with Metro Tunnel stations.

Passengers travelling on the Werribee and Geelong lines no longer need to top up or carry a myki card if they choose to use contactless payment instead.

A second stage of the rollout on 14 June will add the Mernda, Hurstbridge, Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein and Glen Waverley lines.

More than 88,500 tap-and-go trips have been recorded since trials began in March on selected rail lines and City Loop stations. Around four in five of those trips were made using a smartphone or smartwatch.

Once the rollout is complete, contactless payment will be available at every myki-enabled train station across Victoria.

The change brings Melbourne closer to public transport systems already common in cities such as London, Sydney, Singapore and New York, where passengers have been able to use bank cards and mobile wallets to travel for years.

Concession passengers, seniors and those under 18 will still need to use their concession or Youth myki. Passengers can also continue using a standard myki card if they prefer.

Further details on expanding tap-and-go technology to buses and trams are expected in coming weeks.