Tap On, Tap Off ticketing technology rolled out across First Bus fleet

c: First Bus

First Bus has completed a UK wide roll-out of Tap On, Tap Off (TOTO) ticketing technology across its entire fleet of more than 4,000 buses.

This technology will enable customers to travel on buses as much as they please, whilst ensuring they’ll never pay more than the daily or weekly cap. The distance-based charging structure aims to make pricing fairer for customers – allowing more personalisation so they’re charged based on their individual travel requirements.

TOTO will also speed up boarding by helping to reduce dwell times for passengers.

This technology is the first step in next-generation ticketing and will allow First Bus to get more data than ever about its customers’ travel habits and demand for services. The company states this will enable it to make data-led decisions in the future that are based around its customers’ needs.

Access to enhanced data around travel patterns and customer behaviours also has the potential to inform fleet management and improve operational efficiencies.

First Bus is the first major UK bus operator to achieve the milestone of roll-out across its entire fleet thanks to an investment of around £1 million, alongside further funding from several local authority partners which has helped to accelerate the roll-out.

The partnership between Ticketer and First Bus has also led to a UK pilot of TOTO technology in Bridgend, Wales – where fares were calculated based on the distance travelled by each customer in a UK first for the industry.

“We are delighted to be the first major operator to offer the benefits of TOTO technology,” commented Simon Pearson, Chief Commercial Officer at First Bus UK. “We are always working hard to bring our customers the best possible value for money and to align bus as a valued and vital option as part of people’s everyday transport mix.”