Victorians might soon be able to ditch their myki cards and tap onto public transport using their smartphones, as 1,000 people prepare to trial a new mobile ticketing system for trains, trams and buses.
The system will be tested by a select group of transport industry workers, who will use Android phones during the first stage of the trial from July.
If successful, it could be rolled out to the public later in the year.
The system will require passengers to tap both on and off with their phones when using public transport by using a custom-built smartphone app.
Passengers using mobile myki will be able to top up with myki money or a myki pass as usual.
They will also be able check their myki balance at any time to help cut queues at ticket machines.
"We're trialling this new technology as part of our ongoing work to make public transport easy and accessible for more Victorians," said the Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan.
"Over the next year, we will watch how the trial goes, and make sure we get the technology right before making it available for all Victorians.
No new infrastructure or equipment will be needed to cater for the mobile ticketing system because the technology will integrate with existing myki ticket barriers and card readers throughout the myki zone.
The Government will determine if mobile myki will be made available in the new year based on the outcome of the trial.
The normal myki card will continue to be used during and after the trial.
