Liverpool to trial cashless transport payment
LIVERPOOL is to trial cashless payment on its buses.
PayPass cards are being tested on around 200 Stagecoach buses on Merseyside, from April 2009.
The scheme, which is being run by Mastercard, Royal Bank of Scotland and Stagecoach, allows cardholders to make payments of £10 or less by tapping their bank card on a special reader.
Mastercard and Maestro cardholders will also be able to use PayPass in several shopping locations across Liverpool to make small payments quickly.
PayPass is linked directly to a customer’s debit or credit account, so payment is taken automatically, and a ticket is issued as normal as proof of purchase.
Unlike existing smart card programmes, such as Transport for London’s Oyster card, users won’t need to pre-pay and top-up cards.
Tom Wileman, director for Stagecoach Merseyside, said the system will make bus travel faster and more convenient.
“Penny Lane was made famous by Liverpool’s favourite sons, The Beatles, but today it takes on a whole new significance. Now the 200 Stagecoach buses on 11 different routes passing that landmark location will no longer need customers to fumble around for cash, but to simply tap their PayPass debit or credit card to travel across the city,” he said.
