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Edinburgh Reporter
19-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
New way to pay on trams from today
The operator of Edinburgh's tram network has launched its new payment solution, 'Tap on, Tap off' or TOTO, which is now live in the capital. The first customers using the new system rode the tram this morning, after tapping a contactless card or device on the existing platform validators. This marks a significant step forward for the operator, allowing more seamless bus and tram travel in the city thanks to partnerships with Edinburgh Trams' sister company, Lothian, and facilitated by payment provider Flowbird. Lea Harrison, Managing Director of Edinburgh Trams, said: 'The launch of ToTo today comes today following months of hard work from colleagues across the business, and would not be possible without significant investment in existing infrastructure. We believe that ToTo future-proofs the tramway, making it easier and more efficient than ever to use the tram to glide across the city.' Lea was joined for the official launch this morning by David Thompson, General Manager-Transport for Flowbird, Lothian Buses' Head of Product Strategy Stevie Chambers, and the City of Edinburgh Council's Deputy Leader, Councillor Mandy Watt. David Thompson said: 'At Flowbird, we're proud of our partnership with Edinburgh Trams, alongside Lothian Buses, in developing and delivering Scotland's first multimodal, multi-operator account-based ticketing system. Edinburgh is a true 'world' city and so it is fitting that its people, along with millions of visitors, should benefit from technology that makes travel on the tram and bus network seamless, easy to use and cost effective. By doing so, we encourage a modal shift to more sustainable transport and help to make cities more liveable.' Deputy Council Leader, Councillor Mandy Watt said: 'I'm delighted to have attended the launch of the new ToTo system today. I really enjoyed meeting colleagues from Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses to hear about the new system and see the first journeys being made. This key development reinforces our integrated, seamless, and accessible public transport network here in Edinburgh, which is the backbone of any major city. It's fair to say that when it comes to our public transport network, we punch well above our weight compared with similar cities. 'In addition to existing tickets, travel across our trams and buses will now be even easier and more convenient than ever with ticket prices automatically capped at the cheapest daily and weekly rate for those using ToTo. Our excellent public transport system is an inclusive form of travel – it provides an alternative to car use especially for people on lower incomes or with mobility issues. Low carbon travel is also a cornerstone of our wider climate ambitions and I'm sure that ToTo will encourage greater use. 'I'm proud of the part the Council has played in delivering this milestone and commit to working with our transport operators to deliver yet more improvements to our public transport network. 'I have no doubt that many millions of journeys in the coming months will be made using the new system and everyone involved has my sincere thanks. We're committed to keeping Edinburgh moving and ToTo is a very welcome addition to the transport landscape.' Reminder to tap off Customers are reminded that, unlike on Lothian Bus services, they are required to 'Tap off' when they leave the tram, in order to complete their journey and be charged the correct fare. If the same card or device is not used to Tap off, the journey is registered as incomplete, and customers will be charged the full Airport Zone fare of £7.90. This system works alongside Lothian Buses' existing TapTapCap system to cap bus and tram travel across the city at the Cap rate, aligning Edinburgh Trams with services offered by its sister company. Sarah Boyd, Managing Director of Lothian Buses said: 'Lothian is delighted to work with Edinburgh Trams to further enhance our TapTapCap solution which now offers integrated payment for journeys across the city's bus and tram network. 'The introduction of daily and weekly capping across both modes will ensure that customers using the same card or device can always benefit from the cheapest Pay As You Go fare regardless of how their travel plans might change.' Customers who benefit from existing concession cards or use a Ridacard should continue to use these as before and aren't required to tap off to end their journey. Each contactless card or device can only be used for one standard Adult fare – customers travelling in groups or with children should still use the ticket vending machines on platforms or the Bus & Tram App or Edinburgh Ticket to pre-purchase their tickets. Click here for additional information about 'Tap on, Tap off' – FAQs and terms of use. Pic Greg Macvean 19/05/2025 Edinburgh Trams – launch of TOTO (tap on tap off) scheme Sarah Boyd Managing Director of Lothian with Lea Harrison Managing Director of Edinburgh Trams with Martha at the launch The official party from Lothian, Edinburgh Trams and Flowbird at the launch Edinburgh Trams – Lea Harrison Managing Director of Edinburgh Trams with Alfie at the launch of TOTO (tap on tap off) scheme Pic Greg Macvean 19/05/2025 Like this: Like Related
