Work on the delivery of multimodal account-based ticketing across all Translink services in Northern Ireland has commenced with the rollout of contactless payments on Metro buses in Belfast.
It forms part of the state-owned operator’s Future Ticketing System, which has been developed in partnership with transport ticketing and payments specialist Flowbird. In due course, contactless payments will be extended to all other public transport services in Northern Ireland, requiring the addition of tap off devices in those applications.
On Belfast Metro services a flat fare is charged, to which is added a £3.50 daily cap for two or more journeys. When rollout of the account-based ticketing across Translink is complete, passengers using contactless cards and devices will be charged the best value fare regardless of the number of legs or modes thanks to a CloudFare back-office system.
Says Translink Chief Financial Officer Paddy Anderson (pictured, right): “Ultimately, our ambition is to enable passengers to turn up, tap on and travel knowing that they have been availed of the best value fare.
“Our customers will not only enjoy the convenience and simplicity of making contactless payments, but at a time when the cost of living is escalating, they can also easily view their transaction and payment history online, checking the savings that they have made via the daily capped contactless fare.”
Adds Flowbird Managing Director David Thompson (pictured, left): “This is an important milestone in the development of a national account-based ticketing system that will evolve to include Ulsterbus, Gilder bus rapid transit and rail services in addition to Metro buses.
“As long-term partners for Translink’s Future Ticketing System, we are delighted to be supporting the development of one of the world’s biggest integrated multimodal transport networks.”
When the account-based ticketing is in place across all Translink services, it will be the UK’s largest multimodal such deployment outside London, Translink and Flowbird say. Fare payment and concessionary smartcards will continue to be accepted after that point.
