Merseytravel launches smart cards

Merseytravel said the new technology will initially be restricted to the five bus routes around the city centre and the 300,000 holders of concessionary travel passes, but it hopes to extend the smart cards to other areas in the future. "This is the first step on a very long road. We're starting in a phased and focused way to allow travellers to get accustomed to the technology," said Neil Scales, chief executive of Merseytravel. "Soon we will extend the technology to incorporate our ferry services and eventually we will have the biggest smart card network outside London." Earlier this month transport minister Norman Baker said the government eventually wants to implement a national transport card, like London's Oyster, that can be used in different cities across the country. "If you give people one card, they'll have more of a psychological incentive and more confidence to make journeys," he said at the time. "It would remove a lot of the administrative work of selling tickets and so that would ultimately make fares cheaper."