
February 5, 2008
Posted by Dan at 12:25 AM
A smart card system known as Trainline Smart is being rolled out in the UK as a convenient new way to pay for rail and bus fares. Trainline expects its new service to account for half of all rail ticket sales by 2012. Not only does the program add convenience, it also reduces the need for producing paper tickets. Currently, Trainline Smart is being deployed in stages across UK rail and bus systems. In time it will serve as an upgrade the London Underground Oyster smart card ticketing system.
With Trainline Smart, passengers can use their cards for journeys to and from any UK station that accepts smart ticketing. Smart ticket fares are purchased online or via mobile phone, then downloaded onto the passenger's card at rail and bus stations, or at home using an inexpensive smart card reader/writer. Tickets are validated at smart-enabled ticket gates or by onboard train managers with handheld readers.
The Trainline Smart program is seen as a giant step forward in building an integrated national smart ticketing system that will eventually require passengers to carry a single card for all bus, subway, and train journeys.