10/11/2008

South West Trains has launched a passenger pilot of the UK’s first national rail smartcard.

A number of season ticket holders are taking part in the pilot between Staines and Windsor to help test and perfect the ITSO smartcard technology before it is rolled out across the network.

The pilot is the first step in the delivery of the smartcard system across South West Trains, the biggest commuter rail network in the UK.

Equipment is being installed at stations across the South West Trains network to allow smartcards to be introduced gradually on a route-by-route basis.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is working with Transport for London (TfL) on making TfL’s smartcard system compatible with the national ITSO system, to allow London to be included.

Developing the first ever national rail smartcard has taken two years of hard work after it was specified as part of the new South Western franchise, which is operated by Stagecoach Group.

Further ITSO smartcard schemes have been specified for other rail franchises, including the East Midlands franchise, which is also operated by Stagecoach.

The first passenger pilot starting this month (November) is operating at stations between Staines and Windsor [following a successful staff trial over the same line]. This route has been chosen as it is self-contained.

Ian Dobbs, Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group’s Rail Division, said: “Stagecoach is already leading the way in delivering smartcard technology on its buses in the UK and we are excited about testing the national rail network’s first smartcard.

“We are committed to working with other transport players to realise the full, enormous potential of these smartcards throughout the South West Trains area.

“When the Department for Transport and Transport for London have completed work on integrating the ITSO and Oystercard systems, we look forward to rolling out the benefits of smartcards across the entire South West Trains’ network.”

Andrew Adonis, Transport Minister at the Department for Transport , said: “We welcome this pilot for ITSO Smartcards on South West Trains’ services and look forward to the wider roll-out that will revolutionise the way passengers access rail tickets.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

South West Trains

South West Trains, the UK's biggest commuter rail network, runs nearly 1700 trains a day in the south-west of England out of London Waterloo. It is part of the South western rail franchise, which also includes Island Line, on the Isle of Wight, has been designated a Community Rail Partnership.

Stagecoach Group

Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport company with bus and rail operations in the UK and North America. The Group employs around 30,000 people and runs around 12,000 buses and trains.
Connecting communities in more than 100 towns and cities, Stagecoach is one of UK’s biggest bus and coach operators. The company runs around 7,000 vehicles from Devon in south-west England to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, carrying around 2 million passengers every day.
In addition to the South Western rail franchise, Stagecoach also operates East Midlands Trains, which runs high-speed long distance services from London St. Pancras to Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham. It also operates regional services between Nottingham and Derby – Lincoln – Cleethorpes – Skegness, and between Derby and Crewe - Matlock and Norwich and Liverpool.
Stagecoach has a 49% shareholding in Virgin Rail Group, which operates the West Coast inter-city rail franchise.
Stagecoach is Britain's biggest tram operator, running networks in both Sheffield and Manchester. The Group operates the Supertram network in Sheffield, a 29km tram system incorporating three routes in the city. Stagecoach Group also operates and maintains the 37km Manchester Metrolink tram network on behalf of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.

Stagecoach and Smartcard technology

Stagecoach has already installed smartcard technology on around 2,000 of its buses operating in the UK.

Next year bus passengers in Liverpool are to be the first in the UK to be able to use a bankcard to make on-board payment for travel under a partnership between Stagecoach, MasterCard and The Royal Bank of Scotland. A one-year trial will see the major roll-out of the technology on around 200 Stagecoach buses in Merseyside, allowing passengers to make fast, convenient and safe payments simply by tapping their card on a dedicated reader.

For further information regarding South West Trains, please contact the press office on 020 7620 5229.