Smartcard Plan For UK Public Transport

[John Ashworth]

Smartcard Plan For UK Public Transport

12:43pm UK, Sunday September 05, 2010
Sarah Gordon, Sky News Online

Travellers could soon be using a credit card-sized smartcard to access public transport across Britain.

Plans are being drawn up to introduce the cards - based on London's Oyster scheme - for buses trains and trams "within a few years", said Transport Minister Norman Baker.

The aim is to encourage people to use public transport by providing seamless travel on one ticket throught the country.

However, Mr Baker has admitted that including long-distance rail journeys in the scheme could be complicated.

Passengers would be able to top up their cards in shops, online or by phone and the cost of their journeys would be deducted by card reading technology on buses and trains.

Mr Baker told the Sunday Express: "The aim is that you get one smartcard ticket which enables you to use it whether you are in Bristol on the bus, on the Tube in London or in Newcastle on the Metro."

He said the scheme would cut the administrative costs associated with selling tickets, making travel cheaper and giving people "more confidence" to use public transport.

Instead of coming out of tax-payers' money, the cost of the scheme would be met by private bus and rail operators.

Ministers had originally planned for the smartcard to become available in 2020, but Mr Baker has asked officials to bring forward the date to within the next few years.

A Department for Transport spokesman confirmed the Government is keen to ensure public transport is as accessible as possible for passengers.

"Smart card technology can play a key role in improving the passenger experience by making it easier and quicker to buy and use tickets," said the spokesman.

"That is why we are working with bus and train operators to introduce this technology across the country."