What happened to the "smart ticketing" thing in Manchester?

[RubyOnRails]

I remember seeing a while ago all this smart ticketing stuff happening in Manchester and being able to use contactless to pay for tram fares and it was all coming "in 2014".

It's now 2015 and as I got off the metro the other day I noticed one of the posters again and decided to see if it was gonna happen anytime soon (you'd be surprised how many mets I've missed buying a ticket...) but the website hasn't changed and the social media looks abandoned*.

Anyone know what happened? Or did it turn into a big flop?

* = Twitter (@mygetmethere) last updated Jan 2015. FB (Mygetmethere) last updated Oct 2014.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

From what I see on the website (Tell me more > When it's arriving)....

2014 - Introduction for concessionary pass users on Metrolink

2015 - Introduction for paying customers on Metrolink (spring/Summer)

2015 - Introduction for igo pass holders on Metrolink (spring/Summer)

2015 - Introduction for contactless payments on Metrolink (later in 2015)

2015 - Introduction for Cycle hub members (spring/Summer)

2015+ Introduction begins on Greater Manchester buses (no definite date)

2017+ Introduction begins on Greater Manchester trains (no definite date)

 

[RubyOnRails]

From what I see on the website (Tell me more > When it's arriving)....

2014 - Introduction for concessionary pass users on Metrolink

2015 - Introduction for paying customers on Metrolink (spring/Summer)

2015 - Introduction for igo pass holders on Metrolink (spring/Summer)

2015 - Introduction for contactless payments on Metrolink (later in 2015)

2015 - Introduction for Cycle hub members (spring/Summer)

2015+ Introduction begins on Greater Manchester buses (no definite date)

2017+ Introduction begins on Greater Manchester trains (no definite date)

Only plans for summer I've seen on the Metrolink is they're closing St. Peters Square. Great :-;

Seriously speaking though, I saw that but I'm just curious if anyone has any other knowledge of what's going on because the whole project seems completely abandoned...

 

[telstarbox]

If you look on the TfGMC (TfGM Committee) website there might be something in the sub committee minutes. Thought it would be up and running long ago!

Given how bus operators in GM seem to come and go, I did wonder how they would ever achieve full coverage on buses as TfL have done with Oyster and contactless. Metrolink and rail should be easier.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Given how bus operators in GM seem to come and go, I did wonder how they would ever achieve full coverage on buses as TfL have done with Oyster and contactless. Metrolink and rail should be easier.

Most bus companies now use ticket machines with a contactless pad for passes - those could at least accept other types of smartcard.

 

[dggar]

there is thread on SSC forum about the Manchester "Smart" ticket.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1011293

 

[radamfi]

Given how bus operators in GM seem to come and go, I did wonder how they would ever achieve full coverage on buses as TfL have done with Oyster and contactless. Metrolink and rail should be easier.

Maybe for buses it might be worth waiting for Greater Manchester devolution. Under deregulation the implementation is bound to be a joke. Chances are it will just act as a debit card and you will need to tell the driver the destination, making the boarding painfully slow. The only sensible choices are either flat fare, zonal fares where you press a button to choose the number of zones (like for example Copenhagen), or touch in touch out.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

The only difference I have noted on bus fares, in my corner of Greater Manchester, is which route number you use, distance seems to make no difference what-so-ever!

 

[button_boxer]

Maybe for buses it might be worth waiting for Greater Manchester devolution. Under deregulation the implementation is bound to be a joke. Chances are it will just act as a debit card and you will need to tell the driver the destination, making the boarding painfully slow. The only sensible choices are either flat fare, zonal fares where you press a button to choose the number of zones (like for example Copenhagen), or touch in touch out.

Trent Barton seem to manage OK with a touch in/touch out smartcard (Mango), the trick being that the touch out pad is separate from the driver's ticket machine on the other side of the aisle. As long as both boarding and alighting passengers keep to their respective left then those touching out don't get in the way of those boarding.

 

[dnisbet]

Just been thinking about this today and found this thread. My year season ticket seems to stop working at the barriers at Oxford road after about a month of use, contactless would solve this.
It does look like it's all gone quiet until they renegotiate the franchises.