New contactless fare option on the buses
Contactless payments are getting easier for Go North East customers with the introduction of ‘Tap On, Tap Off ’ on some of its bus routes.
The region’s largest bus company launched contactless payments on all its services back in July 2017.
And now there is a new way of paying, which has been introduced to start with on services in the Newcastle area whilst work continues on making “further use of this technology” elsewhere in the region.
All customers need to do when using Tap On, Tap Off is tap their contactless bank cards, or phones with Apple Pay or Google Pay, on the reader when they board, then on the exit reader when they got off the bus.
There is no need to get a ticket or tell the driver where they are going – the clever technology just works out the best fare for the journeys made, be it a one-off trip, multiple journeys over a day or throughout the week.
Martijn Gilbert, managing director at Go North East, said: “The introduction of the North East’s first ‘London style’ tap-on, tap-off ticketing is great news for our customers.
“We’re always looking to make things easier for our customers and this technology does exactly that.
“This further innovation cements the position that buses have as the most advanced, flexible and dynamic ticketing system of any public transport mode.
“We will be continuing our work with partners to make further use of this technology to help play our part in improving the ticketing offer for public transport users across the region.”
For more about Tap On, Tap Off, visit www.gonortheast.co.uk/tap-on-tap-off
The road map, outlined by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, with the intention of getting us out of lockdown and back to some sort of normality by the middle of this year, seems to me to be a most sensible strategy to achieve his aims, provided people in their turn – are sensible. The success or failure of the Government’s strategy depends entirely on whether the public adhere to it, and do not think they can rush out and act like nothing has happened.
During this past terrible year, most people have done as asked, but there are always those who think they know better.
They need to think twice before risking a road crash not a road map!
Arthur Paye, sent via email.
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Pam Stokoe: Lockdown has changed the way people work - they now work from home! Smart new offices won't be needed!
Sean Laws:
I’m pretty excited about the future for the city, lots of big things happening!
Axel Tye:
So what they want is to take high paid jobs from London and pay the people up here a fraction of the wage for the same work I don’t mind them stealing the work and bringing it to us but don’t mug us off with cheap labour.
Stephen Paul: You’re having a laugh aren’t you, people move up from London to the north-east, London with all its vibrant nightlife and multicultural society, to the northeast of England I think not. Show them round the new estates they are building at Pennywell, that will get them hooked!
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Stuart Roper:
It literally doesn’t matter how cautious we are as small business owners. We could have 10,000 customers through our doors, with not a single case registered, with not a single track and trace contact. When the government wants to shut us down, they will. Unfortunately that's the reality of the situation for every single small business owner right now.
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The good deeds people have been doing during lockdown.
Andrea Cowley:
My daughter Molly Cowley (age 11) helped crochet hanging rainbows, raising £360 for the amazing staff at Sunderland Royal's ICCU.
Karen Maddison:
I ran 50 miles in Jan for Maggies charity, raised over £350 and surprised myself as not ran since I was at school 40 years ago.
Sarah Cooney:
Well done everyone! Myself and partner started a crowdfund to go towards the funeral of a very dear friend who passed away from Covid last week. I am blown away by everyone's generosity
A DAD has donated convalescent plasma after his daughter died from the virus.
Alan Mack, aged 62, donated at Newcastle Blood Donor Centre.
His 29 year-old daughter Rebecca died from COVID-19 while he also suffered coronavirus himself.
The antibodies in his blood plasma could now help the NHS in their search for COVID-19 treatments.
Rebecca, a children’s cancer unit and NHS 111 nurse, died last April while self-isolating at home.
Alan said: “If I can help one person by donating my blood plasma, that’s more than enough.
“I don’t want anybody else to go through the terrible ordeal we went through.
“Being able to donate and fundraise in her memory is helping us.
“I felt proud and privileged.” Alan assured: “I’ve donated blood before and donating plasma is fine too. Not a problem.”