Train commuters in Brisbane may soon have the option to ditch their Go Cards, with a new smart ticketing system being trialled in the north-western suburbs.
From Monday, passengers on the Ferny Grove train line will be able to use their credit and debit cards to pay for transport, including smart devices with card payment apps.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the trial was part of a four-year program to unite 18 different payment systems across Queensland.
"What we know from other systems where this has been implemented is you're able to, as a provider, give more services with the number of trains and drivers that you have because the boarding is so much quicker," he said.
"So investment in technology is an investment in the increases of frequency over time, and a better public transport system."
The new payment system, which was introduced on the Gold Coast light rail network in 2020, is similar to the ones used in Sydney and London.
Mr Bailey said the rollout is taking time because of the "epic" scale of the program.
"But we're progressing very well and we're now quite advanced," he said.
"People have adopted it in large numbers and they're finding it really easy."
Mr Bailey said regional commuters "loved" smart ticketing because they could travel to metropolitan areas without having to change payment systems.
The next phase of the rollout will involve extending it to south-east Queensland buses, which will require 13,500 installations.
Once all public transport networks have been integrated, Mr Bailey said Queensland will be the largest geographic area in the world to have the one payment system.
