MCard, West Yorkshire’s multi-operator smartcard ticketing scheme, has released an Android app that customers can use to buy and then load tickets.
The app is fully compliant with ITSO part 11, and has the ability to communicate with all relevant databases to deliver transport ticketing for use in real-time. Due to its ability to read and understand all available ITSO products, it is also possible for MCard to issue new ticket types and pricing on the fly.
The app is free to download, and customers can purchase and upload day, weekly, monthly and annual tickets for travel on either solely buses or buses and trains throughout West Yorkshire. The MCard app gives passengers the freedom to take complete control of when and where they buy and load their travel.
Richard Armitage, Chairman of the MCard scheme, said: “Ease and convenience is key to delivering an outstanding customer experience, and we believe our app will provide just that.
“Our customers already have a variety of retail options to choose from when purchasing their travel tickets and loading them to their MCards. They include Bus Station Travel Centres, bus and rail station ticket machines, as well as more than 700 Payzone outlets. The app will simply enhance this offer and give passengers complete accessibility to buying and loading their MCards 24/7 wherever they find themselves.
“We see this as a true game-changer in our offer.”
Cllr Keith Wakefield, West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee Chair, added: “The MCard smart- ticketing scheme has been an integral part of West Yorkshire’s travel offer since 2014, and we’ve constantly developed and improved it, always taking note of what our customers want to see. The app is another milestone for us, and we are very proud to see it leading smart card travel in the North.”
The app, developed by Molten Mouse, can be downloaded from the Google Play Store, and has already seen more than 3,100 downloads since its release in September.