Smartcard scheme expanded in UK

East Midlands Trains in the UK, part of the transport operator 256 Stagecoach Group which operates trains and buses throughout the UK, is expanding its smartcard scheme that will allows rail users to purchase and store rail season tickets on a re-usable electronic smart card instead of using traditional paper tickets. The programme is operating under the UK government’s 3836 ITSO smartcard scheme for interoperable transport.

647 Vix Technology is underpinning this expansion of smart card technology by installing ITSO Smart Card readers and platform validators at 26 stations across the East Midlands network. The company has also supplied the call centre retail system, built on the Vix back office ITSO HOPS system. The company also enables smart ticketing on Stagecoach buses with Vix TP5000 Smart Ticket machines used on its entire 7,000 fleet of buses outside London.