Mobile myki system switched on from next week for some users

Melbourne’s commuters can ditch their myki cards from next week and pay for trips using their smartphones. But it won’t be on the cards for everyone, here’s who will miss out.

Commuters will be able to throw out their myki cards and pay for public transport trips using their smartphones from Thursday.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal commuters with Google-powered Android phones will be able to touch on and touch off using the new “mobile myki” system after a successful trial.

HI-TECH TRIAL TO TRANSFORM MYKI

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The government is also continuing to negotiate with Apple and hopes to strike a deal soon that will allow iPhone users to ditch their physical myki cards as well.

To make the switch from 7am on Thursday, commuters will need to pay $10 to register a mobile myki on Google Pay.

The $10 will be turned into credit to cover the cost of train, tram and bus trips, with mobile myki allowing passengers to select from full price, concession, child or senior myki fares.

The app will also display recent travel history and enable commuters to top up their myki on the go within seconds.

“Mobile myki will make topping up and touching on quicker and travelling easier,” Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne said.

Android users will be able to top up their mobile myki on their smartphone instead of using machines at stations. Picture: Mark Dadswell

“It’s the next step in building a smarter, more reliable public transport network and is on top of our record investment in major transport projects — to deliver more services, more often, right across the state.”

The Sunday Herald Sun revealed earlier this year that 4000 Android users would be given the chance to trial the technology after extensive testing since July last year.

The trial found most commuters would be “highly likely” to recommend mobile myki to others. Participants delivered an 80 out of 100 verdict for their overall satisfaction.

In 2016, ticketing provider NTT Data struck a new $700 million, seven-year deal with the Andrews Government to continue running the problem-plagued myki system.

The deal included a requirement to implement new technology to give commuters an alternative to physical myki cards — although they will remain in use.

The government did not need to upgrade myki gates and readers at railway stations and on trams and buses to switch on the new mobile myki system.

It is understood authorities are also open to seeing if the myki system can be overhauled to allow commuters to touch on and touch off directly with their credit cards, but this is considered to be a longer-term proposition.

Ms Horne said mobile myki was part of the government’s commitment to improving the state’s public transport system and getting “Victorians home safer and sooner”.

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