Victoria will be one of the first public transport networks in the world to trial mobile ticketing technology across multiple transport modes on the entire network, without the need for new infrastructure or equipment to be built.
Mobile myki will use a custom-built smartphone app and near field communication technology to integrate with existing myki ticket barriers and card readers across Victoria’s trains, trams and buses throughout the myki zone.
This new technology will allow passengers to top up on the go, check the balance of their myki at any time, avoid queues for ticketing machines and reduce the chance of forgetting or losing a physical card.
The trial will commence in the coming months, through a limited, industry-based test group of users on Android devices before extending to a wider, public test group later in the year.
Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, said, “We’re trialling this new technology as part of our ongoing work to make public transport easy and accessible for more Victorians.”
“Over the next year we will watch how the trial goes, and make sure we get the technology right before making it available for all Victorians.
“It’s all part of our investment to build a modern public transport system that gets Victorians home safer and sooner.”
Discussions will continue during the trial to explore other smartphone users accessing Mobile Myki.
It is expected the full trial period will run until early 2019 before a decision is made about making mobile myki available for all passengers in the new year.
The existing physical myki card will continue to remain in use during and after the trial.
Passengers using mobile myki will be able to top up with myki money or a myki pass as they do currently.