Bus and Metro passes could lead the way to cash-free economy

Nov 26 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

ELECTRONIC bus and Metro passes could pave the way for a “cash-free” North East economy, transport bosses say.

City leaders want to see passengers across the region given the chance to use one “smart card” pass for all bus and train journeys. Paying by card would mean customers just swipe their card as they get on board.

And now the transport committee putting together the computer network behind the card has started talks with big businesses and North East football clubs to see if the pass could be used for other payments.

Within three years the technology will be in place to allow customers to pay for a cup of coffee on the high street or a season ticket at their football club on the travel pass, providing business leaders join the scheme.

The technology behind the smart cards will be compatible with free bus passes, up to 500,000 of which have been handed to North East pensioners.

Last night Tobyn Hughes, director of strategy at Nexus, said plans going to today’s Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority would show how £10m could transform public transport.

He said: “Once we are confident of exactly what we are doing with smart cards on the Metro we can look to the wider benefits.

“Now this depends on what other businesses want to do, but it could include at the very least linking up with local authorities to bring a lot of services together on one card, including discount schemes or swimming pool cards.”