Adelaide Metro moves to cashless system from Monday to stop coronavirus spread

Trains, trams and buses in Adelaide will no longer accept cash from Monday to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Trains, trams and buses will move to a cashless system on Monday.

Adelaide Metro services will move to a cashless system on Monday as part of the fight against the spread of coronavirus.

All customers boarding a train, tram or bus will be required to use a metroCARD when boarding public transport.

Commuters will still be able to use cash to buy tickets at vending machines.

Extra vending and recharge machines that accept cash and credit cards will be rolled out at interchanges, including those along the O-Bahn.

Extra cleaning teams, known as “strike crews” have also been contracted to perform regular “turnaround cleans” on trains and trams between services.

They will pay particular attention to hard surfaces and common touch point, such as buttons.

This service is in addition to the ramped up cleaning regime announced by the State Government earlier this month in which public transport would undergo a daily deep clean.

Signs advising people not to board public transport if they are unwell will also be rolled out across trains, trams and buses.

Public transport patronage has decreased by about 70 per cent since the coronavirus crisis started.

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said the new measures were “another part of our plan to protect South Australians, tackle the impacts and slow the spread of the coronavirus”.

“More than 92 per cent of Adelaide Metro customers already use metroCARDs and this transition will ensure any risks from cash handling are eliminated,” he said.

“This change is in line with recent moves to cashless public transport systems in other states and overseas, including Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland and Wellington.”