Nottingham Post

Now Short Hop trips are just one tap away in city

£1.50 FARE FOR QUICK JOURNEYS

- By JOSEPH CONNOLLY joseph.connolly@reachplc.com

LONDON Undergroun­d-style contactles­s card payments for “Short Hop” journeys are coming to Nottingham.

Tram operator Nottingham Express Transit (NET) introduced contactles­s validation points at tram stops in 2022.

But Short Hop journeys – which allow travel for £1.50 between stops in close proximity in certain zones – were still only available via ticket machines.

But now travellers will be able to tap contactles­s cards or devices on the machines at the start and end of journeys within Short Hop zones, rather than buying a ticket, and will be automatica­lly charged the £1.50 Short Hop fee.

NET said the move would make travelling “even easier”.

The new system will launch on Tuesday.

There are nine Short Hop zones on NET’S network – in Hucknall, Bulwell, Hyson Green, the city centre, the Queen’s Medical Centre, Wilford, Beeston, Bramcote and Clifton.

They are, in order, between the Hucknall and Moor Bridge stops, between Bulwell Forest or Phoenix Park and Basford, between Wilkinson Street and High School, between NTU and Queen’s Walk or NG2, between Gregory Street and University Boulevard, between Meadows Embankment and Ruddington Lane, between Middle Street and High Road – Central College, between Cator Lane and Toton Lane and between Southchurc­h Drive and Clifton South.

For other journeys, users can still tap their card on at the start of their journey and do not need to tap off at the end. The fee for their full-price single ticket will be charged at the end of the day.

Those who do use the new contactles­s Short Hop feature will need to make sure they tap off at the end. If they forget to, they could be charged the cost of a fullprice single or day ticket.

Andrew Conroy, NET’S chief operating officer, said: “We’re always

looking for ways to improve the service we offer passengers, and the upcoming introducti­on of our ‘Tap On, Tap Off’ Short Hop travel marks a big step towards helping make travel even more convenient for tram users. “Nottingham has so much to do for people of all ages, and now it’s even easier to see all the city has to offer for just £1.50 across our nine Short Hop zones which cover Hucknall, Bulwell, Clifton, Nottingham city centre and more.

“Up until now, short hop travel tickets could only be bought through our ticket machines, however, now all passengers will need is their card or mobile payment device for quick and easy tap and go travel.”

Mr Conroy added: “And, for those who are travelling outside the Short Hop zones, they need only tap on once and the required fee will be deducted from their account at the end of the day as usual.”

Now it’s even easier to see all the city has to offer for just £1.50 across our nine Short Hop zones

Andrew Conroy, NET

 ?? ?? Contactles­s payment points, like this one in Old Market Square, can now be used to tap on and tap off for Short Hop journeys
Contactles­s payment points, like this one in Old Market Square, can now be used to tap on and tap off for Short Hop journeys

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