Ticketing and Concessionary Travel on Public Transport - United ...

Ev 126 Transport Committee: Evidence
— Multiple operators with their own solutions will require multiple back oYce environments all with
potentially diVerent security arrangements <strong>and</strong> information protocols. Management of all of these
facilities <strong>and</strong> ensuring that they all access <strong>and</strong> use the same fares information <strong>and</strong> revenue
allocation rules will be an operational nightmare.
2.4 For success, our experience in London shows that you must have:
— a robust <strong>and</strong> knowledgeable client with vision, empowerment <strong>and</strong> clear objectives;
— a contract that provides incentives to meet the project objectives;
— a single systems integrator; <strong>and</strong>
— a chosen supplier with proven experience of similar applications which minimises the risks in
the project.
2.5 The chance of delivering an integrated system without a systems integrator is virtually non existent.
2.6 Given that the ITSO specification is subject to interpretation <strong>and</strong> may be met in diVerent ways it is
vital that there is a single customer with the power to make decisions on security arrangements,
interpretation of the specification, communications protocols <strong>and</strong> so forth. This customer must have an
intelligent vision of what is required <strong>and</strong> a full underst<strong>and</strong>ing of all of the implications of any changes from
an end user <strong>and</strong> an operator’s perspective. This customer must have the respect of all of the operators.
2.7 TranSys believes that the Rail Settlement Plan (RSP) should serve as the “customer” for a national
integrated ticketing system. They have the respect of the rail operators, they have managed ticketing
integration across the national rail network through magnetic tickets, <strong>and</strong> they have a full underst<strong>and</strong>ing
of all the operational issues.
The Use of Smartcard Technologies
3. Is the industry taking up modern smartcard technologies adequately <strong>and</strong> appropriately?
3.1 There has so far been limited take up of smartcard technologies outside of London. Take-up has been
patchy <strong>and</strong> has been on a small scale eg for bus services in Chester, bus services in Cumbria, bus services in
Southampton, <strong>and</strong> concessionary bus fares in Cornwall <strong>and</strong> in Mid SuVolk. In some places, smartcards have
been taken up, but these have been for local non-transport services such as libraries <strong>and</strong> leisure facilities (eg
SheYeld, Cambridgeshire, Bolton, <strong>and</strong> Bracknell Forest). Southampton has taken up smartcards for bus
services, proof of age, <strong>and</strong> for NHS organ donor registrations. At present, smartcard technologies have not
been taken up or delivered successfully in big UK cities or in the Home Counties on a scale anywhere near
that of PRESTIGE.
3.2 The experience of London has shown that some train operating companies (TOCs) have been slow
to take-up these cards (although the TOCs have recently agreed to accept an oVer from Transport for
London to install Oyster PAYG equipment). The TOCs have had concerns about revenue sharing <strong>and</strong>
allocation, <strong>and</strong> about the capital cost of system-wide installation. The barriers to the take-up are set out in
paragraphs 1.13 <strong>and</strong> 1.14.
3.3 The PRESTIGE-Oyster system in London is the largest commercial based ticketing system in the
UK. The system h<strong>and</strong>les 36 million passengers a week. It is a system that is durable, eYcient, fast, <strong>and</strong> has
equipped TfL with unprecedented levels of relevant <strong>and</strong> reliable data on journey <strong>and</strong> sales trends which they
can use to plan accurately future services.
3.4 The Scottish Executive is commissioning the first large scale implementation of an ITSO compliant
smartcard. The scheme is for concessionary travel on Scotl<strong>and</strong>’s public transport for elderly <strong>and</strong> disabled
citizens across Scotl<strong>and</strong>. It is currently undergoing a live test in the Shetl<strong>and</strong> Isl<strong>and</strong>s.
4. Does the ITSO system cater for the needs of all passengers <strong>and</strong> travel providers?
4.1 The Government has for some time m<strong>and</strong>ated the use of the ITSO st<strong>and</strong>ard for smartcard ticketing
when specifying contractual arrangements. ITSO was created to facilitate smartcard transport ticketing
inter-operability “from L<strong>and</strong>’s End to John O’Groats”.
4.2 The ITSO specification covers:
— Cards;
— Points-of-sale/service;
— Back oYce systems;
— Data formats <strong>and</strong> transfer protocols; <strong>and</strong>
— End-to-end security architecture.
The ITSO specification does not cover:
— Paper, magnetic or bar code ticketing;
— Business logic <strong>and</strong> rules; <strong>and</strong>