Paying for trains and buses with mobile phones and credit cards in a system being used in London and trialled in New York is set to be rolled out in regional Queensland later this year.

Key points: Queensland is set to move beyond Go Cards for transport ticketing, via a system already in use overseas

Queensland is set to move beyond Go Cards for transport ticketing, via a system already in use overseas The system is being used in London and is currently being trialled on the New York subway

The system is being used in London and is currently being trialled on the New York subway It will be the first time Queensland has the same public transport ticketing system statewide

It will take Queensland one step beyond the Go Card system, although fans of the current tap-and-go system will be able to stick with it if they choose.

The new system allows train, bus and ferry rides to be paid for with the swipe of a credit or debit card, smartphone wallet or smartwatch, and has been implemented by transport giant Cubic in London, Vancouver, Chicago and Sydney.

Three weeks ago, Cubic president Matt Cole launched a pilot in New York, the largest mass transit system in the United States, where the $US573 million ($837 million) system has been dubbed OMNY (One Metro New York).

"There's common DNA in these systems and so New York is the launch of many of our new range of products, many of which will go into the Queensland Go Card upgrade, which we are also working on with TransLink," Mr Cole said.

The project in Queensland comes with a $371 million price tag, but unlike systems interstate and overseas, it will take in regional cities including Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and the Gold Coast.

"You should expect to see something of a pilot in the regional areas maybe toward the end of the year and something in south-east Queensland around this time next year," Mr Cole said.

The Cubic ticket system is on trial on the New York subway system. ( www.cubic.com )

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said it required the adjustment of 13,000 pieces of equipment but would be the first time Queensland had the same ticketing system across the state's public transport network.

Ticketless travel in Queensland: 2003 — Cubic wins contract to implement Go Card

— Cubic wins contract to implement Go Card 2006 — Pilot of Go Card on Hornibrook Bus Lines

— Pilot of Go Card on Hornibrook Bus Lines 2008 — Go Card launches across South East Queensland

— Go Card launches across South East Queensland 2015 — Cubic signs an extension to operate Go Card until September 2019

— Cubic signs an extension to operate Go Card until September 2019 2018 — Cubic wins $371m contract to supply next generation contactless payment system

— Cubic wins $371m contract to supply next generation contactless payment system 2019 — pilot of new system scheduled to begin in regional areas

— pilot of new system scheduled to begin in regional areas 2021-22 — planned launch for state-wide network

"We will trial it on different modes and in different areas first so that we test it and we make sure any glitches get ironed out and then it will be progressively rolled out until we are looking at a launch date for the whole state in 2021-22," Mr Bailey said.

A Go Card lets you travel on all TransLink bus, train, ferry and tram services across the greater Brisbane, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast regions.

"Our intention is to keep the Go Card and paper tickets and make it a voluntary thing," Mr Bailey said.

"But what we find in cities around the world who have done this, is people quickly see the advantages of it and a lot of people move on.

"But if the Go Card suits you or paper tickets suits you that's OK. We have no plans to take them out."