09/05/2007

• Electronic system boosts equality and social inclusion for passengers
• Administration savings of up to £20,000 for each local authority
• Expansion potential with national concession scheme in England in 2008

Local authorities in Scotland and England have signed up to Britain's first taxi smartcard system for over-60s who qualify for concessionary travel.

Dumfries and Galloway Council and Milton Keynes Council are the first two local authorities to adopt the new hi-tech system developed by Stagecoach Group subsidiary National Transport Tokens.

NTT has provided concessionary travel solutions for local authorities since 1973, supplying tokens that are redeemed for journeys on numerous modes of transport, including buses, taxis, community transport and dial-a-ride services.

The new system, called COPS (Concessionary Operators' Payment Scheme), uses on-board electronic terminals to read personalised smartcards issued to users by the local authority.

Smartcards are issued with an agreed concessionary value and have a photograph to ensure only those who qualify for the scheme are authorised to travel. Local authorities can set a maximum amount charged per journey and lost or stolen cards can be discontinued, safeguarding against fraudulent claims.

Electronic information from the terminals, which cost only £100 per unit, is downloaded on to "collection cards". They are then posted direct to NTT for reimbursement to transport operators via BACS direct to their bank account.

NTT distributes the cards directly to users, delivering administration cost savings of up to £20,000 to each local authority. Unused concessions can be returned to the council at the end of the financial year and the system also allows detailed analysis of concession spend to help set future budgets.

Malcolm Daughtrey, Managing Director of National Transport Tokens, said: "This innovation ensures there is no discrimination against concessionary passengers who don't have access to bus services. It is an excellent boost to mobility and social inclusion and is extremely easy to use.

"The new smartcard system is also a major step forward for local authorities, providing a simple, cost-effective, reliable and secure method of delivering concessionary travel to local people.

"We believe there is a huge potential to expand the benefits of this smartcard technology across the country, particularly with the introduction of the national concessionary travel scheme in England from 2008."

Around 1,000 taxi operators are currently registered to accept payment using NTT and this is expected to increase to around 3,000 in the next two to three years. This is in addition to existing links with many bus and rail operators who have used transport tokens for many years.

The new smartcard system is marketed through company subsidiary Concessionary Solutions Ltd.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Stagecoach Group
Steve Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications, Stagecoach Group
Tel: 01738 442111 or mobile: 07764 774680
email: steven.stewart@stagecoachgroup.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

Stagecoach Group is a leading international transport group, with extensive bus and rail operations in the UK and North America. The Group's businesses operate around 12,000 vehicles and rolling stock, and employ around 27,000 people.