Tap and go solution for regional buses

The NSW Government is delivering better public transport by ensuring tap and go payment options are made available for the first time on more than 400 town bus services throughout regional NSW.

After successful trials in Bathurst and Dubbo, a new Contactless Ticketing Program will be rolled out to more than 400 fare-paying bus services in rural and regional communities.

This technology means most passengers will now be able to use their smart phone, watch or debit/credit card to pay for their fares.

Until now, people who catch buses around towns in rural and regional NSW have been forced to pay with cash, except for in a few locations where bus operators have independently introduced their own form of contactless payment technology.

The new regional Contactless Ticketing Program now makes the option of contactless payment technology available to bus operators statewide, bringing the regions in line with metropolitan areas where passengers have been able to pay without cash for years.

Wagga Wagga will be the first community to benefit from the Contactless Ticketing Program with 21 local buses next due to be fitted out with the tap and go payment technology in coming months.

Transport for NSW is finalising details of the further stages of the roll out and will announce the first communities to receive the new technology in coming months, with the program expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

Passengers will still be able to pay with cash on buses when the new technology is rolled out.

The Contactless Ticketing Program does not include dedicated school services where students mostly already use pre-paid bus passes or NSW TrainLink long distance coach services where tickets are pre-paid.

Read the full media release here (PDF, 116.2 KB)