In September 2006, Blackpool Transport and NoWcard sent live the world’s first network-wide ITSO Smartcard system – chip-bearing passes that give concessionary pass holders free travel and which are automatically recognised when held close to a bus ticket machine. The ITSO-based smart card has since been adopted by the government as the standard for all England’s concessionary passes. The Blackpool-trialled system has now handled over 15 million successful smart transactions and has been rolled out to nearly every bus in Lancashire & Cumbria.

Today, 2nd June 2008, all Blackpool’s buses got an upgrade so their ticket machines can seamlessly recognise and automatically process ITSO smartcards from every one of the 174 separate travel authorities in England. Concessionary bus passes were accepted from as far away as Sussex in the first hour of operation. A holidaying retired policeman from North Yorkshire said “this is the smoothest and most impressive ticketing system I have ever seen”.

Blackpool Transport confirmed that in the first five hours of use over 10,000 English National passes were handled and not one transaction failed.   Smart – enabled Wayfarer Parkeon TGX 150 ticket machines are used by Blackpool Transport to process this amazing and exciting technology.

Gordon Moore, Project Manager for NoWcard said “I am very proud of all the people who have burned the midnight oil, both at  Blackpool Transport and, equally important, behind the scenes at MVA Consultancy and Wayfarer Parkeon,  to deliver this decisive step-change in on-bus ticketing. I am confident that over the next couple of years all UK bus companies will follow where we are leading.”

Steve Burd, MD of Blackpool Transport said “This system is a great boon to holidaymakers wishing to use their concessionary bus passes away from home because we can now automatically validate their pass, even though the holder comes from hundreds of miles away, in just one second.”

For more details please contact:

Oliver Howarth on 01253 473032, our email address is: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spam Bots geschützt, Sie müssen JavaScript aktivieren, damit Sie es sehen können   or Steve Burd on 01253 473041 – Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spam Bots geschützt, Sie müssen JavaScript aktivieren, damit Sie es sehen können