Ticketer enables multimodal ticketing functionality
First Bus, Great Western Railway (GWR) and Ticketer have collaborated to provide new electronic ticketing functionality connecting bus and rail services via a single QR code.
Passengers can now purchase a rail and PlusBus ticket through their smartphone for their complete journey with First Bus and GWR for travel to and around Weston-super-Mare, using a single electronic ticket.
The electronic rail and PlusBus ticket can be purchased from GWR onboard and at stations. Passengers can scan and validate its QR code on the Ticketer Electronic Ticket Machines (ETMs) onboard all First West of England Badgerline services within Weston-super-Mare.
Previously accepted as a paper ticket flash pass, the introduction of rail and PlusBus ticket validation via a QR code is intended to make boarding faster, easier and more efficient for both drivers and passengers. Ticketer is the first provider to bring validation of QR codes for joint rail and PlusBus tickets to market.
“Being able to scan the integrated rail and PlusBus ticket on our buses will benefit our customers and drivers by making boarding faster and simpler” – Rob Pymm, Commercial Director at First West of England
Rob Pymm, Commercial Director at First West of England, said: “Taking the hassle out of multi-modal journeys is an important part of encouraging sustainable travel, so we’re delighted that through our work with GWR and Ticketer we’ve been able to launch this new innovation in Weston-super-Mare. Being able to scan the integrated rail and PlusBus ticket on our buses will benefit our customers and drivers by making boarding faster and simpler, and we look forward to it being available across our services in other areas over the coming months.”
“Any of our operators who have QR scanners on their ticket machines can take advantage of our latest innovation” – Jason Mann, Head of Product at Ticketer
Jason Mann, Head of Product at Ticketer, said: “We are always keen to launch new and innovative solutions to our ticket machines. Automatically scanning and verifying PlusBus QR coded tickets will introduce ease and convenience for both operators and passengers, help deliver a more efficient service, and enable smarter planning and better data collection. Any of our operators who have QR scanners on their ticket machines can take advantage of our latest innovation.”
A further roll-out of the new connected ticket solution is expected to follow.