Smart ticketing takes the next step in Greater Manchester

The countdown to using smart ticketing in Greater Manchester has begun with more than 350 new ‘smart readers’ being installed across the Metrolink network.

Transport for Greater Manchester, which is funding the creation of get me there, today confirmed that some passengers could be using their existing concessionary passes to travel on trams as soon as spring next year. This is scheduled to roll out to all Metrolink customers by autumn 2014.

From today customers can pre-register their interest in the scheme online at the new www.getmethere.com website, ensuring they stay up to date and know as soon as get me there is ready for them.

Metrolink passengers will be the first to use get me there from spring next year, using the new ‘smart readers’ being installed now on Metrolink stops to touch in and touch out at the start and end of every tram journey.

Over half a million Greater Manchester commuters already have get me there-ready smart cards in their pocket in the shape of an over-60s bus pass or an under-16s igo pass. It is these over-60s pass holders who will be the first to start using their cards on Metrolink, when the first phase of the rollout starts in spring.

Season ticket holders will be next to come on board when existing customers will be invited to switch from the current paper-based system and start using get me there.

This will happen when new smart cards – called my get me there – are available. At this stage, customers will be able to buy travel credit – a smart ‘pot’ of money to use for individual journeys – and new-style travelcards, which will be better-value versions of the currently available Metrolink season tickets.

Passengers will be able to buy their travel credit and travelcards online at the get me there website, as well as managing their get me there account. They’ll also be able to buy credit and travelcards at Metrolink ticket machines, which will be having a ‘smart upgrade’ in the New Year in preparation for get me there’s introduction.

The final stage of the Metrolink rollout will be when contactless bank cards are accepted by get me there later in 2014. Passengers will be kept informed at each stage and what it means for them.

Bus passengers make more than eight out of every ten public transport journeys and the aspiration is for get me there to be available on buses in 2015, once agreements are in place with Greater Manchester’s bus operators.

The get me there website – www.getmethere.com – has lots of useful information on how the system will work for different types of passengers. Users of all the various modes of public transport can pre-register on the website so that they can be notified as soon as get me there is ready for them.