Contactless payment coming to Leamington and Kenilworth buses

Contactless payments will be coming to some of Leamington and Kenilworth's buses by the end of the year.
Contactless payment will be coming to certain buses in Leamington and Kenilworth by the end of the yearContactless payment will be coming to certain buses in Leamington and Kenilworth by the end of the year
Contactless payment will be coming to certain buses in Leamington and Kenilworth by the end of the year

Buses run by National Express West Midlands in Coventry, including the 11 which travels to Leamington via Kenilworth, will have contactless technology before 2017.

Stagecoach, which has many more services in the area, are also looking to fit their buses with the technology in the future.

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The system, which is similar to London’s, will allow passengers to pay by presenting a contactless debit or credit card, smartphone or smart watch instead of finding the correct change.

National Express West Midlands managing director Peter Coates said: “We know our customers want the choice of using contactless when they travel.

“Only a month ago, we introduced it on the Midland Metro and already seven per cent of passengers buying a ticket on board are using contactless.

“As part of our pledge to get more people travelling by bus, we are investing in contactless because it makes journeys quicker and easier for passengers.”

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A spokesman for Stagecoach said: “We are working to introduce contactless payments on all of our vehicles across the UK within the next three years.

“Information about when contactless payments will be available within the Midlands will be communicated nearer the time.”

The technology is expected to speed up journey times because it will reduce the time taken for passengers to pay their fare.

A recent report by Prof David Begg of Plymouth University stated journey times could be shortened by up to ten per cent.

The bus industry as a whole aims to have contactless payment on every bus by 2022.