New ticketing system for NI public transport

A new “modern, efficient and convenient” public transport ticketing system has been announced for Northern Ireland.

It will allow passengers to use contactless payment cards on buses, e-purse payments like the London style ‘Oyster Card’ and an online app to manage their accounts and top-up their smartcards.

Ticket vending machines and gated rail stations will also be introduced as part of a £45m investment programme.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard said the changes are aimed at encouraging more people to use public transport and will be rolled out in 2018.

“The current ticketing system was introduced 15 years ago and serves around 80 million passenger journeys every year,” explained the minister.

“This programme will deliver a modern, efficient and convenient ticketing system that will benefit passengers and lead to greater efficiencies.

“It will improve the passenger experience.”

Leading company Parkeon has been awarded the contract to design and deliver the new Translink Future Ticketing System.

Chris Conway from Translink described it as “a key milestone in our plans to transform public transport and make it your first choice of travel”.

He went on: “Implementation is expected to start in 2018 with the new Bus Rapid Transit System.

“Following this, in 2019 we plan to introduce contactless payments for Metro and Ulsterbus services and customers will enjoy further technology enhancements as we phase in this new era in Translink ticketing which will attract more people to use the bus and train as travel options.”