Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has awarded a new seven-year contract to IT services company Atos to manage its new smart ticketing scheme.
Under the agreement, Atos will design, build and manage the hosted service to run the scheme.
In addition, the IT services company will also deploy and manage an estate of ticket sales and validation devices provided by suppliers, including its own handheld ticket machine, webTIS retail product and ticket vending machines.
With the introduction of smart ticketing services, it will allow Metrolink passengers Greater Manchester area to use e-tickets and contactless bank cards to travel on the tram network.
The scheme will be ITSO compliant and will also support contactless EMVpayments on Metrolink. It will make it easy for passengers to choose public transport.
With the new smart ticketing scheme, Metrolink passengers can preload a card with travel credit either online, at Travelshops or through electronic ticket machines, and use the one card as their ticket on the bus, train or tram, or any combination of the three.
The first stage will cover the Metrolink network and TfGM’s park and ride sites and cycle hubs,with options for buses and then rail to be targeted in subsequent stages as part of TfGM’s strategy.
