Contactless travel is coming our way

option to “tap and go’.’

Customers will be able to use a cash card or mobile phone to buy a ticket, which First West Yorkshire says will speed up boarding times and, in the long term, journey times.

The move follows a report by the British Retail Consortium that more than half of purchases are now made by card, adding that debit cards have overtaken cash.

Bus users will be able to use the contactless system to pay for travel up to the value of £30.

First West Yorkshire managing director Paul Matthews said the use of mobile ticketing – or mTickets – was exceeding expectations and continues to grow daily.

He added: “I fully expect customers to welcome and grasp contactless bus travel with the same enthusiasm.”

One of the biggest operators in the region employing 2,000 staff, FirstGroup has depots in Huddersfield, Halifax, Todmorden, Bradford, Bramley and Hunslet.