Image: Nicole de Souza
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It’s been a long time coming, and the myki network is entering the next stage of testing for contactless payment, bringing us one step closer to tapping on with our credit card, smartphone or watch. Almost 3,000 new ticket readers were installed at over 280 train stations, and a small number of closed-group trials will begin next month. Public trials will begin in the coming months, with ticketless travel launching this year. But, for now, there’s no immediate changes to the public, so you should continue to use your myki as normal.
Photo by John Simmons on Unsplash Myki network upgrade to contactless payment
The upgrades were a part of the contract signed by Conduent, who took over the ticketing system in 2023. The new features will be tested, refined and slowly rolled out to the public from early 2026.
Last year, Transport Victoria ran a six-month trial of tap and go payments on buses in Wangaratta. The next phase will involve a closed-group technical testing in a lab over three days, where staff members will test the system with a wide range of bank cards and smart devices.
After that, further tests will be made at a small number of train stations, to see how the system performs under real-world conditions. The trial will test important functions like refunds, customer support and contact centre processes.
“This is a critical next step in rolling out tap and go payments, allowing us to test the technology in real-world conditions and make sure the system works smoothly before it’s switched on for passengers,” said Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams.
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In the coming months, public trials will take place, and passengers will be able to take part and provide feedback about their experience at selected stations. More information about how passengers can take part in this process will be revealed at a later date.
“In the coming months, passengers will be able to touch on using a credit or debit card, a smartphone or a smartwatch – starting on trains, then rolling out across the rest of the network,” said Williams.
New readers are also being installed around buses and trams, and it’s set to be complete early this year.
Mobile myki will continue to be available to Android users. Meanwhile, Apple users will be able to pay with their phones using their digital wallets when the system rolls out in early 2026.
To learn more about the upgrade, click here.