Tees Valley operators join forces for latest smart card ticketing initiative

Stagecoach North East and Arriva have been joined by Go North East as part of the Easyrider scheme and together have launched a new multi-operator smart card.

The new Smart Easyrider smart card (which has been developed in partnership by all three bus companies) will give customers the flexibility to use one card to travel across the region and allow unlimited travel on each operator’s buses throughout Teesside for the equivalent of less than £3 per day.

Passengers can now purchase their weekly Easyrider on a StagecoachSmart card, Arriva Connect or Go North East key smartcard from their driver. Longer term Easyriders can also be purchased online or in travelshops. Tickets will be accepted on any Stagecoach, Go North East or Arriva services across Teesside, or across the wider Tees Valley.

In a joint statement, Steve Walker, Managing Director, Stagecoach North East, Kevin Carr, Managing Director, Go North East and Nick Knox, Area Managing Director, Arriva North East, said: “We’re proud to be launching this exciting new ticketing development across different operators which is a major step forward for passengers across the Tees Valley and will make travelling by bus even easier by giving customers complete ticketing flexibility, improving value and convenience.

“Smart ticketing, better information and easier ways to buy travel are at the heart of our strategy to make buses better through effective partnership working. Improving the customer experience is at the heart of what we do and follows our ongoing multi-million pound investment campaigns in new vehicles, smart and contactless ticketing and improved online and mobile information and ticketing tools.”

Once purchased, customers can then catch the first bus that comes along, making their journeys even easier and a lot more convenient. Passengers simply hold their card over the ticket reader when boarding the bus to record their journey.