Go-Ahead subsidiary Oxford Bus Company has recently installed two self-service ITSO top-up vending machines at its High Street travel shop which enable customers to re-load their Key smartcard. Oxford Bus says that the machines represent an industry first to use new back-office technology.

“We hope to install further machines at locations around the city in the near future,” says managing director Phil Southall. 

Technology supplier The Hub was awarded the contract to develop the devices last year, and is currently in the process of rolling out three further machines at sister companies Metrobus and Brighton & Hove Bus Company as part of a 12-month trial. 

The Hub Company CEO Sam Rudder adds: “We are delighted to be working on this industry breakthrough in cost-effective Key smartcard top-up and passenger convenience. The solution is also ready for the Oxford Bus Company to deploy a range of top up devices using The Hub software Apollo and a central dashboard which is used to remotely manage 24/7, both top-up and payment.”