National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board - Meeting Minutes - 21 May 2024

Attendees

Chair

  • Dr Andrew Seedhouse: AS

 Board Members:

  • Alex Hornby: Bus Operator Representative AH
  • Diane Burke: Ferry Operator Representative DB
  • Hussein Patwa: Accessibility Representative HP
  • James Gleave: Transport Strategy Advisor JG
  • Kirsten Urquhart: Passenger Representative KU
  • Margaret Roy: Local Transport Authority Representative (ATCO) MR
  • Marilena Papadopoulou: Tram Operator Representative MP
  • Mary Docherty: Transport Scotland Representative MD
  • Michael Nimmo: Subway Operator Representative MN
  • Mostafa Gulam: Technical Systems Advisor MG
  • Ranald Robertson: Regional Transport Partnership Representative (RTP) RR

Other attendees

  • Bettina Sizeland: Director of Bus, Accessibility and Active Travel (Transport BS Scotland) (SRO)
  • George Beale-Pratt: Smart Policy Manager (Transport Scotland) (Sponsor) GBP
  • Juliet Bell: Smart Programme Manager (Transport Scotland) JB
  • Kevin Ho: Programme Support Officer (Transport Scotland) (Secretariat) KH
  • Mark Speed: Partnership Director Tactran MS
  • Steve Broadley, FAIRTIQ SB
  • Sam Basford: Project Coral guest (joined virtually) SBa
  • Bharat Pathania: Project Coral guest (joined virtually) BP
  • Kasper Schmidt: CEO of Rejsekort & Rejseplan (joined virtually) KS
  • Fiona Docherty: Interim Director of Transport Strategy & Analysis (Transport FB Scotland) (joined virtually)
  • Alan Shirley: Head of Transport Futures (Transport Scotland)(joined virtually) AS

Apologies:

  • Claire Dickie: Rail Operator Representative CD
  • Matt Smallwood: Smart Delivery Advisor MS

Minutes

  • The Board confirmed they were content to formally sign off the minutes from the meeting held on 26th March 2024.

Agenda Item 1: Transport Scotland Sponsor Update

  •  The Framework Document was approved by members, subject to final wording on Freedom Of Information (FOI) process and legal advice being shared with members when available.
  • Code of Conduct document issued to members for comment and includes process for registration of interests. The registration of interests form will be issued to members in coming weeks to be completed - guidance is in the Code of Conduct. The form will need to be completed annually, registering issues such as where else members receive remuneration, and other non-remunerated roles, contracts, shares, close family members, etc.
  • Climate Change action policy – development of a new national integrated ticketing system: This policy is about evolution, not revolution. The policy is about exploring options to develop a technological system, not a ticketing 'scheme', that could be used by operators and local authorities to provide smart integrated ticketing. It will build on the advice of NSTAB, technological standards and how to improve smart integrated ticketing. A business case, option development and cost options will all be required before committing to investment.
  • The target is to publish the Smart Delivery Strategy in the coming months. Currently being updated with latest policy announcements. The strategy does not contain anything that will surprise the Board, but points to the work of NSTAB, delivery of Transport Act measures, smart enhancements to the concessionary travel scheme, open data and digital travel data. 

BS advised that John Swinney is the new first minister, but the Cabinet Secretary remains Ms Hyslop. Ministers are currently going through a reprioritisation exercise, and once this is complete, updates will be shared with the board.

Agenda Item 2: Rejsekort & Rejseplan (FAIRTIQ) Presentation

KS presented on the new smart integrated ticketing system in Denmark that utilises the FAIRTIQ solutions which provides mobile Pay As You Go travel on bus, train, metro and light rail across the country. The presentation will be shared with the board members.

  • HP asked about support for users that do not use digital technology, and if there was a maximum fare cap for user forgetting to swipe out? KS advised there are approximately 10% of users that need to find another solution - a card can be purchased at a kiosk that and money can be loaded onto the card which is then used to travel with. KS highlighted that if a user forget to check out on their phone there is an algorithm that calculates the last possible stop made on public transport and calculates the appropriate price for that journey.
  • MG asked if there were any statistics that FAIRTIQ would be able to share with regards to reducing the infrastructure needed to support pre-paid ticketing. KS advised currently there are 22000 validators around Denmark for the pre-paid smart ticketing solution, but this number of validators will reduce to 6000 following the introduction of the digital solution. This will also reduce maintenance and operational costs.
  • MR commented that a significant part of Scotland offers concessionary travel for eligible users and asked how this works in Denmark? KS advised that the system validates the entitlement for the traveller, via an integrated databases to ensure that correct entitlement is applied for the traveller.
  • MD asked if there were protection on fraudulent use of the card e.g. swiping off when staying on the bus. KS advised that the system would detect that the card was swipe off while in motion and will log a fraud call on the system. The system will exclude the use of the card after several cases. KS highlighted that on long distance trains there will be ticketing inspections.
  • HP asked if there are incentives and season tickets included within the app. KS advised that the system will offer new opportunities to provide promotions and incentives, including with the pre-paid card solution.
  • MN asked about the dependency on location data and signal connectivity, such as when travelling on underground metro services. KS advised there will be beacons on the underground to provide location data, as GPS would not be reliable underground.

