UK: Great Western Railway is begin trials of pay-as-you-go smart card ticketing in the Bristol area later this year, using iBlocks’ SmartTIS technology.
This is intended as the first step in delivering a wider scheme to other areas of the GWR network. Future plans could also see the inclusion of buses and other transport modes.
iBlocks says its platform will offer a ‘frictionless tap and travel experience’, with single-leg pricing and zone-based day and weekly best value fares calculated automatically.
iBlocks’ SmartTIS back office will be integrated with the GWR website to allow users to register for the scheme, review their journey history and manage their account preferences.
SmartTIS is token agnostic, providing the operator with a simple migration path from existing smart cards to barcode or EMV bank cards without changes to the core back office.
iBlocks is part of the Tracsis Group, and GWR is its third major rail customer, after Govia Thameslink Railway and South Western Railway.
‘When we acquired iBlocks we saw the benefit that the company can bring to customers in the rail sector, and it was a natural fit with our existing business’, said Tracsis CEO Chris Barnes. ‘We are committed to supporting iBlocks becoming a key contributor to the aspirations of Great British Railways in account-based ticketing.’
