Littlepay has announced the first deployment of its contactless payments trial with Transport for NSW (TfNSW) as it aims to bring the convenience of open payments to the bus system in regional NSW.
“Littlepay’s core mission has always been to move more people on public transport through better payment experiences, which in turn supports sustainability,” Littlepay CEO Amin Shayan says.
“TfNSW has consistently demonstrated leadership in providing innovative technology solutions to improve public transit systems, and we’re excited to have partnered with them on the implementation of our payment technology in regional NSW.”
Commuters on the A trial Bathurst and Dubbo Buslines will be the first to trial the new payment system, which will accept debit cards containing a chip, credit cards (American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or a digital wallet linked to these cards.
Previously the bus network in Dubbo and Bathurst required commuters to purchase a paper ticket with cash. With this project rollout, commuters will now have the option to pay their fare by simply tapping their credit or debit card, mobile or smartwatch while boarding the bus.
After signing the contract with TfNSW in 2022, the promise of a modular ticketing system was delivered by integrating TransportMe validators and CBA Merchant services to Littlepay’s cloud-based payment platform. Littlepay says there’s also the flexibility to add new hardware and payment options as required.
This deal follows a string of successful open payment ticketing rollouts in major metropolitan areas in Portugal, Finland and cities across the United Kingdom and California.
To date, the Melbourne-based fintech company has flown under the radar. Quietly collaborating with more than 300 transport and mobility providers worldwide, they’ve also powered payment systems for local buses, city networks and national public transport systems in 12 countries across Australia, Europe, the UK and North, Central and South America.
“It’s ironic that Littlepay continues to build a reputation as a world leader in open payments for public transport, while our home city of Melbourne remains years away from enjoying the same convenience,” Shayan says.