Ticketing

in its beginnings, during the financial year 2006-07, approximately 77,000 PLUSBUS tickets were sold, which represents an increase of 55% in comparison with the previous year’s figures.

Electronic payments range from payments by bank debit, by credit card over mobile phones or by the use of smart cards. They offer passengers more flexibility and a broader choice of paying for their tickets, whilst adapting to a modern “electronic purse lifestyle”.

Example: In Vienna, tickets can be ordered and paid for with a mobile phone. A text message has to be sent to a certain number and the ticket will be sent as a text message back to the mobile phone. The price of the ticket is then included in the monthly mobile phone invoice.

Across the United Kingdom, Stagecoach has introduced the so called “tap and go” technology, which allows passengers to buy their tickets on-board with their bankcards.

Ticket machines located on the street allow passengers to buy their tickets in advance, therefore reducing boarding time which results in a shorter bus journey.

Example: New solar-powered ticket machines were installed in the city of Manchester by Stagecoach and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive. More than 70 on-street ticket machines can also be found on the streets of Brussels.