Public transport operator Translink has announced plans for contactless payments across its bus and rail services in Northern Ireland. The move comes as part of a £45m (US$60m) investment by the Northern Ireland Executive and will, says Translink, “transform travel and lead to an increase in the number of people using public transport”.

“Exciting enhancements will include the acceptance of contactless payment cards on buses, e-purse payments like the London-style Oyster card, ticket vending machines, gated rail stations and an online app for customers to manage their accounts and top up their smartcards,” says Chris Conway, chief executive of Translink Group.

Transportation and parking solutions provider Parkeon has been awarded the contract to design and deliver the new ticketing system. Implementation is expected to start in 2018 with the new Bus Rapid Transit System. Contactless payments for Metro and Ulsterbus services are slated for the following year.

“The current ticketing system was introduced 15 years ago and serves around 80m passenger journeys every year,” says the province’s Minister for Infrastructure, Chris Hazzard. “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.”

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