By Salem Hartley in collaboration with Callum Skoien 

Go Card has been the most useful and easily recognisable ticketing system since 2008. Tapping on and off public transport has become almost second nature when travelling South East Queensland.

But new scanners have been popping up on public transport. Is this a sign of public transport innovating after 16 years of stagnancy?  

The TransLink Card will soon be the shiny new replacement to the Go Card, but why does it need to change? 

Why are they changing the system? 

Smart technology has been on the rise since 2007 with the first iPhone, introducing innovative ways to pay with digital wallets. Now we can pay with our phones, so it makes sense that more people want their Go Cards to be more accessible. 

Go Cards were not equipped for the new world, so the ‘TransLink Card’ will be introduced as the more tech savvy descendant that’s capable of being loaded onto our digital wallets.

After a long wait of testing, TransLink’s new Smart Ticketing system is available on Brisbane ferries. This means you can now use your debit/credit card or digital wallet to pay for a trip across the river.

How will this be implemented going forward? 

At this point in time, Smart Ticketing using your debit or credit card is only available for adult fares on Brisbane City Ferries. So, it is suggested that concession card holders, seniors and children continue to use go cards. 

There has not been a timeline set for when Smart Ticketing and TransLink Cards will be available SEQ wide.  

” If you travel on a concession fare, or transfer to a bus or Southern Moreton Bay Island ferries please continue to use your go card or purchase a paper ticket as usual.” – TransLink April 2024 

When the change does happen, customers of Go Cards will have to request a refund of their Go Card balance and will be able to top up the TransLink Card similar to a Go Card online. 

Public Opinion 

Smart ticketing has been trialled since 2020 on trams exclusively.  

Users on Facebook commented their frustrations with the new system including being charged incorrectly. Some users expressed that they are not comfortable with the security of using their phones to pay. 

How much will this change my day?

The TransLink Card will function just like Go Card, but it will allow users to have a digital version on their phones in addition to the physical card.  

So far, this will not result in a change of fares apart from the annual increase that is already expected every January.  

If you are planning on catching the CityCats this week, let us know how it went and what suggestions you have for the future of getting around Brisbane in the comment section below

To read more about Smart Ticketing, click the link below.

More about Smart Ticketing | Translink