First Bus has renewed its partnership with Ticketer, investing £20 million to roll out new electronic ticket machines (ETMs) across its entire fleet.
The five-year deal continues a relationship with the smart ticketing provider which has spanned more than a decade.
The operator says the new TK300 consoles, which have already been fitted to more than 850 buses, will bring an “improved driver experience”.
Among the features of the devices are voice messaging, enhanced predictions and mobile device management.
These will provide data-driven insights, seamless integration, and user-centric design, says First Bus.
Simon Mathieson, Director of Operational Excellence for First Bus, says: “We’re pleased to be extending our partnership with Ticketer for a further five years and continuing to give our people and passengers the best travel experience when using the bus.
“We’ve listened to our drivers’ needs and worked tirelessly to provide them with the best option to make this element of their job as efficient as possible.
“This renewal is testament to our strong working relationship with Ticketer, and our shared commitment to delivering innovative solutions as part of our commitment to improving services for our drivers and customers time and time again.”
Adam Toone, Chief Commercial and Operations Officer at Ticketer, adds: “Our partnership with First Bus has always been rooted in innovation, mutual trust and a shared mission to make public transport better for everyone.
“We’re thrilled to continue working closely with First Bus to push the boundaries of what’s possible in bus travel and are excited to see where our partnership will take them next.”
