Go North East embarks on mobile ticketing journey

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Go North East is the latest transport company to realise the benefits of using mobile technology to reduce paper use and enhance the customer travel experience.

The bus operator, whose fleet of 600-plus vehicles handles more than 70 million passenger journeys annual in County Durham, Tyne & Wear and parts of Hartlepool, Northumberland and Teesside annually, hopes to launch the new paperless ticketing service this autumn.

Passengers will be able to buy tickets using their mobiles in a secure manner once the new Atos Worldline Mobile Payment system goes live, by simply registering online and ensuring they have sufficient funds in their web-based mobile ticketing account.

Then, on approaching a bus stop, they just need to text a short code number to their account and, provided funds are available, they'll receive a barcode ticket instantly on their handset. It's then a case of either showing the aforementioned barcode to the driver or scanning it is a barcode reader is available onboard.

Services specialist Atos Origin will implement and manage the new system, which was created by Swiftpass.

"Our work with Atos Origin is further demonstration of our commitment to delivering the best in modern accessible public transport to the north east market, and will be the first such bus ticketing service to market in the UK," said Martin Harris, Go North East's commercial director.

Tony Lacy, head of business development for transport at Atos Origin, added: "Our new solution is a huge step forward for the mobile payment market. It puts businesses in a win-win situation - they are able to generate additional revenue from mobile payments without having to take any risks in terms of initial or ongoing investment. And because the service is white-labelled, it actually deepens the consumer's relationship with the brand."

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