Mobile phones are just the ticket for Arriva’s new Fastrack bus trial

Bus passengers in the Dartford and Gravesend area are set for aglimpse of the future of bus travel with a trial of new technologydelivering tickets to your mobile phone.

Leading bus operator Arriva is launching the mobile or‘m-ticket’ trial and is looking for people who use theFastrack B service linking Dartford, Gravesend and Bluewater to tryout the system which will cut out the need to carry cash andstreamline getting on the bus.

Arriva is the first bus operator in the UK to adopt 3rdgeneration mobile commerce technology to enable the purchase of bustickets from a mobile handset. It enables passenger not onlyto pre-purchase barcode style 'm-tickets' through their mobilephone, but also to automatically verify their tickets usingon-board scanners. This speeds up boarding times.

The ‘m-ticket’ offers bus users a fast, secure, andconvenient way to purchase their tickets before they even get tothe bus stop. It’s ideal for those who don’t wantto carry cash or the hassle of a paper ticket. As a specialpromotion passengers can also save up to 20 per cent on the cost ofa ticket by using this method for the duration of the 12 weektrial.

Arriva’s project manager Rebecca Binns said: “Mobileticketing will offer Fastrack customers a hassle free way topurchase their bus tickets, improving the convenience and ease oftravel. The technology is highly secure, and works on almostevery mobile phone.

“Once you’ve downloaded the m-ticket application toyour mobile, you follow simple instructions to buy the ticket whichthen appears as a barcode on the phone’s screen. As youget on and off the bus you simply scan the phone on the barcodereaders.”

Chris Hopkins, commercial director of Arriva UK Regions, said:"We know our customers are keen for us to make travelling by buseasier and this is exactly the type of initiative that will help usdo that. Running this new trial on the Fastrack B was anobvious choice for us as the service has a proven record ofinnovation.

“If the system proves as popular as we expect, this trialcould help consign the old paper bus ticket to the waste bin ofhistory.”

Ray Breen, managing director of Concept Data Technologies Ltd(CDT), said: “We have developed with Arriva this uniquemobile bus ticket technology which enables 100 per cent secureend-to-end transactions from mobile phone handsets. Unlikeany other mobile ticketing solution the Arriva‘m-ticket’ purchase happens direct from thecustomer’s phone.”

This trial is just one of recent developments benefittingFastrack users. The recent opening of the brand new EbbsfleetInternational Station means residents of North Kent have fastdirect services to the continent.  Eurostar customers alsoreceive free travel on the Fastrack service to EbbsfleetInternational Station.

Local people who want to take part in the Arriva‘m-ticket’ trial can register online viawww.arrivabus.co.uk/m-ticket.Participants of the trial will be automaticallyentered into a draw to win a pair of Eurostar tickets to Paris,Brussels or Lille.