On the right track: More smart ticketing for SEQ

Club Head of Public Policy Rebecca Michael said the 10 new ticketing sites, including at Albion and Northgate, would undergo testing to eventually allow travellers to pay using smart watches, smart phones, Mastercard or AMEX for public transport.

“With trials starting on Gold Coast trams last month, it’s exciting to see Translink taking the next step to expand this ticketing system across another area of south east Queensland’s public transport network,” Dr Michael said.

“Commuters will soon be able to travel without a Go-Card or paper ticket, paying the same way they do in shops and restaurants, bringing Queensland up to date with many other global cities.

“It will be especially helpful for our interstate visitors, who often get caught without a Go-Card or pre-paid ticket handy.”

Dr Michael said once rolled out, the technology would help encourage more Queenslanders back onto public transport.

“We’ve seen people’s confidence in catching buses, trains and trams drop since COVID-19, so now more than ever we need to be making public transport seamless and accessible to get commuters back on board,” she said.

"It's still in the early testing phase but we expect the rollout of these machines to continue across Queensland before the contactless payment system opens on all Translink and Q-Connect public transport services next year.

“Gold Coast’s G:Link is the only network in Queensland offering the new scheme to commuters at the moment, so we’re reminding those using it to only tap on and off with the same payment method.”

Queensland Rail stations with new ticket validators:

• Albion
• Beerwah
• Eumundi
• Glasshouse Mountains
• Gympie North
• Murrumba Downs
• Northgate
• Petrie
• Strathpine
• Woombye