The government’s new transport strategy outlines the use of tap-and-go travel across trains, trams and buses in order to create a more joined-up transport network across the country.
On Thursday 2 April, the government announced more local powers for contactless travel - benefiting passengers, drivers and communities in more towns and cities across England.
Joined-up travel systems are already in place in some areas of the country, such as Liverpool, Nottingham and London, with passengers able to seamlessly travel on multiple modes of transport across the city using only a contactless bank card instead of different tickets and apps on their phone. Local leaders are being given the tools to replicate these pre-existing systems in their own areas, with back-end technical support and the certainty of long-term funding. Clear blueprints for building joined-up transport networks will be provided in the governments new local transport plan guidance, allowing local leaders to use their funding effectively.
This tap-and-go initiative is one of more than 40 fully funded commitments in the government’s ‘Better Connected’ national transport strategy that are designed to make everyday journeys simpler and more reliable. The strategy also announces a new partnership with Google, which will allow passengers to track their bus in real time through Google Maps, a useful feature for passengers in rural areas with infrequent bus services. Drivers will also benefit from the expansion of the National Parking Platform, allowing for the use of any parking app across participating car parks, rather than having to download a different app for different car parks.