Departmental staff will conduct the two-month internal trial, beginning on Friday, using two different apps, both of which would allow passengers to buy tickets any time and anywhere before getting onto a bus, tram or train.

Under the system, passengers would simply need to “tap” their smartphone on boarding to validate their virtual ticket.

The Government says it will consider introducing the technology across the Adelaide Metro network – alongside the current ticket systems – if the trial results are positive and if a survey, also being launched this week, shows sufficient demand.

The survey will be online until the end of the trial on December 4.

Transport department staff will be trialling two apps – a Masabi ticketing platform called “JustRide” which allows passengers to buy and store tickets in a virtual “wallet” where they can be used even when offline; and Xerox Seamless, which allows fare collection through an app on an NFC-enabled smartphone (basically, the same technology that allows contactless payments using a credit card). Under the Xerox option, passengers would have access to a monthly, invoice, post-payment service.

The Government says most smartphones will be able to support mobile tickets and, depending on the eventual solution, the existing validation machines on-board public transport could be used.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said South Australia could become the first Australian state to offer mobile device ticketing, which is already operating in major international cities such as Chicago, New York and London (see video below).

Mullighan said mobile ticketing would allow people to “avoid having to scramble for change or having to purchase a ticket”.

“While Metrocard will continue to be the ticket of choice for many South Australians, contactless payment would provide another option that would make it easier and more convenient for customers to pay for a ticket,” he said.

The system could also ease concerns about losing tickets and reduce ticket fraud.

“If the trial is successful and the survey shows adequate demand for smartphone ticketing, consideration will be given to introducing the technology across the Adelaide Metro network in addition to the current ticketing system.”

The trial will happen on the Hills T840X express route, selected trams and range of SouthLink express routes.

Surveys will also be targeted to routes that have a high use of paper tickets.