Brisbane commuters to be able to use bank cards on public transport from next week

There will be smart ticketing on bus and metro vehicles in Brisbane from next week, allowing commuters to tap on with their credit or debit card, or smart phone.

Until now, Go Cards have been the only way to tap onto these services, with bus drivers undergoing training for the new trial system rolled out by Queensland public transport agency Translink.

"Smart Ticketing enables you to pay for travel on public transport with contactless Visa, Mastercard and American Express debit or credit cards using your card or any smart device you have linked to your card (such as your smartphone or smart watch)," says Translink's website.

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Translink charges a flat fare rate of 50 cents per journey, regardless of how you choose to pay, the mode of transport, or the journey.

A training handout issued to impacted bus drivers stated that the trial was set to start on all buses operated by Brisbane City Council on March 24, warning drivers to look out for 'card clashes' which may result in multiple fare charges, according to Sydney Morning Herald reporting.

"If a customer taps on or off with their wallet/purse, phone case, or plastic case containing multiple cards, ask them to remove the card they want to pay with before tapping," says the SMH-quoted training handout.

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The smart ticketing trial has faced ongoing setbacks, with the former Queensland government initially stating a 2022 finish date for the rollout on Brisbane Translink services.

The Queensland government initially pledged $371 million to the smart ticketing trial, before announcing early this year its budget had blown out by an additional $60 million.

Smart ticketing was first introduced to Queensland in 2020 on select Gold Coast Light Rail Network stations, becoming available on all Gold Coast public transport services earlier this month.

The system is also available on Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay, and Redland buses, trains and ferries, as well as Brisbane River ferries and CityCats.