Decade Delayed: Contactless Payments Finally Hit Melbourne Trains

Contactless, tap-and-go payments are beginning their rollout on select Melbourne train lines from Sunday, June 7. This much-anticipated system, which allows passengers to pay with bank cards, phones, or smartwatches, has been a decade in the making. However, it will not be immediately available on trams or buses, with Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams stating that those services will see the technology later this year. Initially, the contactless system is strictly for full-fare passengers; those with concession fares will continue to need a myki card or a digital equivalent for Android phones. The Auditor-General's Office previously indicated that a concession platform wouldn't be ready until mid-2027. Additionally, the new tap-and-go system only accepts myki money, meaning users of myki weekly, monthly, or annual passes must still use their myki cards. Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen has urged the government to introduce a $28.50 weekly tap-and-go cap to prevent commuters from overspending, especially since the current system charges per fare without such a cap. The state government has committed to half-price public transport until New Year's Day, 2027, with a daily fare cap of $5.70 for full fares.