Wagga Wagga passengers can now board the bus with a simple tap, thanks to the rollout of the state government’s Contactless Ticketing Program. Photo: Erin Hee.
Wagga Wagga will be the latest community in regional NSW to benefit from the State Government’s new Contactless Ticketing Program, following successful trials in Bathurst and Dubbo.
The program is being rolled out on fare-paying buses across the bush, which will see 20 local buses fitted with tap-and-go payment technology.
Up until now, passengers were limited to paying with cash, except in a few locations where operators independently introduced contactless payment systems. The new program will provide passengers with the option to pay using their smartphone, smartwatch, debit or credit card.
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said the program would “connect everyone across the region”.
“If we compare it to other states where they use a particular card, [like Myki] if you don’t have that card, you can’t travel on the bus,” Ms Aitchison said.
“This is really taking it to more accessibility and that’s a really great outcome there.
“Contactless payment technology is becoming increasingly popular with the community for a range of transactions, but until now the option of tap-and-go payments on buses has mostly been confined to Greater Sydney.”
The government has upgraded existing systems to a new, purpose-built solution tailored for rural and regional networks in partnership with local operator Busabout Wagga.
The Minister said cash would still be accepted on buses and there were no plans to phase that out.
“This is really around providing that flexibility, and we’ve still got the majority of people choosing to take cash,” Ms Aitchison said.
“It’s just because we know that there are people who do not carry cash anymore and that’s becoming a kind of form of transport disadvantage.
“If you don’t have to carry cash, it’s also safer for the drivers [because] they’re not handling big amounts of cash.”
Not having to carry large amounts of cash will also be safer for bus drivers like Maki Helmboldt. Photo: Erin Hee.
The program will not apply to dedicated school services, where students typically use pre-paid passes, or NSW TrainLink long-distance coaches, which require pre-booked tickets.
“We’re hoping that it’ll increase public transport. When people realise they don’t need to have coins or cash in their wallet in order to catch the bus, they can just tap and go,” Ms Aitchison said.
“Having the one contactless payment system across the state’s entire regional and rural bus network, with 35 operators has a lot of complexities, which is why this solution tailored specifically for regional and rural NSW is a such a win.”
Busabout Wagga director Joe Calabro described the contactless payment system as a step forward.
“Contactless ticketing is a welcome step forward that makes daily travel easier and more reliable for everyone,” Mr Calabro said.
“Busabout is proud to be at the forefront of this initiative and to play our part in delivering safer, more efficient, and more reliable transport options for the Wagga community.”
Contactless payment readers were installed on 20 buses in Wagga Wagga in July, with Transport for NSW now finalising the rollout schedule for other regional areas.
The full Contactless Ticketing Program expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
