Annex C: Glossary

Account Based Ticketing (ABT)

This is a type of ticket and payment where a user taps or scans a smart token (see below for smart token) when using public transport. The journey is then logged in a back-office system over a fixed period (usually a day) resulting in the user being automatically charged for the most suitable ticket.

Back-office system

There are different types of back office systems, but for this document, the main function is to securely communicate (electronically) journey data details from the mode of transport (such as from the ticket machine on board a bus, or a train station gate) to a centralised system to enable calculation of journey payment or travel history to the relevant operator or e-purse provider. The Transport Scotland back-office system is called HOPS (Host Operator Processing System).

Contactless card payments (cEMV)

Refers to contactless bank card payment, where a PIN does not need to be provided for transactions below £100. Actual acronym is Europay, Mastercard and Visa (the three companies that originally created the standard).

Infrastructure

The equipment used for the ticketing system, for example ticket gates, machines on board buses, devices used by conductors to check tickets, ticket machines at stations, as well as back-office systems.

Integrated ticketing

A ticket or ticketing system that works across modes and operators. These can also be paper based.

Interoperable / interoperability

Smart ticketing that is useable across different transport operators and modes (often subject to commercial agreements). Any smart media (e.g. barcode, ITSO smartcards, cEMV) can be used as an interoperable token.

ITSO

ITSO is a not-for-profit organisation that oversees technical, standardisation and interoperable smart ticketing services for the UK. It is supported by the UK Government, and ITSO is a technical platform on which interoperable smart ticketing and e-purse schemes can be built. The national concessionary travel schemes across the UK are based on this technology. ITSO 2.1.4 is the current standard required for a smart ticketing service, although a new standard 2.1.5 has just been announced.

Mobility as a Service (MaaS)

MaaS provides a platform to provide a one stop shop for integrated journey planning, booking and payment. MaaS can be tailored to particular markets, such as access to sporting events, healthcare or tourist sites, in order to improve sustainable access options. MaaS can also provide a platform to link modes together in one app, such as bike share schemes, Demand Responsive Transport (DRT), and scheduled bus and rail services.

Multi-modal

Can be used on different modes of transport, for example on train, ferry and bus.

Multi-operator

Can be used on more than one operator, but for one mode of transport (for example with buses this could be across Stagecoach, First, McGill’s etc).

National concessionary travel scheme(s)

The Transport Scotland national concessionary scheme provides under 22-year-olds, over 60-year-olds and people with a disability with free bus travel. Additional schemes include discounted or free travel on ferry, air and rail in Scotland, for more see www.transport.gov.scot/concessions

National Entitlement Card (NEC)

The National Entitlement Card, is an electronic chipped smartcard used by the National Concessionary Travel Scheme(s) in Scotland as a token for free or discounted travel. With a photo included on the card it can be provided for identity, and also is used to provide smart travel data for reimbursement purposes using the ITSO specification schema.

National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board (NSTAB)

An advisory group introduced by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 and appointed by the Scottish Ministers. The group consists of operators, transport authorities, user groups and technical experts, advising Ministers on the future of smart ticketing in Scotland.

Open data

This is data which is accessible to anyone free of charge. In the transport context, this could include timetable, fares or real time data provided by operators.

Barcode

The overarching term for data represented visually, usually as lines and / or squares, which can be read and interpreted by machines. These are also known as QR codes. These can be static (non-changeable) or dynamic, which allows tracking and customisation.

Smart

Non-paper and cashless travel using a smart platform – this includes micro-chipped smartcard or host card emulation (HCE) on a mobile phone, mobile app ticket using barcode or QR code, or contactless payment (card or mobile phone) as a token for travel purposes.

Smartcard

A micro-chipped card that stores your travel ticket or retains monetary credit to be deducted on use.

Smart platform

Similar to infrastructure (see above) and system (see below), and in the context of this document, this refers to any electronic or digital product or service that can interact with a smart ticket or smart payment. This could include a mobile app, an online system or website, electronic ticketing machines etc.

Smart ticketing

An electronic ‘smart’ travel ticket loaded on a micro-chipped card or mobile phone or another device.

Smart ticketing system

A system that enables the use of an electronic ticket(s) or payment via a smart platform integrated with a back-office system for travel. These can also be multi-modal and multi-operator.

Smart Payment

Use of contactless payment for either one-off payment of a ticket, or as a token identity for travel with payment taken after travel (usually at the end of the day).

Ticketing Arrangement

A voluntary agreement between operators (and sometimes with local transport authorities) that allows a ticket to be bought through a single transaction that allows a person to make multiple journeys, either with one operator or between different operators of local services. Examples in Scotland include Grasshopper, Tripper, One-Ticket, ABC and ZoneCard.

Ticketing scheme

A ticketing scheme is a scheme under which operators of local services in the scheme are required to make and implement ticketing arrangements.

Token

When used in the context of smart ticketing this is a singular term that groups together the various types of smart ticketing, such as smartcard, smartphone, contactless bankcard, mobile app ticket etc.