Thursday 31 January 2013

North Wales national smartcard trial launched


GoCymru, the new Welsh Government funded smart travel card, started trials in Wrexham and Bangor on January 31.  Cardholders will be able to top up their card online, on bus, over the telephone or through retail machines installed at a number of locations, including Post Offices.

Other benefits to the new scheme
include:
- cutting down on boarding times which will improve timetable efficiency
- the ability to offer better and more flexible ticketing deals
- enabling operators and local authorities to use data from the system to improve and better target services

Speaking at Yale College, Wrexham, for the official launch of the North Wales pilot the Welsh Minister with responsibility for Transport, Carl Sargeant, said: “Not having the correct change for the bus will be a thing of the past with the introduction of this new GoCymru travel card.

“Providing the people of Wales with a realistic alternative option to the car for their everyday journeys is key if we are to develop a truly sustainable public transport network that is widely used across Wales.  “Part of this goal is to remove any misconceptions about public transport or any unnecessary inconveniences – such
as not having the right change.

“The introduction of the GoCymru card, which is a National Transport Plan commitment, will be another step in the right direction of achieving our goal.”

Read the full article via ITSO.