Myki readers installed, just to be ripped out before they’re ever used

The Allan government has been forced into an embarrassing planning backflip that will see dozens of myki readers ripped out of new train stations before ever being used once by commuters.

Myki readers are soon to being replaced across to allow for contactless travel — but it means a planning backflip for Metro Tunnel stations. Picture: David Crosling

Dozens of myki readers installed at new Metro Tunnel stations will never get used by commuters before being ripped out and replaced with new technology.

The Allan government was forced into the embarrassing backflip after committing to launch new contactless technology for touch-on with bank cards, phone and smart watches by early next year.

It means 20,000 myki readers are soon to be replaced across the public transport network by that deadline — but that includes those that have never been used at recently finished stations built as part of the $15bn Metro Tunnel project.

The Allan government had ploughed ahead with fitting outdated myki readers at Metro Tunnel stations — which cannot be used for contactless tap-and-go — as revealed by this masthead in February.

This was despite thousands of new readers for contactless go having been ordered, which could have been proactively fitted to the stations.

Readers at Metro Tunnel stations will need to be replaced before opening by the end of the year. Picture: David Crosling

The government said the current-generation readers had been procured in 2022 and fitted so the grand opening of the new rail link would not be delayed by the rollout of contactless technology. It meant one of the stations, Arden, could be commissioned and completed in January 2024.

That was before public transport minister Gabrielle Williams promised tap-and-go would be available early next year.

The backflip means metro operatives will need to return to the new Metro Tunnel stations and replace all the current readers — before they are ever used once by commuters.

The Department of Transport refused to specify how much purchasing and installing old readers at Metro Tunnel stations cost, but said the price was included in the $1.7bn myki upgrade project contract with Conduent.

Justifying the reinstallation of readers, Ms Williams said: “This is a complex project that crosses every mode of public transportand requires software development, device replacement and extensive testing across the state.”

“Some of the Metro Tunnel stations have been completed for more than a year — current-generation myki readers were installed at Metro Tunnel stations to ensure trial operations can take place and stations are ready for opening this year,” she said.

Minister for public transport Gabrielle Williams said installing current-generation readers meant they could be completed earlier. Picture: Diego Fedele

Shadow minister for public transport Matthew Guy said the latest planning oversight raised concerns over other state government projects.

“Labor offers a special level of incompetence to pay for replacement ticket machines before they’ve even been used,” Mr Guy said.

“If the state government can’t get ticket machines right, no wonder Victorians are sceptical they will deliver a $50bn Suburban Rail Loop without any blowouts.”

The government will need to rapidly install 20,000 new readers across the network by early next year to meet Ms Williams’ deadline.

But currently, only 35 new readers are being installed at select train stations for testing purposes.

“We’ve begun installing a small number of new myki readers for testing across the metropolitan train network, this is a crucial first step in enabling contactless payments in early 2026,” a Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said.

“The readers have been through extensive technical and user testing and will be progressively rolled out across the myki network. Passengers should continue to use their myki while the rollout takes place.”

Readers across the network will be replaced in the coming months to allow for contactless tap-and-go. Picture: David Crosling

The first trial of the technology on local buses in Wangaratta is still underway.

The newer readers will operate like current-generation readers during the rollout and only accept myki cards. Once all readers are replaced, the technology that accepts bank cards, phones and smart watches will be switched on.

The first phase of the upgrade to the myki system will only accommodate for full-fare commuters, meaning concession card holders will still be stuck with their $6 plastic myki cards until the next phase is launched.

Project timelines obtained by the Herald Sun earlier this year revealed that account-based ticketing – which will allow commuters to link their bank cards, phones, watches and mykis so they can tap on and off with different devices – may not be available until late 2027.

Originally published as Myki readers installed, just to be ripped out before they’re ever used