Thames Valley Buses will begin rolling out new ticket machines across their network which was introduced from Sunday 16 November, introducing tap-on, tap-off contactless payments for all passengers.
The changes mean customers will be able to board by tapping a contactless card or device once and having fares automatically capped at the appropriate day-ticket price for the zones they travel in. The capping system will also apply to any trips made on sister operator Reading Buses.
The machines, supplied by Transmach, will replace existing on-board units but will operate in a similar way. Passengers will notice some differences, including a new contactless reader positioned at the top of the machine. The company says the updated hardware will process payments more quickly.
QR-code tickets—used for paper day tickets and mobile tickets—will continue to be scanned on the lower section of the machine.
Passengers using tap-on, tap-off will not need to tell the driver their destination or collect a printed ticket, but must remember to tap off using a separate reader located near the exit doors.
Simon Fisher, Thames Valley Buses general manager, said the new equipment marked “a momentous day” for the operator. He added that extending tap-on, tap-off beyond Reading and Wokingham to areas including Bracknell, Maidenhead, Windsor and Slough would make paying for travel “more flexible and convenient”.
Transmach director Minesh Vandra said the upgraded 5G ticketing units would speed up boarding and improve administration for operators.
The new machines will also be introduced on Reading Buses and Newbury & District services in the coming months.
