Passengers able to register for travel smartcard

PASSENGERS can today register for Scotland’s most sophisticated smartcard, which Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) hopes will be extended from the Glasgow Subway to buses, trains and ferries.

The Bramble card will give contact-less entry to the city’s underground system within weeks using new “smart” gates at stations, which SPT hopes will encourage more people to use public transport.

A more versatile version of the Oyster card used in London, it will act as a pay-as-you go travel ticket that can be topped up like a mobile phone.

SPT hopes passengers will also be able to use the card for other travel, and for other activities, such as being combined with Celtic and Rangers season tickets for entry to football grounds, and for pupils paying for their school lunches.

This is made possible by using ITSO-compliant technology - the national standard for smart ticketing.

SPT chief executive Gordon Maclennan said: “SPT is carrying out a full-scale modernisation of the world’s third-oldest subway system, and the switch over to smart technology is another key milestone for us.

“Smartcards will mean an end to paper tickets and easier, quicker journeys with fewer queues at ticket offices.

“Subway passengers can add money on to their smartcards to use any time they want without an expiry date.

SPT chairman James Coleman said: “You only have to look at how successful smartcards have been worldwide in encouraging people on to public transport.“