Supporting Smart Ticketing and Travel Information
The Scottish Government has published its new Smart, Digital, Integrated Ticketing and Payments Delivery Strategy. The new approach outlines a clear and compelling vision for the future of public transport in Scotland. Smart, Digital, Integrated Ticketing and Payments - Delivery Strategy 2024
Building on the work delivered under the 2018 Smart Ticketing Delivery Strategy, the strategy sets out Scotland’s vision for smart ticketing. Reflecting on views from the public, local transport authorities, operators and the newly established National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board – it aligns with the National Transport Strategy and supports the delivery of the Fair Fares Review actions.
Over the next ten years, it will focus on establishing the right foundations and work with industry partners and public bodies, to progress and modernise both the provision of digital travel data across Scotland and integrated smart ticketing and payment methods, with a consistent approach. This includes exploring options for a new national integrated ticketing system to reflect passengers’ desire for integrated contactless and digital ticketing between operators.
Since the last iteration of the strategy, we have seen the introduction of universal smartcards, provision of contactless payment on 98% of buses in Scotland, extension of the smart concessionary travel for young people and on our northern isles ferry services and delivery of five mobility as a service pilots across Scotland.
The strategy also aligns with the new National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board Three-year Work Programme, which is also being published today, outlining the advice that will be provided to Ministers on the future of smart ticketing in Scotland.”
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said:
“I am pleased to announce that our new smart ticketing strategy is now published. Making public transport easier for people to use is crucial in driving forward a more sustainable Scotland.
“This strategy sets out our roadmap and provides a new, clear vision – to increase the use of sustainable public transport by providing smart and integrated ticketing, payment, and journey planning data enhancements, contributing to a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland.
“Building on our smart ticketing achievements, we want to go further to support improvements to the availability, affordability and accessibility of public transport. We will continue to enhance the consistency and interoperability of smart and integrated ticketing and continue to advance the national concessionary travel scheme’s technology.”
Andrew Seedhouse, National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board, said:
“NSTAB’s aim is to provide advice to the Scottish Ministers on how to make it easier for people to reach their end destination by simplifying how they access and pay for travel. Such simplification should make public transport, regardless of provider, more convenient, accessible, flexible and attractive to the user, and further act as a positive incentive to encourage people to switch from private car use, in support of more sustainable travel modes.”
“We are pleased to publish our first Work Programme today alongside the new Smart, Digital, Integrated Ticketing and Payments Delivery Strategy and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government on the future of smart ticketing in Scotland.”