TfGM launches integrated smart cards for bus and tram

Transport for Greater Manchester’s progress towards a fully integrated ticketing system across public transport has taken a step forward with the launch of its “get me there” smart card system across buses and Metrolink trams.

The system is now live. The cards allow passengers to use a single card for journeys on any Greater Manchester tram and bus. As well as as a range of  multimodal bus and tram products being made available, new smart cards for 16 – 18 year olds have been introduced along with corporate cards.

Payment by app has already been available on trams, while the “get me there” card has been in use for concessionary pass holders since 2014. Bus smart cards usable with different operators were also previously available.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “The expansion of get me there will certainly help make travel easier and, for the first time, enable people across Greater Manchester to hop on and off trams and buses with their smart card.

“All this can only be good news and will, I hope, encourage more people than ever before to get on board with public transport, which will help to tackle congestion and air quality issues.”

Trevor Roberts, chairman of Greater Manchester Travelcards, which operates under the brand name System One, said: “We are pleased to work with our partners TfGM to deliver more products onto the smart platform. We have been working hard to get growth and encourage our current customers to make the switch and that is being delivered.”

The launch of the smartcards is being supported by a series of videos made by media agency SKV and promoted across social media, featuring two local actresses playing the same characters at different stages of life – the videos draw attention to the bleeping sounds as travellers touch in and out of the system as they make their journeys.

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A good name for this would be the “Pyramid” as it took the Egyptians about the same time to build those, as it has taken those in charge of transport in GM to deliver this.

By Elephant

I think SKV needs to go back to the drawing board with those videos, they are awful and come across as cheap!

When is this launch going to happen? Has a date been set or are they going to make us wait another year?

By CitySpotter

I think this is great and once implemented should make travel across GM easier. I do agree with other comments regards the videos….they are truly, truly awful!

By Coolmanc

They probably were cheap, because if TfGM had spent a decent amount of money on them, they’d have come under fire for “wasting taxpayers’ money”…

By Spock

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