Norfolk operator Coach Services has rolled out the first successful implementation of Passenger’s QR-based mobile ticketing schema in partnership with smart ticketing specialist TransMach.
The innovation enables seamless interaction between the Passenger mobile app and TransMach’s contactless ticket machines and validators.
The QR-based system simplifies the ticket validation process by automatically scanning mobile app tickets and determining their validity, eliminating the need for bus drivers to manually check tickets. This system is an integral part of mobile ticketing apps, with the QR schema providing clear instructions to electronic ticket machine (ETM) providers on validating app tickets.
Rob Crawford, Financial Director at the Thetford-based operator, heralds the move as a significant step forward. “We are extremely pleased with our collaboration with Passenger and TransMach,” he says. “The introduction of QR scanning to our buses significantly reduces the burden on our drivers of checking mobile tickets on the myTrip app. This means they can focus on providing the first-class experience that our customers expect from Coach Services.”
TransMach, which has been instrumental in the scheme’s development, implemented the QR schema within its TM920 handheld and TM500 on-bus ETMs, the latter of which is used across the entire 16-bus fleet of Coach Services.
Minesh Vandra, Director at TransMach, notes the importance of the partnership: “Working closely with Passenger allowed us to extend this mobile ticket scanning functionality to Coach Services. We are delighted to collaborate with our partners to facilitate the delivery of high-quality service.”
Thanking Coach Services for its close cooperation on the project, Dan Claydon, Product Manager at Passenger, adds: “The capability is now available as a turn-key solution for any bus operator using Passenger’s myTrip multi-operator mobile app with TransMach’s ETMs.”
