Photo: File
Stefan Bradley
THE state government has confirmed that under the new contract for myki, the smart ticketing system will be expanded to regional Victoria in areas it currently does not serve, leaving the sliding doors open for train stations such as Sale and Bairnsdale to finally ditch paper tickets.
The state government told the Gippsland Times that under the new contract, the myki smart ticketing will be gradually expanded to trains, buses and coaches in regional Victoria – including areas currently not serviced by myki – and integrate it with the V/Net seat booking system. However, the government didn’t specify whether the entire V/Line system would be moved onto myki, or which regional stations that myki would be expanded to.
The new contract for Victoria’s Public Transport and Ticketing system will commence in December 2023. Minister for Public Transport, Ben Carroll last week announced American ticketing supplier Conduent Business Services will be the next operator of the state’s public transport ticketing system, under the 15-year contract worth $1.5 billion.
There will not be any immediate changes to the current myki or V/Line ticketing system when the current contract ends.
Customers in non-myki areas will continue to use their existing ticket systems on regional trains, buses and coaches, which are the paper tickets for stations on the Gippsland Line that include Sale, Rosedale, Stratford and Bairnsdale. Stations closer to Melbourne such as Traralgon and Warragul are part of the myki system. V/Line trips to Albury, Shepparton, Echuca, Swan Hill, Ararat, Maryborough and Warrnambool also require a paper ticket.
It’s understood the government won’t rush to switch on the new system and features until they are tested and ready to go, so that customers will have a seamless experience. They will also provide customer support and communications once they are ready to make the transition.
The current contract holder, NTT Data, has run the myki system since 2007.