Scotland Transport Minister Humza Yousaf joined First Glasgow MD Andrew Jarvis to officially launch contactless payments on First Glasgow buses, the city’s biggest operator. It runs 80 routes, with 900 buses and 2,100 staff.
The technology complements the successful roll-out of new machines from Ticketer, alongside mobile ticketing and app innovations.
First sees contactless payments as a way of speeding up boarding times and making easier for customers by reducing the need for cash on buses.
It is also accepting Apple Pay and Android Pay as part of the contactless roll-out.
It follows the introduction of mTickets, and the a new multi-modal journey planning app earlier this year.
Mr Yousaf said: “I believe making public transport easier to access, through new payment and ticketing options, can only benefit passengers and encourage those people looking to make public transport their regular way to travel.
“It’s great to see this latest development in payment technology being offered by one of Scotland’s biggest bus operators. By making contactless payments available to their passengers, First can speed up boarding times and make bus a great option for day to day journeys.”
Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director of First Bus in Scotland, said: “We’re very proud to be at the forefront of introducing contactless technology on our vehicles and would like to thank the minster for joining us to celebrate the launch.
“Contactless technology is just one of the ways First Glasgow is innovating to make bus travel even easier for our customers and follows the roll-out of our mobile mTickets, free on-board Wi-fi and our new journey planner app.”
