LOTHIAN INTRODUCES CITY-WIDE CONTACTLESS PAYMENT WITH DAILY CAPPING
You will be able to use a contactless card for the first time in Edinburgh as Lothian introduces a new payment system just ahead of the Festival.
From start of service today, 24 July 2019, Lothian’s services will begin accepting contactless payment including daily fare capping – a first in Scotland.
Daily capping, similar to the London system, allows fast and convenient means of payment on Lothian services. Customers no longer need to know what ticket to buy before they travel – they simply tap their cards on the readers upon boarding and they are charged the Adult Single fare. After three or more taps, the fare will be capped at the AdultDAYticket price.
Nigel Serafini, Lothian’s Commercial Director said: “We are delighted to be launching city-wide contactless payment for our customers. With more and more of our transactions becoming ‘cashless’, it was important to recognise the demand for this capability across our fleet.
“This has been at the top of customers’ wish lists for some time and we’re pleased to be able to deliver an easy and convenient method of payment, which removes the need to carry cash, or know at the start of the day how many journeys you plan to make. The capping system means that our customers will always get the cheapest daily fare possible, no matter how their travel plans might change throughout the day.”
The new contactless payment system on Lothian’s services has been developed by long-term ticketing and fare collection technology partner Flowbird Transport Intelligence, working with Visa, the global digital payments company.
Owen Griffith, Managing Director of Flowbird Transport Intelligence, said: “This new contactless and fare capped system will make bus travel in the city easier than ever before, while simultaneously applying maximum daily fares rules for multiple journeys. We have delivered this innovation in partnership with Lothian and it marks another successful milestone in our long-standing relationship.”
Steven Orelowitz, Head of Transit, Europe, Visa, said: “The UK continues to lead the way when it comes to contactless payment systems on public transport and we are thrilled to have partnered with Lothian to bring contactless to their buses. People now expect to pay as swiftly and seamlessly for travel as they do for any other purchase, so the introduction of contactless is a huge step forward for Edinburgh, and a boost to the customer experience for both residents and visitors to the city.”
The system also accepts Apple Pay and Google Pay, so payments can be made using mobile devices.
In order to benefit from daily capped rates, bus users will need to use the same contactless card or device across the whole day. If a customer swaps between different payment cards or devices between journeys, payments will not be capped.
The contactless system – and daily capping – can only be applied for individual travel – if travelling with other people, each individual must have their own card or device.
For more information, visit www.lothianbuses.co.uk/contactless
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