Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
New GoSmart card is just the ticket on the buses
S c o t l a n d ’s largest independent bus company, McGill’s has launched its GoSmart card – the company’s first commercial smart ticketing product.
The GoSmart card offers a flexible and convenient way for customers to choose and pay for their McGill’s tickets – and is the newest ticketing initiative from the company.
The GoSmart card is available free to all customers who register via the company’s website (www. mcgillsbuses. co. uk). Once the GoSmart card is dispatched, customers can then log on to their account to choose and pay for any of the company’s GoZone tickets.
Colin Napier, McGill’s Head of Operations and Commercial said: “McGill’s GoSmart card is a flexible and convenient way for customers to travel with us.
“Customers can create their own GoSmart account and purchase tickets whenever it suits them.
“Next time a customer travels with us, they simply tap their GoSmart card on the ticket machine and the product bought online is added to their card.”
Colin added: “Choosing to GoSmart means less time spent at bus stops, no need to carry money, or to hang on to a paper ticket.
“It’ll speed up journey times – which is great news for all of our customers.
“For those customers who prefer not to pay on the bus, the GoSmart card is an excellent alternative to our very popular mobile ticketing”.
How can you apply for a GoSmart Card?
A McGill’s GoSmart card is free. Customers can apply for their card at www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk/ gosmart
The card is posted to the address provided on the application, within 10 working days.
Once a customer receives their GoSmart card, they can log back on to their account to buy any GoZone ticket, excluding day tickets.
Purchases can be paid for using credit/debit cards or Paypal.
The ticket is activated on the bus the next time the customer travels with McGill’s.
It is activated by tapping the GoSmart card on the ticket machine.
We ask that customers allow four hours between buying their ticket online and activating it on the bus.
Tickets can also be bought at SPT offices in Buchanan Bus Station and Greenock Bus Station.
Future planned developments for McGill’s GoSmart card include an E-purse and top-up feature (for example, credit £10 on your GoSmart card and use it to pay for tickets) and the ability to add tickets for other transport modes, for example, train or ferry journeys.
McGill’s employs around 1000 staff, operating 400 buses across 110 routes. It has depots in Greenock, Barrhead, Coatbridge, Inchinnan and Johnstone. Quicker boarding times. Less time spent at bus stops, no need to wait for a ticket or change. Simply tap your card. Place your card on the ticket machine to travel. No paper ticket required, it’s tap and go.
Add your ticket when it suits you.Once you have your card, add your GoZone ticket online using your credit/debit card or PayPal when it’s convenient for you.
Peace of mind if your card is lost or stolen.
McGill’s can block your lost or stolen card and transfer your unused tickets to a new card.
Save money
If you are commuting to Glasgow, from Largs, Inverclyde of Renfrewshire, either by car or train, you could save money by switching to McGill’s.
Did you know, if you choose to take the bus to work, depending on your area you could save £2000 per year?
McGill’s have done the research for you, and shown the savings you can make, by choosing a McGill’s monthly GoZone ticket and save on train and petrol and parking costs. And, the results are staggering. What will you spend your savings on?
With frequent and quick services to Glasgow, McGill’s monthly GoZone tickets are anywhere between 30 per cent to 45 per cent cheaper and offer unlimited travel – you can use them as often as you like. An alternative to the Go Smart card is McGill’s popular Mobile Ticket.
You buy the ticket on your mobile, and the app lets you send it on to another account.
It takes minutes and you can pay using your PayPal or debit card.
You can buy any of McGill’s GoZone tickets via the app and simply activate the ticket on your phone at the bus stop before you hop on.
A great feature of the M-Ticket app is the ability to buy one on one mobile phone and gift it to another phone – great news for parents and children.
Colin Napier said: “The gifting feature of the M-Ticket app is very popular with parents with teenage children as it allows parents to pay for their new child’s ticket and to send it to their phone – removing the hassle of finding change to pay for fares and giving them peace of mind that the ticket is there on the child’s phone for whenever it is needed.
Go shopping
McGills now run a brand new service, No6, between Paisley and Silverburn – great news for eager shoppers.
Now McGill’s operate services to Braehead, Clyde Shopping Centre, Oak Mall in Greenock, Glasgow Fort and The Plazza in Paisley.
Take away the stress of parking and get the bus – there’s always room for all your shopping bags.