MVA Consultancy

 

The introduction of smart cards and the expansion of integrated ticketing schemes across the UK are transforming passengers' experience of public transport. In the 21st century, new technology and improved standards are the key to achieving the goal of integrated information and ticketing in the UK's passenger transport services.

MVA Consultancy is an international firm which provides sustainable transport solutions that enable clients to achieve their ambitions across the transport sector. More specifically, we provide practical, innovative solutions to integrated ticketing issues. MVA are currently helping transport operators and authorities across the world to enhance transport quality by specifying and implementing smart card schemes.

MVA have been involved with ITSO since 1999, providing advice and project management during the initial development phase that played a major part in the evolution of the concepts underlying the formal specification. We also managed the technical editor process to deliver the written specification for the common data structure that forms the foundations of the ITSO requirements. MVA currently continues its membership and support of ITSO through advice to clients who are planning or implementing smart card schemes across the whole of the United Kingdom. Our key clients include Centro, NoWcard, Transport Scotland, Welsh Assembly Government, South West Smart Card Board, Cambridgeshire, Nottingham City Council, Leicester, Merseytravel and Nexus. MVA are also active participants in ITSO Technical Committee, ILOG, the Transport Card Forum and regular speakers at conferences and other events.

MVA's work for clients has brought us into contact with all the major suppliers of ITSO products and services in the UK. We have a reputation for both ensuring the quality of delivered products as well as a very constructive and hands-on approach to working with suppliers to develop and implement the ITSO specification on behalf of our clients. This approach combined with the willingness to work collaboratively has ensured positive and innovative outcomes for clients and suppliers alike and MVA are very proud to be involved in the following schemes selected from the above by way of example:

Transport Scotland

MVA helped support the initial Scottish Executive and subsequent Transport Scotland scheme that has successfully deployed some 7,200 ITSO compliant ticket machines across approximately 250 operators in Scotland. This has enabled over one million cards issued for free concessionary travel in Scotland to be used for fully smart transactions and operator reimbursement. MVA support has included input on the operation and set up of the free concessionary scheme, specification and procurement advice for ETMs, the AMS-HOPS and reimbursement systems and the ongoing support that ensured the equipment and services delivered were compliant with these requirements and the ITSO specification. This was achieved through a team who worked closely on the ground with operators and suppliers testing and delivering systems and also within Transport Scotland on longer term secondments. This has established a platform upon which Transport Scotland and operators will be able to build future commercial and integrated ticketing using the ITSO specification and the configurable toolset specified originally for Scotland that is now a standard feature of ETM supplier systems in the UK.

NoWcard (Cumbria/Lancashire/Blackburn/Blackpool)

MVA's work for NoWcard over many years has seen them become not only the first scheme to rollout ITSO certified equipment but also the first scheme to undertake migration from one AMS-HOPS supplier to another. During the period of our involvement we have helped NoWcard to procure equipment and services such as ETMs and AMS-HOPS, as well as develop future Business Development plans and worked closely with their team to implement ITSO at operators across the scheme. Our most recent work includes the specification and procurement of the new HOPS, an innovative smart commercial ticketing scheme in the Lake District that will involve Stagecoach and Lakeland Cruises and an ITSO STR scheme which is live in a Blackpool Travel2Learn scheme.

Welsh Assembly Government and Welsh Local Authorities

MVA have supported the Welsh Assembly Government, local authorities and operators to procure and implement an ITSO smart card scheme that involves 2,500 buses, almost 100 operators and a single fully integrated Welsh AMS-HOPS/CMS. The implementation of the concessionary travel element is largely complete with nearly all Welsh buses live and MVA are now supporting the Government to develop and implement commercial ticketing including pilots of Stored Travel Rights for testing concepts prior to considering any wider pan-Wales roll-out.

Cardiff Bus and Newport Transport

MVA are supporting initiatives by both these operators to implement some of the first commercial bus ticketing using the ITSO specification. Both operators are partners in the Welsh Assembly scheme and share the same AMS-HOPS/CMS. MVA have helped them develop their existing products so that they can be implemented using smart technology in order to offer both efficiencies for the operators and convenience for the user. The initial Newport scheme was deployed in June 2010 and Cardiff Bus will begin network rollout in Autumn 2010.

South West Smart Card Board

MVA were employed by the South West Smart Card Board to help specify and procure a shared AMS-HOPS that would be available to operators and local authorities across the region. This was completed in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council in summer 2010 and we are now working with operators and local authorities across the South West to help them understand the benefits of using this resource to implement ITSO based ticketing.

For further information about MVA and what we can do for you, please contact Jeremy Meal, Director Smart Cards and Ticketing Strategies, by email at jmeal@mvaconsultancy.com or telephone on +44 (0) 7831 218683 or Ian Robinson at irobinson@mvaconsultancy.com or telephone +44 131 240 8915; or visit our website at www.mvaconsultancy.com