The Scottish Government and European Regional Development Fund has awarded 23 bus operators a total of £447,850 to help them offer contactless payment options.

It is estimated that the cash, awarded in the first round of a Smart Pay Grant Fund, will provide a contactless payment solution to potentially 4.5 million fare paying journeys throughout Scotland.

The fund builds on the rollout of contactless payment by the country’s largest operators and is a response to feedback from smaller operators around the financial barriers to upgrading.

Smart ticketing

The Scottish Government’s vision is that all journeys on Scotland’s public transport networks can be made using some form of smart ticketing or payment and passengers can expect to benefit from this payment option from spring 2019.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson, said: “Contactless payments make it easier to access travel in Scotland and I am delighted we have been able to support up to 23 smaller operators in making the transition to this convenient payment solution.

“This Government is committed to supporting the bus industry and also people right across the country who choose to travel by bus. By helping smaller operators with the financial costs of upgrading to contactless payment, customers will benefit from quicker and easier transactions, whether by card or by mobile phone.

“A second round of the fund will open on 16 January and we are now widening this fund out to all operators, so that even more organisations can take advantage of the support on offer.”

Keith Shand, assistant operations manager at Garelochhead Mini Bus and Coaches, said: “Modern day society expects to board a bus and not have to carry the correct change. Feedback from our customers shows 75% have indicated they would use contactless payments on our buses and we’re delighted that we will now be able to deliver this service.”