Contactless ticketing on every UK bus by 2020

Smart ticketing could be available on every bus in Britain by 2022, the country's major operators have announced.

The UK's five main bus operators- Stagecoach (pictured), First Bus, Go-Ahead, Arriva and National Express want to roll out smart tickets by the summer.

The scheme would see contactless technology installed on all of the UK’s 32,000 buses to enable cashless travel.

Britain’s five main bus operators – Stagecoach, First Bus, Go-Ahead, Arriva and National Express – are to produce a business case for rolling out the technology by the summer.

Meanwhile train operators have provided more funding for a joint project with the card industry to explore how long-distance and season tickets can be loaded on to payment cards so passengers no longer have to print out tickets.

Transport minister Andrew Jones said: “The smart ticketing revolution is helping to build a modern, affordable transport network that provides better journeys for everyone.

“By working together, [we] have been able to ensure more and more people can use smart ticketing to get around. We are determined to continue driving progress so passengers get the quick and simple journeys they want.”