Contactless payments go live in First Aberdeen operating area
- Bus operator is the first in Scotland to use the technology
- Technology complements successful roll-out of new ticket machines, mobile ticketing and app innovations
Local bus operator First Aberdeen has announced the roll-out of contactless payments on its services, making it the first bus operator in Scotland to deliver the innovation.
The company sees the contactless bank card as a further means of reducing the use of cash on buses and speeding up boarding times and services. It is also accepting Apple Pay and Android Pay as part of the contactless roll-out.
The launch of contactless follows the introduction of mobile payment by First Bus mTicket*, the roll-out of a new First Bus multi-modal journey planning app and the launch of the multi-operator GrassHOPPER smartcard in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. (Find out more about how we’re improving the journey experience in the Notes to Editors section).
Contactless payment has been introduced after an extensive trial period on new ticket machines, which are faster and even more secure for customers, and it will soon be available across all First Bus services, including First Glasgow and First Scotland East/Midland Bluebird.
Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director of First Bus in Scotland, said: “We’re very proud to announce that First Aberdeen is leading the way on bus in Scotland with contactless technology. This is another major step forward in improving the experience for our customers and builds on other innovations including our mobile mTickets and new journey planner app.”
Designed to make paying for goods and services more convenient, the contactless option on First Bus removes the need to carry cash or purchase tickets in advance, while the fast and easy contactless payment will improve boarding times and lead to quicker bus journeys. The company has demonstrated boarding times are 75% quicker if customers use mTickets or smartcards.**
Currently, more than 20% of First Aberdeen customers use First mobile mTickets and the GrassHOPPER multi-operator smartcard.
The investment in contactless forms part of First Bus plans to transform the customer experience through innovative new technology, having already invested significantly in mTickets, free on board Wi-fi and the online journey planner app.
Managing Director of First Bus, Giles Fearnley, said: “The introduction of contactless payment alongside our success with mobile ticketing is pivotal as we continue to make bus travel a convenient, simple and attractive experience for our customers, despite the ever increasing congestion that we face in most of our operations across the UK.
“Use of mTickets is exceeding our expectations and yet continues to grow on a daily basis. I fully expect customers to welcome and grasp contactless bus travel with the same enthusiasm.”
Customers can pay with contactless for multiple tickets in a single transaction as long as the total amount is £30 or less. The banks have set the maximum amount that can be paid using contactless to £30. So, for example, customers can buy First Aberdeen single/day/weekly tickets to a total of £30 in a single transaction on our buses. Contactless is available on all daily First Aberdeen services.
Earlier this year, the UK Cards Association announced that contactless payments amounted to 32% of card purchases, an increase from 15% a year ago, with total contactless spending in March at £4 billion. (Figures from the UK Cards Association, March 2017).