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Myki Delays: Tap-and-Go Tech Out Until 2027
18 Mar
Summary
- Myki cards are required until 2027 due to tap-and-go tech delays.
- Contract dispute with firm Conduent added $136.8m to project cost.
- Full tap-and-go rollout now targets mid-2028 for all passengers.
Victorian public transport users will continue to rely on Myki cards until 2027, with the full implementation of tap-and-go payment technology experiencing substantial delays. A report from the Victorian Auditor-General's Office (Vago) highlights a dispute between the state's transport department and the US-based firm Conduent as the primary cause for an 18-month setback.
This delay has also escalated the project's cost by $136.8 million. Vago's findings indicate that the transport department was aware of Conduent's overly optimistic delivery schedule before signing the $1.7 billion contract but proceeded without addressing these concerns, contributing to the current disputes.
Complicating matters further were issues regarding the handover of source code for the existing Myki system, which Conduent needed for integration. The revised timeline now aims for full tap-and-go payments for concession passengers and regional areas by mid-2027, with the entire system expected to be operational by mid-2028.
Additional challenges persist, including a paused secondary contract crucial for enabling concession fares with tap-and-go. The transport department secretary cited policy changes, such as the introduction of free travel for under-18s, as reasons for this pause, which directly impacts Phase 3 timelines.
