^^New readers this year and contactless payments from 2026.
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^ Finally! Good move … 
Weird that the new system is omitting AMEX. I imagine the contract only stipulated support for Visa and MasterCard but it’s still a massive omission.
That would make only Greater Sydney and SEQ the areas with support for the big three card protocols.
Amex isn’t a major card brand in Australia (< 10% of issued credit cards, and even fewer when you factor in debit cards). I’ve literally never met anyone who has an Amex and no other card. I don’t see it as a major impediment.
It is an impediment for tourists who are more likely to be using credit cards to pay relative to the respective population size.
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They can add other cards as the system progresses as like Syd when they just had Master Visa and Amex but now they accept Union pay…
Yes, there are significant amount of tourists that use AMEX. That’s why we accept it as too Syd. I am sure Vic will consider accepting it as well.
I would have though the bigger issue for Victoria was the fact myki has been available in virtual form for ages now but only using Android until recently. I think you can use Apple Pay but only if you also have the PTV app. I’m not an IOS user so can just load a virtual myki using a Google Wallet with no further complications. I was down there over the last few days and had no issue using any of the existing readers (including the older ones still on some buses).
Hopefully this is resolved and we don’t end up with the dopey position where you can’t use Apple Pay freely.
As of right now you can only top up your physical myki card with Apple Pay on the PTV app. Mobile myki is still Android only which is genuinely strange.
Well, this is rather awkward…
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.
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2 min read
April 30, 2025 - 12:00PM
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 set 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.
From January 1: Free public transport for seniors on weekends. Anywhere in Victoria.
https://x.com/JacintaAllanMP/status/1923546374467092648
"Victorian children will be able to travel free on public transport under a new state government pledge estimated to save families up to $755 per child each year.
The cost-of-living relief to be funded in Tuesday’s state budget will apply to all Victorians under 18 and is expected to become a permanent feature of the state’s transport system. It will take effect from January 1 next year."
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Victoria announces free public transport for under 18s, as state’s debt projected to rise
"Every Victorian child will get free public transport from 1 January next year, the state government has pledged.
A new youth myki, valid across the state, will save families up to $755 a year (the cost of a yearly student pass) under the scheme. Anyone under 18 in non-Myki areas will also be eligible to travel free.
The benefit will apply to all forms of public transport including trams, trains, buses and coach services. …"
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The fare evasion with that cohort must be out of control to implement that measure. Having such dependency on government right up to 18 doesn’t really set a person up for early adulthood either.