davieG Posted 3 November 2014 Posted 3 November 2014 Bus companies are to bring in Oyster-style smart ticketing in some of England's largest urban areas. Greater Manchester passengers will be the first to get the new payment format, to be introduced in 2015. The scheme will also be rolled out in Tyne and Wear, Merseyside, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire as well as Nottingham, Leicester and Bristol, according to transport chiefs. Oyster cards launched in 2003 in London, where buses are now cashless. In the West Midlands, nearly 30 operators are already part of the Swift smart multi-operating ticketing scheme. Greater Manchester is rolling out its "get me there" travel card across its Metrolink trams. Smart readers are being used on Greater Manchester's Metrolink platforms The bus initiative involves the Stagecoach, First, Arriva, Go Ahead and National Express companies. In a joint statement, the chief executives of the companies involved said the move would deliver a "wider benefit than the capital's Oyster system". They said: "Millions of people in our biggest city regions will benefit from this transformational initiative to provide London-style smart ticketing. "Bus operators share the aspirations of our city regions to become growing economic powerhouses and we know high quality public transport is an important part of making that happen."
separator Posted 3 November 2014 Posted 3 November 2014 Bring it on. I work for the firm that installed and maintains London's Oyster card system, although not sure if there involved with this.
leicsmac Posted 3 November 2014 Posted 3 November 2014 Great idea. Loads of other cities around the world have gone near-cashless with their public transport network, it's time more cities in the UK followed suit.
Fox92 Posted 3 November 2014 Posted 3 November 2014 Well happy with this. It's mayhem in Manchester sometimes.
Countesthorpe Fox 1884 Posted 3 November 2014 Posted 3 November 2014 About time, it's always baffled me why it's taken so long for some companies to realize that it's much easier
JIMMYWILLIS Posted 3 November 2014 Posted 3 November 2014 East mids trains just started a smartcard service. But doesn't cover London transport so would need another for that....
Rincewind Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 The Leicester buses are installed with machines that take bus passes so it would be no problem to have cards for all. But how would it work for the casual traveler? The person who normally walks or drives and have to take a bus because of the weather or car breaking down? They may not have an Oyster card.
separator Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 East mids trains just started a smartcard service. But doesn't cover London transport so would need another for that.... London ticket barriers can read ITSO cards (national rail smart cards), its down to East Midlands Trains to add the option of a London Travelcard to its own smartcard. Biggest problem with these integrated tickets is getting all the various companies to work together and sell each others tickets.
Itsthejoeker Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 We've had these for years in Swindon. I would like them to include the use of contactless debit cards though, would be much easier than needing a bus card all the time.
MooseBreath Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 Christ imagine having to commute via bus. Doesn't even bare thinking about.
Fox92 Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 Christ imagine having to commute via bus. Doesn't even bare thinking about. Don't get why people criticize them all the time. If you don't want to use them, don't use them. You know what to expect the moment you step on a bus... As a student, I rely on them. Usually packed, I usually have to stand up, but considering I live half an hour away bus ride from campus so I'm not walking.
MooseBreath Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 Don't get why people criticize them all the time. If you don't want to use them, don't use them. You know what to expect the moment you step on a bus... As a student, I rely on them. Usually packed, I usually have to stand up, but considering I live half an hour away bus ride from campus so I'm not walking. Well if you're a student then a bit of poverty lifestyle is expected. I'm talking more about working people.
Rincewind Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 Not all working people can afford to run a car.
Itsthejoeker Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 Sometimes it's more cost and time effective to get a bus to work.
AyewJoking Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 Don't get why people criticize them all the time. If you don't want to use them, don't use them. You know what to expect the moment you step on a bus... As a student, I rely on them. Usually packed, I usually have to stand up, but considering I live half an hour away bus ride from campus so I'm not walking. lazy fúcker. and a student no less.
Guest MattP Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 Christ imagine having to commute via bus. Doesn't even bare thinking about. It can often depend on the route. We used to have a Kirby Muxloe/new side of Glenfield bus that was great, never any hassle, peaceful and very clean. The one now that starts here goes through Parks, N'Pool, Woodgate etc and it's absolutely horrific.Litter everywhere, people blaring music out and folk who clearly don't have mirrors in the house.
Fox92 Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 lazy fúcker. and a student no less. Actually I said "half an hour bus ride". I would walk but 30 minutes in a vehicle will probably be an hour or so walking. I cannot argue with the lazy comment. It's true.
leicsmac Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 Perhaps if the public transportation system in the UK wasn't so unjustifiably shocking in terms of reliability, timeliness and price (there's no reason for it, so many countries with similar land area and population do it so much better), more people would use it and they'd have the money to modernise. Perhaps it's an infrastructure issue, and no one is willing to actually stick in enough money to make it better? It really would be nice if we had a better PT network up and down the country.
Renart Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 Well if you're a student then a bit of poverty lifestyle is expected. I'm talking more about working people. Ha ha. I work in central London and wouldn't use anything other than bus or tube (prefer bus) - it is amazing. Some people have very silly (1980s) attitudes to getting on a bus. I would imagine that very quickly the 'oyster' style cards will be superseded by wireless bank cards, like they are here, so much easier now I don't have to keep an oyster and a bank card in my wallet.
purpleronnie Posted 4 November 2014 Posted 4 November 2014 It can often depend on the route. We used to have a Kirby Muxloe/new side of Glenfield bus that was great, never any hassle, peaceful and very clean. The one now that starts here goes through Parks, N'Pool, Woodgate etc and it's absolutely horrific.Litter everywhere, people blaring music out and folk who clearly don't have mirrors in the house.
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