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Clyde Commuters GoSmart with McGill’s

Clyde commuters using some of McGill’s busiest routes are set to benefit from a new Smart ticketing trial being introduced from 26 February.

From this date, customers on the company’s ClydeFlyer routes will be able to purchase a 10-journey carnet on a new smart card for use between Largs, Dunoon, Inverclyde and Glasgow city centre.

The new 10-journey tickets will offer customers a convenient and flexible way of travelling; the GoSmartcard, which carries the saltirecard branding on one side for the trial, is pre-loaded before travel and can be topped up with additional 10 journeys, as and when required, on any ClydeFlyer bus or at SPT Travel Centres.

Derek Mackay, Minister for Transport said:

“This is an important step towards delivery of Smart-enabled travel products, that brings benefits to passengers and operators alike. McGill’s is the first of Scotland’s five major bus operators to introduce commercial smart ticketing using products that can be loaded on any saltirecard.”

“The use of Smart technology, to enable one card to fulfil many purposes, forms part of the Scottish Government’s long-term vision that all journeys on Scotland’s bus, rail, ferry, subway and tram networks can be made using some form of smart ticketing or payment.”

Commenting on the announcement, McGill’s Managing Director, Ralph Roberts said:

“McGill’s is delighted to work with Transport Scotland on the development and delivery of this Smart ticketing trial. Smart-enabled ticketing offers a host of benefits for our customers – from quicker boarding, to no need for a paper ticket or to find change for every journey. We look forward to hearing the feedback of our ClydeFlyer customers who choose to GoSmart.”

Notes To Editors

McGill’s is Scotland’s largest independent bus operator, servicing 100+ routes across its network. There are currently half a million journeys every week on a McGill’s bus.

The new 10-journey carnet will be loaded on to McGill’s GoSmart card, which carries the saltirecard branding on one side of the card for the trial, will be available for use on the company’s ClydeFlyer routes.

The saltirecard is part of Transport Scotland’s Smart and Integrated Ticketing Strategy and is a key component of the recently published National Transport Strategy Refresh (www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy/national-transport-strategy).

Transport Scotland’s technology services supplier, Applied Card Technologies (ACT), provide the systems behind the commercial smartcard solution. (http://www.weareact.com)

The electronic ticket machines on the McGill’s ClydeFlyer buses is provided by Ticketer.(http://www.ticketer.co.uk)

Forthcoming developments include the introduction of a Smart product on ferry. Also, Grasshopper which is an existing multi-operator zonal bus paper ticketing scheme in Aberdeenshire, will be offered on Smart cards from summer 2016.

There are currently over 2 million saltirecards in circulation - National Entitlement Cards , Young Persons cards and ‘Kidz’ Cards which share the same technical platform.

Further information on McGill’s GoSmart card, along with ticket prices, is available on McGill’s website:www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk

Contact Information

SG Communications

SGCommunications@scot.gov.uk

Channel website: http://www.gov.scot/

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