Strategic and Operational Context of the 2024-28 Work Programme

The Work Programme should be conducted within the strategic and operational context of the National Transport Strategy 2, the Smart Delivery Strategy, the Fair Fares Review and the new package of Climate Change Actions. Below is a summary of the relevant recommendations of these three reports.

National Transport Strategy 2 (NTS2)

We will have a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system, helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors.”

Relevant NTS2 Recommendations for NSTAB:

  • Reduces inequalities:
    • Remove barriers to public transport connectivity and accessibility within Scotland.
  • Takes climate action:
    • Improve the quality and availability of information to enable all to make more sustainable transport choices. Facilitate a shift to more sustainable and space-efficient modes of transport for people and goods.
  • Helps deliver inclusive economic growth:
    • Integrate transport and wider infrastructure policies and investments, including digital and energy, to unlock greater benefits. Support Scotland to become a market leader in the development and early adoption of beneficial transport innovations.
  • Improves our health and wellbeing:
    • Provide a transport system that promotes and facilitates active travel choices which help to improve people’s health and wellbeing across mainland Scotland and the Islands. Smart ticketing or payment options have been introduced on a number of rail, bus, tram, and subway services across Scotland and these will continue to be key areas for investment to encourage modal shift to public transport.

Smart Delivery Strategy (SDS)

The refreshed Smart Delivery Strategy was published in mid-2024.

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.”

Core SDS Objectives:

  • Be more available, simple and consistent
  • Be accessible and inclusive
  • Promote affordable travel

Relevant SDS Recommendations for NSTAB:

Smart & integrated ticketing policy

  • To improve the powers available to local transport authorities and Ministers and to see growth of smart and integrated ticketing in Scotland, we will commence ticketing measures from the 2019 Act.
  • To explore how we can build on the 2019 Act and NSTAB, and further support better smart and integrated ticketing infrastructure, we will develop options and recommendations for a new national integrated ticketing system.
  • Building from NSTAB’s advice to improve the consistency and interoperability of smart ticketing technology, we will consider the specification of a technological standard(s) for smart ticketing following advice from NSTAB.
  • Building on any specification of technological standards, and to confirm how we will enable smart and integrated ticketing, we will deliver the business case for a national integrated ticketing system for public transport in Scotland, including determining legislative requirements.
  • Following the business case, and to deliver better smart integrated ticketing, we will introduce the new national integrated ticketing system for public transport in Scotland (subject to the business case and the availability of funding).
  • To continuously enhance ticketing arrangements and schemes, we will work closely with local transport authorities and operators, maximising the benefits of any new technology, system and legislation.

Concessionary travel improvements:

  • To identify how to improve the accessibility of the concessionary travel scheme, we will complete a feasibility study on its potential future smart platforms, including on a smartphone.
  • To enhance the accessibility and experience of the concessionary travel scheme, we will act on the feasibility study on the future potential digital platform for concessionary travel.

Fair Fares Review

[The] Fair Fares Review [will] ensure a sustainable and integrated approach to public transport fares.”

Relevant Fair Fares Review Recommendations for NSTAB:

  • We will develop a national integrated ticketing system, integrated travel hubs and develop proposals for an all age national travel scheme and fare structure.
  • We will develop a proposal for a bus flat fares pilot for an area-based scheme to provide flat fares on bus travel, or reduced fares on zonal integrated travel for consideration in future budgets.
  • Consider options and develop the business case for introducing a national and/or regional integrated ticket and fare structure.
  • Consider establishing a National Forum on the Future of Public Transport, to coordinate improvement of delivery of a quality, accessible, available, and affordable integrated public transport system.
  • Receive advice from National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board on the strategic development of smart ticketing in Scotland, including advice on the national technological standard to improve smart ticketing integration between modes, as well as advising on schemes.
  • Publication of the refreshed Smart & Integrated Ticketing Strategy Delivery Plan in early 2024 and progression of its associated actions and policy deliverables.

NSTAB’s work should also consider how the activities in the work programme can contribute to the delivery of:

  • Wider roll-out of existing multi-operator ticket and multi-modal tickets to cover RTP geographies and expansion of those to all modes;
  • Wide roll-out of contactless across modes;
  • Multi operator fare capping, not just pre-purchase multi-operator tickets;
  • Multi-operator fare capping within a national / regional / local framework; and
  • Variable concession rates within a national / regional/ framework.

Climate Change Action

In April 2024, the Scottish Government announced a new package of climate action measures, including specifically:

We will develop a new national integrated ticketing system for public transport in Scotland across all modes of transport to enable a system that can used for all elements of a journey, with a first step of publishing a new smart ticketing delivery strategy in 2024, alongside the business case for introducing a national and/or regional integrated fare structures.”

Building from NSTAB’s advice, the Scottish Government will identify the business case, with associated cost and timescale options, to deliver a national integrated ticketing technology system in Scotland. This is intended to deliver a system that allows smart, digital or contactless ticket or payment to be read across the different modes and operators in Scotland. A coordinated system, across operators reflects passenger’s preference to travel without having to think about a ticket for each leg of the journey. The Scottish Government intend to encourage operators across all modes to participate in these options for a new system that could offer multi-modal fare capping, removing the need to think about a ticket for each leg of the journey. 

NSTAB’s advice will be key to supporting the Scottish Government develop these proposals, including the technological standards for smart ticketing, options to enhance integrated ABT, and opportunities to improve the accessibility and value for money of ticketing systems in Scotland.