DfT Ticketing Strategy
The long awaited DfT consultation paper: “Developing a strategy for smart and integrated ticketing” has been published.
The DfT press release announcing the paper is headlined: “New technology could signal the end of the line for paper tickets” indicating a critical policy step embracing smart ticketing as the core technology to drive public transport into the 21st century. Whilst the proposed strategy builds on the measures already in place, including choosing ITSO as the common interoperable standard for bus and rail travel, the intention is to adopt existing and emerging technologies (for example: the internet, mobile phones and contactless bank cards), to simplify buying and storing a ticket and encourage our use of public transport.
Government Vision: The vision is not only to find innovative solutions that help passengers, but to provide local integration with city-wide, possibly regional, multi-modal smart ticketing schemes supporting integrated transport networks. The aim is to reduce congestion, pollution, improve the local environment, and assist local authorities plan more effective transport services. This initiative is timely, since these innovations can deliver significant efficiency savings and environmental benefits.
Government’s ambition is to see smart ticketing introduced across Britain's largest urban areas as soon as possible. Oystercard has raised standards for convenience and ease of use, encouraging the use of public transport in London and passengers have a right to expect a similar deal elsewhere in the UK.
At 133 pages, it is a weighty document intended to promote robust debate; an aim supported by detailed background to the key issues and the main strategic elements underpinning the consultation. In the appendices there is interesting analysis setting UK policy in a global context and useful reference data including a glossary, an overview of the Detica report on the business case for smart ticketing together with referenced quotes, facts and figures.
Consultation: There will be a two month consultation period until Friday 23rd October (copies of the questionnaire are available on the DfT website) and is intended primarily for transport operators, local authorities, passenger groups and smartcard stakeholders, although all interested parties may contribute.
The consultation documents are available at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/smartticketing/
The press release can be found at: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=406006&SubjectId=2