01/12/2008

• Over 1900 new ticket machines on Stagecoach buses by Spring 2009
• More than 2million concessionary journeys made using new technology

Stagecoach is on target to install brand new smartcard ticket machines on all of its buses in Scotland by Spring next year.

The Perth-based transport company has already fitted around 1500 high-tech ERG TP5000 ticket machines in its Scottish buses, with around 400 left to deploy.

And, so far, the machines have been used to facilitate well in excess of two million concessionary travel journeys in Scotland.

Currently, the use of smartcards in Scotland is limited to concessionary travel cardholders. The new machines require concessionary travel passengers to show their National Entitlement Card to the driver while placing their card on the new readers. The new machines make concession travel recording more accurate and reduce the likelihood of fraudulent behaviour, as well as making life easier for passengers.

The implementation of the scheme is being managed and funded by Transport Scotland, an agency of the Scottish Government, and is the first time the technology has been introduced in an entire country rather than a city. The only similar schemes on such a scale are in cities such as Hong Kong and London.

George Connell, Programme Manager for Stagecoach Group, said: “Our delivery of this project in Scotland is on target and we are proud to be leading the way on the installation of this new technology in support of the Scottish Government’s concessionary travel scheme. These new ticket machines will have long-lasting benefits for passengers and the industry once smartcard technology is introduced across the country.”

Gordon Hanning, Head of Concessionary Travel and Integrated Ticketing Unit at Transport Scotland, said: “Transport Scotland has been working with bus operators and ticketing suppliers to ensure the roll out of the Electronic Ticketing Machines on buses across Scotland is implemented as smoothly as possible. We anticipate the bulk of the entire Scottish bus fleet will be equipped with Electronic Ticketing Machines by next spring and we are pleased operators, such as Stagecoach, are on target to achieve this.”

Rae Robinson, Project Manager of ERG Transit Systems, added: "We are delighted that we have been able to deliver on our commitments to both Stagecoach and Transport Scotland and we are pleased to be at the forefront of delivering ITSO systems to the bus industry in the UK.”

The programme of work in Scotland is part of a UK-wide Stagecoach initiative to work in partnership with local authorities to install ITSO certified machines on all 7200 Stagecoach buses. The project is part of the introduction of national concessionary travel schemes using smartcards across the UK. So far new smartcard enabled machines have been fitted on Stagecoach buses in Merseyside, Cambridgeshire, the South West, and Wales. A number of other English local authorities have already signed up to work with Stagecoach on new smartcard ticketing, and the Group expects more to follow.

In Merseyside the new machines will enable a Stagecoach to take part in a ground-breaking project, in partnership with Mastercard and the Royal Bank of Scotland, to trial "smart" credit and debit card payment of bus fares, without the need to carry cash or a travelcard.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Stagecoach Group

Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs around 30,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services.

• Photos to illustrate this press release are available on request by emailing lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com

For further information contact:

Lindsay Reid
Corporate Communications Manager
Stagecoach Group
10 Dunkeld Road
Perth
PH1 5TW
Phone: 01738 442111
Fax: 01738 443076
Mobile: 07500 446896
email: lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com