Norfolk: 'Oyster Card' Style System Coming For Buses

27 February 2013, 11:03 | Updated: 27 February 2013, 11:24

£2.5 million is going to be spent on giving all Norfolk buses a smart ticket system similar to the Oyster cards in London.

The scheme, which will be funded by the Government.  They have set aside £15m to spend across the whole country to get a smart ticket system in place,

£2.5million is being spent in Norfolk and will allow the county’s entire bus fleet to be fitted with smart technology.

The pilot will last for three years and afterwards the Department for Transport will look at how well it's worked here before rolling it out across the whole country.

Over 40 bus operators in Norfolk will take part will over 700 buses fitted with smart ticket machines.

Transport Minister, Norman Baker said: “Smart ticketing is the passport to more efficient, seamless journeys for passengers.

"I want smart cards being rolled out not just on buses but on all modes of public transport in England as quickly as possible and this important piece of work will make that ambition one step closer to becoming a reality.”

Norfolk has been selected for the pilot because it provides a good mix of rural and urban passenger and bus operator markets, which will enable the Government to test different scenarios and understand what best works for passengers.

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation, said:

"I am delighted that the Government has agreed to fund this demonstration pilot, and that Norfolk residents will be the first to benefit from the convenience and flexibility of smart cards. We have worked hard to show that Norfolk is the right place to trial smart card technology in a rural area. Under the trial we will be aiming to show that, with the right conditions in place, smart and integrated ticketing is achievable and delivers great benefits to everyone."