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Brisbane's smart ticketing allows passengers to use credit cards, debit cards, prepaid Visas and Mastercards, as well as smartphones and smartwatches to tap on and off buses and metro services.
Image: Translink

Everything you need to know about Brisbane’s new smart ticketing system

Brisbane’s public transport system has officially completed its smart ticketing rollout.

The scheme allows passengers to use credit cards, debit cards, prepaid Visas and Mastercards, as well as smartphones and smartwatches to tap on and off buses and metro services.

The introduction of smart ticketing brings more convenience and flexibility to commuters across south-east Queensland. 

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Passengers will no longer be limited to using go cards, but they can still choose to use their existing cards if preferred. 

Translink’s General Manager of Passenger Transport, Anjuna Singh, told commuters that the go card remains an option.

“There will be no extra surcharge for using smart ticketing,” Singh said.

She said the cost would remain the same as a regular go card journey, with a 50-cent charge. 

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However, passengers may see a temporary $0 or 10c hold on their bank statements, which will be removed within a few days.

She also reminded passengers to tap on and off using the same payment method, as using different cards or payment methods would result in a default $2.50 charge.

“If you’re touching on with your Visa credit card, make sure that you touch off with your Visa credit card,” she said. 

While seniors will still benefit from free off-peak travel with a go card, smart ticketing will not offer the same concession on credit or debit cards. 

“The card in your phone or your smart watch has a slightly different number to the physical card that you have, so they do count as two different tokens.”

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