3 Nov 2009

Single ticket on the way for public transport

8:16 am on 3 November 2009

The Transport Agency has announced it will establish a national ticketing programme for public transport in New Zealand.

The agency says this integrated ticketing will allow passengers to travel across a city using different modes of public transport with a single ticket.

As a first step, the Transport Agency has approved funding for the development of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority's integrated ticketing and fares system.

Its board chair Brian Roche says this will include the development of a core central ticketing system.

He says control of the central system will provide the Transport Agency the ability to allow inter-operability and the option for multiple equipment suppliers and operators to participate in the system.

The system will be flexible enough to allow future technologies and electronic ticket providers to connect to the central system.

Auckland Regional Transport Authority chief executive Fergus Gammie is confident a reasonable part of the integrated ticketing system will be in place by the time New Zealand hosts the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

He says more information will be given following the completion of contract negotiations with the preferred tenderer in about a month.