Australia’s long-awaited smartcard program for train payments has finally been finished
After controversy over an expensive smartcard ticketing system for public transportation, authorities in Melbourne, Australia have extended the program to include all forms of transit in the city.
The smartcard project has cost more than $1.1 billion and has been criticized for lacking payment functions for trains, as they were previously limited only to bus travel payments. Government officials have considered the full implementation of the smartcard program a top priority.
"We have been absolutely focused on getting this right in steps. We have got a big, important step starting on Sunday [when the smartcards are handed out]," Public Transport Minister Martin Pakula said.
The government is rolling out the plastic cards by installing card-vending machines within the city’s train stations. The development of the overall card program was behind schedule and over-budget because of problems with the supplier.
The Australian government’s plastic card vendor issues highlight a need for a secure provider of smartcard technology. While smartcard solutions are often sought to consolidate payment methods and cut costs for public transportation systems by eliminating unnecessary receipts and paper tickets, ensuring an adequate plastic card supplier will stay within budget and time restraints is essential to operating a successful smartcard program.
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