Some commuters can finally ditch myki cards. But there are key exceptions

Victorians will be able to tap on for most train rides using bank cards and smartphones from Sunday in long-delayed upgrades to the state’s public transport ticketing system.

However, the new technology will initially be limited to full-fare passengers, and commuters will still require a physical myki card to travel on trams and buses until a wider system upgrade, expected in 2027.

The wider rollout follows a trial on the Craigieburn, Upfield, Ballarat and Seymour lines. The trial, which began in March, recorded more than 88,500 tap-and-go trips. Four in five were made using a phone or smartwatch.

From Sunday, the contactless technology will go live on the Sunbury, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Werribee, Williamstown, Sandringham, Frankston, Stony Point, Bendigo, Gippsland and Geelong lines.

The remaining metropolitan lines – Mernda, Hurstbridge, Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein and Glen Waverley – will follow on June 14, meaning contactless payments will be available at all train stations with myki readers. Some of the V/Line network will remain ticket-based, but will eventually be included in the rollout.

Anyone using Melbourne’s trams and buses will still need a myki card. Android users have for years been able to use a digital myki, but that option is not available on iPhones.

The bank card tap-and-go system only supports myki money – those who use weekly, monthly or yearly passes will still need a physical card.

Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said tap and go meant one fewer card in people’s wallets and one fewer thing to worry about.

“Victorians are already saving money with half-price fares – now we’re making public transport easier to use too,” she said. “Only Labor is making PT easier and more affordable.”

The government provided information about the tap-and-go system rollout under a strict embargo, meaning no comment could be sought from other stakeholders or the opposition.

A spokeswoman said the government would have “more to say” in the coming weeks about the next stage of the rollout to trams and buses.

Upgrades to the state’s ticketing system have been plagued by persistent delays, leaving Victoria years behind other Australian and international cities.

Commuters in Sydney, by comparison, have been able to tap on to all forms of public transport with bankcards and smart devices since 2019.

Passengers will still be able to use a physical myki card even after contactless payments are fully deployed.

For Android users with a digital myki loaded, contactless travel will default to the myki rather than a bank card.

Public transport is half-price statewide until January 1, 2027, making a daily fare $5.70 for full fare and $2.85 for concessions. The state government has confirmed there will be no rises in ticket prices before January 1.

In 2023, the Andrews government signed a $1.7 billion contract for Conduent to take over as myki operator from NTT Data for the next 15 years and finally allow tap-and-go ticketing on bank cards and smartphones.

At the time, then-public transport minister Ben Carroll said tap-and-go technology would be rolled out more broadly in 2025.

A report by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office earlier this year found that tap-and-go payments for concession passengers on trains, buses and trams, and rollout of the system to all regional areas, would not happen until mid-2027.

The report found that the Department of Planning and Transport had accepted an unrealistic timeline from US-based firm Conduent for the rollout of the new system before the program suffered a $136.8 million blowout and an 18-month delay.

The myki ticketing system has been plagued with controversy since it was announced as a replacement to paper Metcards in 2004 by then-premier Steve Bracks, who promised it would be up and running by 2007.