Monday 23 October 2017

McGill’s buses launches contactless payment and update on Electric buses for London

As more and more bus companies in Britain are launching contactless as another way to pay fares, up in Scotland, McGill’s buses has invested £1.6 million on new ticketing machines to enable contactless.

From McGill’s buses website

McGill's has launched Contactless payment - first across our 23 & X23 Erskine to Glasgow services - and rolling out to all buses by the end of the year.

Customers can now buy their single, return, all day and weekly tickets - up to the value of £30 - with your Contactless bank cards or enabled mobile devices.

The new ticketing initiative offers a flexible and convenient way for you to pay for your McGill's tickets and means less time spent at bus stops and no need to carry change, improving your overall bus experience.

This builds on McGill's investments over the past year, where £1.6m was spent on new ticketing machines, featuring the new Contactless payment method, as well as the acceptance of QR codes and the new GoSmart card, where you can purchase your GoZone tickets before you board, using your credit/debit card or PayPal.

Ralph Roberts, McGill's Managing Director, said:

"The first contactless payment routes to go live - on Erskine to Glasgow services - are commencing the final phase of our payment revolution. Once this technology has bedded in, we will roll it out to every bus service we operate by the end of the year. Our considerate investment in new ticketing technology in 2016 is what is allowing this to be possible. Mobile, Smart and now Contactless payments are making journeys quicker and more convenient for McGill's bus passengers."

LOTS have reported that the Wrightbus StreetAir electric bus has entered service on route 360 and another electric bus the Irizar i2E will be launching on routes 153 and/or W13.

1) During the past week the Wrightbus StreetAir all-electric demonstrator entered service from Camberwell on route 360. It has fleet number WES 1 (LJ17 THF) and is the vehicle that was seen – then un-registered - last December and pictured in TLB628. The Irizar i2E electric bus with CT Plus is still unregistered and is awaiting entry into service in due course on the 153 and/or W13.

Here’s the rest of the London Bus news from LOTS:

2) On 19th October RATP-DEV took out a 10-year lease on the former Atlas Road Garage from where London United will operate route 18/N18 from 11th November. Routes 220, 283, 440 and E11 that at present operate from the nearby Park Royal garage yard will transfer over In due course. Both are almost next door anyway and the PK garage code is expected to be used.

3) At Go-Ahead London, examples of the new batches of hybrids, EH 162-170 at Camberwell and MHV 86-99 at Putney, are now entering service. Delivery has begun of Abellio’s E40Hs (batch 2580-2602) that are due into service on 11th November on route 45. Entry into service of Arriva’s new HVs and Metroline’s new VWHs remains very slow, with many still in store.

4) The White Bus Service has now received all four of its new E20Ds that will take over from the hired vehicles in use on routes 438/566/567 and 446/456 since 2nd September. During the coming two months, the Rotala group is due to take over from National Express the Hotel Hoppa services at Heathrow Airport, and should assume the 32 x E200s used thereon.

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