Perth finally gets access to a modern transport payment system, but landlubbers will have to wait

3 days ago 5

Members of the public will finally be able to use Transperth’s updated contactless payment system from next week, more than four years after it was first budgeted for – but there is a catch.

The Public Transport Authority is launching a four-week trial of the system from the end of September, which will allow contactless credit card payments for 50 users on the Elizabeth Quay to South Perth ferry route.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti with new Transperth ticket machines in 2023.

After that trial, it will be opened up to 150 users of the bus and train network, while the rest of the city will have to wait until the end of the year to use the $68 million system, which has blown out from the $58 million budgeted in 2021.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti put the call-out for commuters to put their hands up for the trial.

“Passengers taking part in this trial will play a key role in testing the readiness of new
contactless payment methods across our transport network before they are made available to
the wider community by the end of the year,” she said.

The project has been beset with delays and cost blowouts, with Saffioti blaming external events like COVID-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine for impacting staffing in the development of the software, which is similar to the Opal system used in London.

“I know COVID Feels like a long time ago, but COVID and some of the issues that happened through Russia and Ukraine, all those issues impacted some of the supply chains and some of the software engineering that’s behind these systems,” she said.

Saffioti flagged that the card system may totally replace the long-serving SmartRider system for non-concession holders.

Currently, regular SmartRider holders get a 20 per cent discount on fares when they opt to auto-load cash onto their accounts.

Saffioti was questioned about who would absorb credit card surcharge costs and whether the system would be totally cashless, but said no decisions had been made yet.

“This is something we’ll factor in once we conclude these trials, and we’ll make all those announcements before the full rollout,” she said.

“As we progress, we’ll see what happens with a SmartRider over the longer term, but currently, they’ll continue to be here.”

Opposition transport spokesman Steve Martin lashed the time and cost blowouts of the project.

“Just another example of Labor’s inability to manage the delivery of infrastructure on time and on budget,” he said.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.