Agenda Item 3: Project Coral Presentation

Sam Basford and Bharat Pathania from Project Coral presented their slides on a project which is developing an integrated back office solution for multi-bus operators contactless tap in tap out. The presentation will be shared with the board members.

  • JB questioned if the procurement was England only, or if this is a national platform that could be used in Scotland? CJ commented that the focus has been on England at the moment, but it is possible that Scotland could be included – further discussion needed.
  • MN questioned if there were any risk around the acquirer being able to integrate with the new broker and what are the main challenges are of expanding to include rail? CJ advised that the brokers doesn’t integrate with the acquirer at any point. Rail projects are complex, and the main challenge is getting the standard cEMV infrastructure across the modes.
  • AS asked how Project Coral manage the cross boundary journeys? CJ advised that there will be small zone/areas first and then gradually expand to cross link with other regions.

Agenda Item 4: Sectoral Update

  • AS invited updates from members representing each sector to provide an overview on how their sector has evolved since the last meeting.

James Gleave – Technical Strategy Advisor

  • JG highlighted about the Island Connectivity Plan, and that the Automated Vehicle Act passed on the 20th May 2024 which will introduce a regulatory framework and trial.

Margaret Roy- Local Transport Authority Representative

  • MR highlighted that the PINGO service has ended due to funding.
  • MR further highlighted that anti-social behaviour is still an issue, including an example of a bus in Perth having seats pulled out as a result of anti-social behaviour.
  • MR commented that there has been an increase in breakdowns, and it is taking longer for parts to arrive.
  • Perth and Kinross council has formed a partnership with operators to encourage staff to travel to the office using public transport.

Mary Docherty- Transport Scotland

  • MD highlighted that smart ferry concessionary vouchers launched in Orkney and Shetland on the 1st April 2024.
  • Extension of smart ferry concessionary vouchers to islands on the west coast is currently on hold and awaiting a decision on future budgets.

Ranald Robertson – Regional Transport Partnership Representative

  • RR advised 3 RTP evaluations for MaaS are underway and will continue to the end of October 2024.

Kirsten Urquhart - Passenger Representative

  • KU highlighted that there will be an engagement session on 5th September 2024 on antisocial behaviour. Child poverty is still high in Scotland and the Under 22’s concessionary scheme has an huge positive impact in Scotland.

Alex Hornby- Bus Operator Representative

  • AH highlighted there will be on-board audio visual information regulatory requirements for buses that will come into force from 1st October 2024.
  • AH advised there are challenges with the recruitment of drivers in city areas, especially Glasgow and Edinburgh but this does differ across Scotland, for example, it is easier to recruit drivers in Dundee from their perspective.
  • Anti-social behaviour remains an issue and bus operators are working with the police to educate and inform the impact it has on bus operations, and alongside CPT.

Diane Burke- Ferry Operator Representative

  • DB highlighted that she has formed a group with other Scottish ferry operators, including council ferry opreators, NorthLink Ferries and Pentland Ferries, to share the work programme. They last met on 9th May 2024.

Michael Nimmo – Subway Operator Representative

  • MN highlighted the Subway contactless project is in live testing.
  • MN advised that the Smart ZoneCards is near completion.

Marilena Papadopoulou- Tram Operator Representative

  • MP advised that the implementation testing of integrated Account Based Ticketing with Lothian buses is progressing well, with above 80% success rate. Plan to launch in 2024.
  • MP highlighted that anti-social behaviour continues to be an issue and they are engaged with Police Scotland and visiting schools to educate on anti-social behaviour.

Agenda Item 5: Fair Fares Review Presentation

FB provided an overview of the Fair Fares Review recommendations.

  • JG asked if there was research completed on the technology barriers to provide an updated fare solution. FB responded that the review assessed the feasibility and deliverable of the proposals. AS advise they did not go into detail into the technology as there is further work required and needs to be agreed with Scottish Ministers.
  • MD commented that there are different levels of control for public transport in different regions in Europe which affects what can be done in Scotland.
  • It was highlighted that they need work with bus operators to obtain more information/thoughts on the flat fares proposal contained within the Fair Fares Review.
  • HP highlighted that they need to align this work to the accessible travel framework, including working with the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS).
  • MN advised that the off-peak rail fare has been extended to Sept 2024 so that there will be a full year’s data to use for evaluation of the trial.

ACTION: Fair Fares Review team will share the slides and the NSTAB members to review and feedback any further questions to the Secretariat to pass on to the Fair Fares Review team.

Agenda Item 6: Work Programme sign off

AS went through the draft Work Programme and reviewed the amendments suggested by board members.

  • It was agreed by the board that they were happy with the amendments, and happy to sign off the programme of work.
  • AS requested to have a discussion with SIT Programme and to develop the interdependencies with the NSTAB work.
  • Approval of the Work Programme was unanimous.

Agenda Item 7: Scoping of workstream

  • It was agreed to have separate workshops out with the NSTAB and get back together in the next couple of weeks.

Agenda Item 8: Next steps & AOB

  • Date of next meeting: 16th July 2024. It was agreed that the next meeting will be a hybrid meeting.

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Published Date 1 Aug 2024 Type Topic