Manchester bus passengers benefit from multi‐operator smart ticketing

(L-R): Phil Smith , Managing Director at of Rosso Buses , Chris Bowles , Managing Director of Stagecoach , Trevor Roberts , Chair of Greater Manchester Travelcards Limited , Councillor Andrew Fender, Transport for Greater Manchester Committee Chair, Rick Halsall , Arriva Head of Operations , Adrian Worsfold , Business Manager with First and Graydn Thompson , General Manager of System One Travelcards

Greater Manchester bus passengers can now benefit from a new multi‐operator smart ticketing scheme operational across 30 bus companies.

(L-R): Phil Smith , Managing Director at of Rosso Buses , Chris Bowles , Managing Director of Stagecoach , Trevor Roberts , Chair of Greater Manchester Travelcards Limited , Councillor Andrew Fender, Transport for Greater Manchester Committee Chair, Rick Halsall , Arriva Head of Operations , Adrian Worsfold , Business Manager with First and Graydn Thompson , General Manager of System One Travelcards

Manchester’s new multi‐operator smart ticketing scheme was established through a joint venture between Greater Manchester Travelcards Ltd (GMTL), the organisation behind the System One brand, and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM). Passengers can now benefit from a multi-operator bus travel scheme thanks to cooperation between more than 30 bus operators. The scheme is the largest of its kind outside of London.

Customers can now purchase multi-operator travel, which is stored on a smart card and can be used on buses across Greater Manchester. The cost of travel using the card is on average 10 percent less than using an equivalent paper ticket. Customers can buy adult and junior 1-day, 7-day and 28-day products, providing unlimited bus travel across the Greater Manchester area. 

Bus passengers using Manchester’s multi‐operator smart ticketing to benefit from 10% reduction in fare

The new product range, branded ‘get me there’, is an extension of the equivalent existing printed System One multi-operator products. Customers will be able to load the new products onto  widely available smart cards issued by bus operators, including StagecoachSmart or by TfGM, including igo passes for young people, other concessionary passes, and a get me there smart card.  Passengers then touch in at smart readers when they board the bus to validate their travel. 

The introduction of the new smart ticketing scheme follows a pledge made last year by the country’s major bus companies – which include Arriva, First and Stagecoach – to deliver multi­‐operator smart ticketing to millions of bus customers across England during 2015. It also delivers on a commitment by TfGM to introduce the next stages of its ‘get me there’ smart ticketing scheme for Greater Manchester before the end of the year.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of TfGM Committee said: “We want to make travel easier and more attractive in Greater Manchester and technology and smart ticketing is one of the ways we can help. We’ve worked hard with operators to ensure that get me there was built into their smart ticketing plans and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to bring on board even more operators.

“With eight of every ten public transport journeys made by bus and most Greater Manchester bus services part of this new scheme, today marks a good step forward on our smart journey with passengers.”

Stagecoach Manchester Managing Director Christopher Bowles said: “This is great news for Manchester’s bus users. Stagecoach is making an £11million investment across the country in new digital technology to make it easier for our customers to use the bus. Smart ticketing, better information and easier ways to buy travel are at the heart of our strategy. This announcement shows that, by working together, bus operators, local authorities and the Government can make buses even better for the many people who rely on them every day.

Teresa Broxton, Managing Director for First Manchester added, “The introduction of the rebranded get me there smart tickets will help make bus travel even more convenient for customers. We’ve worked together with other operators and our Manchester transport partners to invest in technology to improve accessibility for customers across the network.”

Phil Cummins, area managing director for Arriva Manchester said: “Arriva’s commitment towards innovating for the good of our customers has always been right at the heart of our business and we welcome the opportunity to partner with our peers in order to explore new technologies which will enhance the passenger experience. The launch of the get me there smart card scheme is another example of how collaboration can deliver greater choice and better services for customers, and make bus travel a more enticing, accessible method of transport.”