sQuid signs transport agreement with Greater Manchester Transport

sQuidcard, the eMoney payments system operator (MPW 84, 100), and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE), responsible for transport initiatives across one of the largest cities in the UK, have signed a contract to deliver a pre-paid transit smartcard service.

The service, to be piloted in the district of Bolton, will enable holders of the local council's leisure smartcard to make journeys on bus services operated by Arriva Manchester, using a stored value purse delivered through sQuidcard. Additionally, the eMoney purse will allow customers to also use the smartcard for purchasing low-cost items such as newspapers, food and other convenience goods.

As the only ITSO-compatible, low-cost eMoney network, the decision by the GMPTE to use sQuid as its travel settlement system is a significant achievement for the company and complements its recent tie-up with Bolton Council's Smartcard.

Adam Smith, Managing Director of sQuid, says that the partnership with GMPTE is an important step in realising one of sQuid's objectives; to offer user-friendly eMoney solutions across communities and in partnership with Transit Systems.

"Our philosophy is to make electronic payments a flexible, responsive and cost-effective service for our customers, for merchants and for transport operators. This is something none of the banks or credit card networks is able to offer on the same scale as sQuid because our technology is unique and it sits outside the existing banking payment systems."

Smith also says that the partnership with GMPTE heralds an important step in the delivery of smartcard services across many such councils and transport authorities, particularly in the North and North West. Other similar announcements are expected in due course.

Transport for London (TfL) launched its Oyster e-ticketing system in the city in 2003. TfL said last year that it has issued more than 10 million Oyster smart cards since the launch. The London transport authority is also working with handset manufacturer Nokia and phone network O2 to develop a scheme that will enable customers to pay for tube journeys using mobile handsets.