Victorians will be able to tap on and off public transport using bank cards, smartphones or wearable devices under a bank-backed overhaul to offer contactless payments.
The state’s Department of Transport and Planning has appointed the Commonwealth Bank as a merchant acquirer for the roll-out of its next-generation ticketing system, the bank said in a statement on Friday.
“With the Victorian government’s announcement of planned improvements to the myki system, Victorians, international and interstate visitors alike, will enjoy the simple, frictionless experience that contactless payments provide public transport users,” Commonwealth Bank executive Andrew Hinchliff said.
“We are excited to work with the Department of Transport and Planning to bring contactless payments to the state.”
The public transport ticketing improvements will be progressively rolled out, and myki users would still be able to use their myki cards and top them up, the bank said.
V/Line is also set to be included in the contactless ticketing scheme.
“Importantly, as improvements are progressively added, the system will help make travel across Victoria more seamless,” CBA said.
“Regional V/line commuters, concession holders, as well as international and interstate visitors will be able to choose contactless credit and debit card payment options, in line with their experience using transport networks in other global cities.”
Conduant was in May announced as the winning bidder for Victoria’s next public transport ticketing contract, beating out myki’s Japanese operator NTT Data and fellow US outfit Cubic.
The US public transport ticketing specialist was set to take the reins on upgrading the trouble-plagued myki system to take credit and debit cards, all smartphones and smartwatches.
Trials of the “cloud-based” system were slated to begin in 2024, with the new technology to be rolled out more broadly the following year.
CBA was appointed to the Victorian government’s banking panel in 2021.
Source: AAP
