Back in 2013, I was trying to persuade the Government to allow us to install Contactless payment cards on Chiltern Railways. We had received funding for smart ticketing, but the funding was ring-fenced for ITSO smart cards.

I was convinced that Contactless was better for our customers, but smart cards were the DfT’s preferred solution so smart cards is what we got. It took until June 2024 for Chiltern’s customers to finally get Contactless.

That change of heart happened because Contactless is now the Government’s preferred ticketing standard.

Unfortunately, I think we’re making the same mistake all over again: mandating a technology that was the future a decade ago, but no longer is.

All round the country, Mayors are demanding “London-style ticketing”. This has been taken to mean Contactless.

In this report, I argue that the customer benefits of London-style ticketing are better delivered by Digital Pay-As-You-Go - and for a minuscule fraction of the cost.

Indeed, given the cost differentials, we’re reaching the point where it would be irresponsible to invest in large new Contactless schemes when such a good alternative is available.

If you work for a transport authority, city or transport operator and are considering the future of smart ticketing, I really hope you’ll read this report.

The report was funded by Fairtiq, but I retained full editorial control. The conclusions (and any errors) are mine alone.