The Western Australian Government is investing $33.8 million to modernise TransPerth’s cashless ticketing system as part of the 2017-18 State Budget.
A new ticketing system will be introduced to upgrade the current SmartRider service to cater for future patronage growth expected as part of METRONET and to accommodate advances in technology.
All SmartRider readers across the network will be replaced during the system overhaul, as well as upgrading back-end technology.
Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti, said the upgrade will improve security and provide a more user-friendly system.
“The existing SmartRider system has served the public of Western Australia very well but, as with all technology, there comes a time when both infrastructure and networks need to be upgraded and replaced,” Ms Saffioti said.
“This Government is doing what it can to make the SmartRider system more reliable and up to date as part of our commitment to delivering public transport in this state.”
More sophisticated card encryption technologies will be developed, while flexible payment options such as smartphone or debit or credit card tag-on capabilities are being investigated.
The contactless card and mobile phone pay-as-you-go system could be similar to the system that has been successfully implemented by Transport for London.
The upgraded system is expected to be ready by 2021 – in time for the completion of the METRONET rail extension to Yanchep and Thornlie to Cockburn line.
