I travelled to Wangaratta for a glimpse of our myki-free future [Video]

Myki was three years late and $350 million over budget when it was rolled out in 2009 to replace paper Metcards. Even then, it was plagued by technical issues. Former transport minister Lynne Kosky was famously caught on camera failing to use a malfunctioning myki ticket machine.

Myki’s reputation never recovered.

So perhaps it’s unsurprising this trial was launched without fanfare or even a press release in Victoria’s north-east, just an hour from the NSW border.

But that’s not far enough to escape this reporter’s scrutiny. Last week, I left Melbourne’s archaic ticketing system behind and headed north, to the future.

The 7.07am V/Line from Southern Cross departs on time. Three hours later, I’m on Ford Street on the edge of Wangaratta’s sleepy CBD.

I step onto the 403 bus and hover my debit card over the new ticket validation machine.

It responds with an affirmative beep-beep, and I settle …