Dundee’s three bus operators have today (Thursday 15th September) launched an innovative new smartcard product. Xplore Dundee, Stagecoach and Moffat and Williamson are among the first in Scotland to offer a multi-operator bus ticket, which means passengers can travel across Dundee and the surrounding area using three different companies but just one ticket to make travel easier and more convenient for passengers across the city.
The product is welcomed by Scotland’s Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, who said “Enabling transport users to have one ticket they can use across multiple operators is a key commitment, one which should help encourage more people out of their cars and onto public transport. This latest product comes hot on the heels of similar offerings on Aberdeen’s bus services giving a clear indication of the very real progress being made
“Smart ticketing is only possible through the cooperation of stakeholders and I’d like to thank them for that. I look forward to seeing even more schemes delivered on the saltirecard and even more integrated journeys.”
The ABC (All Bus Companies) tickets are now available to buy from all the participating operators and are loaded onto each company’s existing smartcard product, ie Discovr, StagecoachSmart, Moffat and Williamson saltirecard and any other city-wide saltirecards, including the National Entitlement Card.
The ticket types available are:
• ABC Day – adult £4.20/child £2.90
• ABC Week – adult £14.50/child £9.50
These will give access to all operators and all routes within Dundee and the immediate surrounding area. Full terms and conditions and maps of the ticket zone are available from each operator at their websites, at dundeetravelinfo.com, at the Travel Shop in Commercial Street and the Seagate bus station.
The partnership also involves Dundee City Council and Angus Council, and is supported by Transport Scotland and the Scottish Cities Alliance.
The launch of this initiative fulfils a pledge made earlier this year by the local bus operators and others across Scotland, who outlined their commitment to deliver multi-operator smart ticketing for Scottish bus customers during 2016-17. It’s the first part of a country-wide smart scheme which could pave the way for seamless travel using many different operators and modes of transport.
Managing Director of Xplore Dundee Elsie Turbyne said: “This is an important step forward for public transport in Dundee and the surrounding area, and I hope our customers will embrace the benefits of this exciting new smart ticket. It’s an innovative and forward-thinking product, which will make bus travel even easier for people living and working in the city and its adjoining towns and villages.
“I’m delighted that Xplore Dundee and its customers are among the first in Scotland to benefit from this innovative new product.”
Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director, Stagecoach East Scotland said: \"This exciting project is part of a major investment we are making in even more improvements for customers including our new website, which lets people track their bus, and a new app which will be coming soon.
“We\'re proud to be working alongside other operators in the area, as well as Dundee City Council and Angus Council to provide seamless, smart travel across Dundee and beyond.
George Devine, Managing Director, Moffat & Williamson said: \"We’re looking forward to working in conjunction with Transport Scotland, Dundee City Council and local transport operators to ultimately make bus travel in the area easier for our passengers. Offering a smart multi-operator ticket option to customers is a massive step forward for this area, and hopefully will encourage the use of public transport.”
Dundee City Council’s Transport Convenor Will Dawson said: \"This type of development is something that many people in the city will welcome.
\"The ABC ticket will help bus passengers to make smoother, simpler and more economic journeys in the city and surrounding areas and I am massively supportive of the development.\"
On behalf of Angus Council, Cllr Jeanette Gaul, vice convener of Communities said: “We welcome the introduction of this smart ticketing initiative which will offer our residents greater flexibility and convenience as they travel by public transport across Angus and Dundee.”
Chair of the Scottish Cities Alliance, Councillor Andrew Burns, said:
“This new and innovative smartcard is fantastic news for people who travel by bus across Dundee and the surrounding areas. We’re delighted to have been able to work with Dundee City Council and Transport Scotland and provide support for this ground-breaking project which is the first of its kind in Scotland.
\"It demonstrates the great benefits to be gained from partnership working between the bus operators and councils in order to deliver this innovative project. It is also the first part of a country-wide smart ticketing scheme that will help to improve services and ensure that Scotland cities become more efficient and user friendly through the adoption of innovative smart technology. We look forward to further smart ticketing initiatives being rolled out across our cities and regions in the coming years.”
