Transport firms on board with smart ticketing
COMPANIES CONFIRM THEY WILL SIGN UP TO PROPOSALS
EVERY major public transport company operating in the North East looks set to adopt a new smart-ticketing system.
The Transport for the North (TfN) initiative will allow customers to travel throughout the entire region using just one digital ticket.
Nexus, bus companies and train firms running the vast majority of services in the North East have confirmed they intend to sign up to the plans as soon as possible.
The proposal to link up public transport across the North under one payment system is one of TfN’s central policies, set up to coordinate investment and drive a strategic plan to boost the region’s economy by investing in road and rail.
Smart-ticketing will be rolled out over the next four years but TfN says early adopters will have it in place by the end of this year.
Despite being dubbed by some as an “Oyster card for the North”, it is just as likely to use contactless technology or a phone app.
Alastair Richards, who is overseeing the programme for TfN, said: “We’re enhancing the public transport experience for passengers right across the North.
“We’re making it easy to find out about, and quick and easy to pay for, bringing real-time, personalised travel information and ensuring passengers only ever pay the fairest price for each journey.
“Over the next year passengers will begin to see the early benefits of our four-year project.”
Nexus hopes to have it on the Metro soon, according to a spokesperson.
They said: “We have led the way in the roll-out of smart and cashfree travel outside London through the Pop Card and easy contactless payment on Metro ticket machines. The Pop Card already provides access to almost all public transport in the North East.
“Not surprisingly, we are playing a key part of TfN’s smart-ticketing programme and people in the North East can look forward to benefiting from further developments not just on the Metro but across public transport.”
Steve Walker, managing director of Stagecoach, confirmed the operator is “working in partnership with TfN” to have the system adopted on buses in the North East, as is Go North East.
Nick Knox, who runs Arriva in the North East, said the firm is also working closely with TfN, adding: “Once all of the requirements have been agreed we will look to implement as soon as it is feasible to do so.”
As well as running bus services, Arriva is the parent company of train operators Grand Central, Northern and CrossCountry, all of which have services running through Newcastle.
TransPennine Express, which runs Newcastle to Liverpool and Manchester services, hopes to have the new system up and running “over the next 12 months”.
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents the rail industry, including Virgin East Coast, confirmed it is working with partners such as TfN to roll out smart-ticketing.
By the end of 2018, rail customers nationally will no longer need to rely on paper tickets with a magnetic strip.
As well as reducing the hassle of needing different tickets for different services, the integrated system will have an in-built “fair price promise”.
The system, which is similar to one in London, allows customers to tap in and out and know the cheapest possible fare will be calculated on their behalf.