Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has signed a contract with Ticketer that will see the supplier’s next generation ticketing and real-time information solution rolled out on franchised bus services in the city region, commencing in September.
It will connect to the Ticketer Smart Gateway for vehicle communications. That will deliver what is described as “an ecosystem of connectivity for on-bus IT infrastructure” and allow franchised operators to reduce the amount of on-bus hardware and SIM cards. In the case of electric vehicles, it will also permit enhanced monitoring of energy consumption.
Ticketer says that the next generation ticket machines have a more powerful processor, more memory and are tablet-based, running on Android. The Smart Gateway’s improved GPS enhances tracking and vehicle location capability, which TfGM adds will improve real-time information provided to customers via journey planners and displays at interchanges.
The supplier remarks that the upgraded real-time information system also enables “advanced disruption management, corridor management, on-bus inventory management and advanced tracking among many other features to improve operator efficiency.”
The ticket machines will be accompanied by standalone tap-off readers. Operators and TfGM will receive tap-off data, which through use of GPS location reports will give a high degree of understanding of customer origins and destinations.
Rollout of the Ticketer solution will begin with the first tranche of bus franchising in Greater Manchester, with TfGM adding that “rigorous testing” will be undertaken beforehand.
Ticketer Group Chief Product and Technology Officer Andreea Reardon comments that the supplier will accelerate its strategic roadmap and bring new developments to market, “while also being able to continue to focus on our core product offering.” She adds that TfGM’s approach “has now validated our drive for a more integrated on-bus solution.”
Says Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester Vernon Everitt: “Ticketer’s on-bus ticketing services will provide a convenient and flexible way for customers to pay for journeys on buses, with further integration planned that will connect and simplify payment across all forms of public transport.
“It will also help us to provide enhanced accurate, real-time travel information, keeping people up to date and opening up access to more choices for journeys by public transport.”
