MANCHESTER'S SMARTCARDS

This article describes the contactless smartcard system, which is now being introduced in Greater Manchester, England. As a first step, new ticketing machines are being installed on buses in Bolton. The new 10 million pound system is being supplied by an Australian company trading under the AES Prodata name. It is designed to: (1) cut fraud; (2) provide improved information on traffic levels; (3) allow innovative marketing; (4) reduce paperwork. Its smartcard will be an identity card, conventional season ticket/multiride ticket/bus pass, and 'electronic purse'. It will be available for sale at 22 outlets in the Greater Manchester conurbation, and include a picture of the card owner. The passenger will benefit, because, like an ordinary credit card, a smartcard can be cancelled and reissued if it is stolen or mislaid. As a season ticket, a smartcard will be usable on a platform to obtain a ticket valid for one day's travel, whose cost will be debited automatically. As an 'electronic purse', it can be charged with a given sum of money, which will become available for spending wherever it is accepted. Altogether, there will be several benefits and savings for Greater Manchester, and advantages for railways and bus companies.