26 May 2004

Integrated ticketing moves forward

New technology will shortly be installed to further integrate rail and Subway ticketing across the country.

The Scottish Executive has awarded SPT £122,000 for a technology upgrade that will fully integrate rail and ScotRail-issued ZoneCard tickets with both the Subway and Queen Street station ticket gates.

The new software will mean that ZoneCard tickets purchased at ScotRail stations will work rail and Subway ticket gates without the need for additional validation. At the moment, ZoneCard ticket users must have their ticket validated for use on the Subway and use the manual ticket gates at Queen Street station. The new tickets will reduce queues and inconvenience, bringing immediate benefits to the 70 per cent of ZoneCard ticket users who buy their tickets at a rail station.

In addition, passengers will be able to buy a ticket from any ScotRail station that will allow travel to a Glasgow rail station and then straight on to the Subway. Passenger surveys show that 6 per cent of those using SPT rail services also use the Subway, meaning fuss-free, joined-up journeys for almost 2.5 million people across the west of Scotland. There is also the potential to extend this across the UK: London's King Cross to Hillhead on one ticket.

The SPT rail network is the largest rail conurbation outside London and with a Subway train every four minutes during peak periods, there is no easier way to get around the city centre.

SPT Chair, Councillor Alistair Watson said:

"I am delighted that the Scottish Executive has approved this funding to further integrate public transport ticketing in the west of Scotland.

"Passengers have broadly welcomed the ticket gates, but we were concerned that our ZoneCard customers were not able to take full advantage of the new technology and we have made sure that this was addressed at the earliest opportunity.

"I hope that this new, easier system will encourage even more people to try public transport - I am sure that they will be impressed by the progress that is being made. Rail patronage is increasing and we must all welcome moves to make journeys that bit more attractive".

ends