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

Nov 26 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

He added: “We will eventually create an e-purse where you don’t have to worry about buying different tickets, the card just remembers what you have done and converts it to the right payment.

“We have had informal talks with businesses and football clubs, which are too early to say how they will develop, but we have the potential to use that e-purse to allow you to purchase a paper from a newsagent or pay for a season ticket.”

Nexus hopes to have its new smart card up and running by 2011, using £15m of transport investment.

Within a year they will be looking to link this up to other regional smart card schemes.

The council partnership behind the smart cards also wants the Government to hand over new powers to introduce a “unified fare structure”, which would introduce flat rates for bus journeys across the region.

Newcastle councillor Greg Stone, who sits on the integrated Transport Authority, said council bosses were working together to create the smart card technology.

He said: “This is a huge step in the right direction. I know myself when I go to London how useful the Oyster Card is and our long-term plan here will build on that and offer much more.

“If you’re on the way to the Metro why shouldn’t you be able to buy your coffee or Journal with the same pass? We have been looking at this for some time now and there is a real will to see this go ahead.”