Tap-and-go travel across buses, trains, and trams will benefit more cities and towns across England after the Government announced more local powers for contactless travel in its national integrated transport strategy. Better Connected sets out a long-term framework for delivering a more joined up, accessible and user-focused transport system across England.
Local leaders are being given the tools to replicate joined-up systems already in place in areas such as Liverpool, London and Nottingham, where passengers travel seamlessly across the city on different transport while tapping their bank card as payment – without juggling multiple tickets or apps.
It is one of more than 40 fully funded commitments in the new Better Connected national transport strategy, designed to make everyday journeys simpler, easier to pay for and more reliable from door to door.
Huge steps have already been taken to make people’s everyday journeys more affordable, including the rail fare freeze, the bus fare cap, and freezing fuel duty.
Giving people genuine choice over how they travel and making these options more affordable is at the core of this strategy. By providing local leaders with more flexibility, control and long-term funding certainty, they can design more joined-up networks that deliver better value for money, helping to keep fares down and support the cost of living.
The strategy also announces a breakthrough new partnership with Google, allowing passengers across England to track their bus in real time through Google Maps. The service will be especially useful for passengers in rural areas where bus services are less frequent.
Drivers will also benefit from the expansion of the National Parking Platform, allowing them to use any parking app across participating car parks, ending the frustrating experience of having to download a different app each time.
Better Connected also announces a ‘Mini Switzerland’ pilot in the Peak District’s Hope Valley, backed by £6 million of government funding. Taking its name from best practice in European rural areas, the trial will test more frequent, reliable rural bus services timed to connect with arriving trains to support local communities and tourism.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:
“For too long, getting from A to B has been more complicated than it needs to be.
“People want journeys to be easy and reliable. They want to be able to get off a train and straight on to a bus without having to battle through a confusing system or buy separate tickets for each part of their journey.
“That’s why we’re giving local leaders the powers to build transport networks that are simpler, more accessible and better connected, improving everyday journeys and supporting growth in every corner of the country.”
(Picture: Yay Images)
