Leaders lament ‘missed opportunity’ as smart ticketing programme is axed

Transport for the North members have formally agreed the closure of their planned £150m smart ticketing programme, after the Department for Transport (DfT) cut the organisation’s funding.

But the regional transport body also accepted this afternoon – 18 February – to approach the Treasury ahead of the Budget to attempt to persuade the Government to reconsider.

TfN had previously requested £33m for the year ahead to deliver contactless payment on rail, light rail and buses across the North, which it believes would have provided travellers with the confidence to use public transport during the country’s recovery from the pandemic.

The Integrated and Smart Travel (IST) programme’s first two phases has delivered smartcards on rail and an open-data-driven approach to using live information to deliver joined-up travel solutions.

But subsequent stages – which were to include contactless, pay-as-you-go travel on rail and supporting local smart ticketing – will not now go ahead.

Commenting earlier today, mayor of Sheffield city region, Dan Jarvis, said the programme’s closure would have an impact on plans to improve the passenger experience and to encourage more people back onto public transport.

“It’s very disappointing and I hope the DFT will review their position on this,” he added.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said IST had been designed to make people less reliant on their cars by making travelling around the north on public transport simpler.

She noted the network’s current complexity was a major deterrent for members of the public.

Both she and Cllr Nick Forbes recommended approaching the Treasury before the Budget announcement.

“It can be done if the will is there, and it would be a good idea for us to make our views known to the Treasury about what a missed opportunity this is,” she said.

Blake and Forbes both highlighted the importance of public transport in supporting the nation’s economic recovery.

TFN members noted the end of funding for IST and resolved to wind down the programme, while agreeing to contact the Treasury to ask the Government to review its funding decision.