A "next generation" ticketing option for buses, trains and ferries has been in the works since the Newman government but the move towards it had been slower than expected.

The Palaszczuk government eventually called for expressions of interest in September 2015.

On Tuesday, Translink director-general Matt Longlands said the tender process was almost complete.

"The tender process is very close and hopefully we'll see some announcements on that very soon," he told ABC Radio Brisbane.

"I would hope in coming weeks."

Many options had been floated for the new system, with credit card and mobile contactless payments chief among them.

Mr Longlands said he could not reveal much about the three international businesses competing for the contract but he shed light on what was coming.

"The solution will be what's called an account-based solution," he said.

"So we'll have things like phones, watches, smart devices, tap and go ??? those things will be built into the new system.

"So you may be able to use a normal Go Card but also a number of other ways of connecting and paying for your trip."

About 90 per cent of passengers now use the payment card, introduced in 2008, up from about 82 per cent two years ago.

"We want to make sure that when we put the new solution in place that we can manage that transition very carefully so we can make sure that we're not left with a gap in between one system finishing and the new system starting," Mr Longland told the radio station.