Stagecoach

The Stagecoach Group is at the leading edge in launching ITSO-compliant smartcard technology on its buses and trains across the UK.

Last year the Perth-based transport group became the first operator in the UK to pioneer the Government’s preferred smartcard technology on both bus and rail services. This achievement was the result of several years of hard work to make smarter travel a reality for millions of passengers.

The company was the first in the UK to launch a smartcard on rail services in 2008 and became the first UK bus operator to launch its own smartcard across two entire operating companies in 2010.

Stagecoach was also the first major UK bus company to complete the installation of ITSO-enabled smartcard machines on its entire UK bus fleet outside London, enabling the on-going rollout of both concessionary travel and commercial smartcard schemes on its buses across the country.

Currently more than 53 million smartcard transactions are made every year on Stagecoach vehicles.

November 2008 saw the company launch a smartcard pilot with the introduction of the StagecoachSmart travel card on its South West Trains franchise. Having successfully completed the trial, South West Trains now has live ITSO smart ticketing at around 100 stations on the following routes:

  • Staines to Wokingham/Windsor & Eton Riverside
  • Basingstoke to Weymouth including Lymington branch
  • Isle of Wight
  • Woking to Havant
  • Woking to Basingstoke
  • Woking to Alton
  • Basingstoke to Honiton (due April 2011)

South West Trains passengers can buy ITSO smart season tickets either online, via the call centre or at Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs), with singles and returns also available at TVMs.

Stagecoach has also recently introduced ITSO smart ticketing on its East Midlands Trains franchise between Derby and St Pancras, with plans to roll it out progressively across the network during 2011.

At its UK Bus division, Stagecoach is leading the way in meeting the smartcard objectives of the Department for Transport, Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly. In summer 2010, Stagecoach launched its StagecoachSmart travel card in Cambridgeshire, becoming the first UK bus operator to launch smarter travel across an entire operating area.

This card allows bus passengers the chance to store their tickets electronically. It also provides the opportunity for customers to pay for their travel using a hassle-free automatic monthly payment.

StagecoachSmart travel cards use a system provided by Vix ERG to offer multi-modal ticketing on bus and rail services using ITSO-compliant technology.

Following a successful launch in Cambridgeshire, Stagecoach then rolled out its StagecoachSmart scheme to its buses in Oxfordshire. This means that the company is now ready to accept the new multi-operator smartcard ticket which will be introduced in Oxford this year, providing integrated travel for thousands of passengers.

Stagecoach has introduced the smartcard system for concessionary passengers on all of its buses in Scotland and Wales. The system is also in place for concessionary passengers using Stagecoach buses in Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, East Kent & East Sussex, Bedfordshire, the North West and Manchester.

Stagecoach Group Finance Director Martin Griffiths said: “Value for money and convenience are crucial to getting more people to switch from the car on to public transport. Our investment in smartcard technology means we are leading the way in the UK in making it easier for people to travel and make integrated journeys using both bus and rail services.”

The Group will continue to roll out both its commercial and concessionary smartcard schemes over the coming months and years until both schemes are live across all 18 of its bus operating companies.

Stagecoach is also committed to trialling new, innovative technology across its businesses. In Liverpool, the company became the first in Europe to accept contactless bank card payments on board its buses. Passengers can ‘tap and go’ by using their bank debit or credit cards to pay for their ticket through the use of contactless technology in a project involving Stagecoach, Mastercard and RBS WorldPay.

By embracing new technology, providing high quality services and offering good value travel, Stagecoach aims to attract even more people on to greener, smarter travel.

South West Train picture courtesy of Brian Morrison

April 2011