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York considers transit card scheme
17 May 2010

York Council is under growing pressure to introduce an integrated transit card scheme across the city's bus network, reports the Yorkshire Post. 

Although the majority of routes are served by the First West and North Yorkshire networks, 30 per cent of lines are split between several smaller operators.

Passengers who change bus operators when travelling across the city are charged twice, leaving many customers out of pocket. 

An integrated ticketing system, which incorporates a smart transit card, would not only lower fare prices but also eliminate the need for cash and therefore reduce queuing times. 

Operators are, however, unconvinced the move would be in their best interests, as they are worried about the cost of implementing the scheme, while it may undermine the viability of certain routes.

York's assistant director for city strategy Richard Wood, expressed his belief that the move would in fact benefit bus operators. 

He told the newspaper: "If introduced correctly ... an integrated ticketing product has the potential to grow the overall bus patronage market." 

Meanwhile, a smart card called Yorcard has been successfully trialled on buses and trains in South Yorkshire, but it faces the same barriers over its region-wide deployment.