Qld’s smart ticket system overdue and overblown

Queensland’s overhaul of its transport ticketing system faces continued delays and a ballooning budget.

Originally set to kick in across South East Queensland’s Translink network by 2023, the smart system – which introduces new contactless payment methods and upgrades existing ticketing equipment – won’t be fully operational until the end of 2027.

As well, the initial budget of $371 million has blown out by $60 million to hit $433.75 million – a set of circumstances the Crisafulli LNP government is keen to blame on the previous Labor government’s “mismanagement of the project rollout”.

Translink has said the delays facing the smart ticketing project are, in part, due to the Covid pandemic disrupting international supply chains.

Smart ticketing – enabling passengers to tap on and off public transport using a credit card, debit card, smart phone, or smart watch – is now available on all South East Queensland trains, Brisbane River and Southern Moreton ferries, Gold Coast tram services, and nine bus operators across the region.

However, Queenslanders unable or unwilling to use smart methods to access the Translink network will need to keep tapping their Go-Card until a replacement reloadable card is available, meaning the two systems will coexist until project’s end. This is “to ensure everyone who wants to use public transport can, no matter how they choose to tap on”, Minister for Transport Brent Mickelberg said.

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