Call for integrated travel card to be introduced in Glasgow

By Lewis McKenzie and Sasha Spratt

Campaigners are calling for an integrated travel card to be introduced in Glasgow.

It comes after delegates at COP26 were given passes which worked on all transport throughout the summit.

Plans for a Scotland-wide smartcard which could be used across public transport networks were mooted in 2012, but did not come to fruition.

Transport Scotland has said that over the next year it will be seeking to “accelerate and standardise” the use of smartcards by Scotland’s different operators.

Speaking to STV News, Ellie Harrison from the Get Glasgow Moving campaign said it was “embarrassing” how long the move has taken in Scotland.

“Integrated ticketing is the norm in most other big European cities,” she said.

“Look at London, look at Berlin, look at Paris, look at Copenhagen. It’s just embarrassing how long this has taken in Scotland.

“The Scottish Government got control over the transport network when the Scottish Parliament was set up in 1999.

“So, it’s more than 20 years. Now is the time to regulate the bus companies so that we can deliver the integrated public transport network that we urgently need.”

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said Scotland is the first in the UK to offer smartcard compatibility across transport modes.

“Our vision is that all journeys on Scotland’s public transport networks can be made using some form of smart ticketing or payment and progress has already been made towards achieving this ambition,” they said.

“Scotland is the first in the UK to offer smartcard compatibility across modes – where multiple tickets for different modes can be loaded onto a single smartcard – and contactless payment is now being accepted on over 95% of buses in Scotland.

“We have also strengthened measures in the 2019 Transport (Scotland) Act to support local ticketing schemes and continue to work with Local Authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships and Operators to enable ticketing schemes to move onto smart platforms.”

They added: “Over the next year we will be looking to deliver provisions in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 that will further accelerate and standardise smart uptake, with the customer’s requirements prevalent.

“We are also taking forward our Fair Fares Review to ensure a sustainable and integrated approach to public transport fares.”