The Herald Scotland
19-05-2025
- The Herald Scotland
We try out the new Edinburgh Trams 'tap on, tap off' system
Entertainingly, the system's launch featured a trio of ToTos, there to add a cuteness to the promotion of an otherwise bland electronic process. 'Tap on, tap off' is also a key moment in the bringing together of the two parts of Edinburgh's public transport system, its buses and trams. The Foot of the Walk tram stop was sparsely populated, mid-morning on the Victoria Day holiday, with only a few passengers plus a couple of 'trambassadors', there to guide nervous users through the tapping process. The tap on, was straightforward – that 'seamlessness' is the point - involving just a pressing of a card or phone to a panel. But one tram user told me she wouldn't trust herself to tap off, so was not going to use it. It's this fear of not tapping off, that is the chief passenger insecurity about the new system - and it is a potential for confusion partly exacerbated by the fact that the existing system on Lothian buses is just tap on, but trams are tap on and tap off. This is also why Leah Harrison, managing director of Edinburgh Trams, at the launch of the system, is so keen to emphasise it as his main message, 'Please, tap off!' The system works thus. Customers can use their contactless-enabled card or device to Tap on using the existing platform validators before boarding the tram. They will then need to tap off upon reaching their destination station, using the platform validators on that stop. Whilst on the trams, their contactless cards or devices can be checked by ticket officers. When one of them passed a reader over my 'tapped on' credit card, it felt like a marvel that it worked and had registered. 'Tap off,' said Leah, in his arms a dog so trained he can swipe a card, 'is the message we're really driving home a the moment. It's making sure people do tap on, tap off to get best value. The way it works, when you tap on, it allocates you an airport single and you need to tap off to get the discount for the journey that you make.' ToTo the dog promotes 'tap on, tap off' (Image: Greg Macvean) Harrison was joined for the official launch this morning by David Thompson, General Manager-Transport for Flowbird, Lothian Buses' Head of Product Strategy Stevie Chambers, and the City of Edinburgh Council's Deputy Leader, Councillor Mandy Watt. David Thompson said: 'At Flowbird, we're proud of our partnership with Edinburgh Trams, alongside Lothian Buses, in developing and delivering Scotland's first multimodal, multi-operator account-based ticketing system. Edinburgh is a true 'world' city and so it is fitting that its people, along with millions of visitors, should benefit from technology that makes travel on the tram and bus network seamless, easy to use and cost effective.' For Edinburgh Trams, the chief drive behind this shift, Harrison explained, is that 'it removes another barrier to travel and it creates a further integration with the bus service.' 'Also it creates a capping mechanism with Lothian buses, so you can move freely now between the tram and the bus, tapping on on the bus, tapping off on the tram and the computer in the early hours of the morning will work out what was the best value ticket for you. Once again, you don't have to plan your journey at 7am in the morning. You can then think you just do what you need to do.' But, as the woman on my morning tram illustrates, one of the fears is what will happen if a passenger fails to tap off – how much will they then be charged? If the same card or device is not used to tap off, the journey is registered as incomplete, and customers will be charged the full Airport Zone fare of £7.90. Edinburgh Trams' Lea Harrison, Flowbird General Manager David Thompson and Lothian Buses' Sarah Boyd (Image: Greg Macvean) And how will the system calculate out our fares? 'Eventually,' Harrison explained, 'it will cap out at a day ticket which was probably the one you should have bought in the morning, but didn't think you were going to do that. It does the thinking for you.' It's a significant step towards more a integrated public transport system in terms of user experience. 'One of the purposes," said Harrison, "was to create integration which you see with the bus company and also remove a barrier to travel. 'It's not for everybody because you need to be an adult as well and also if you're moving with a family that's a different ticket as well, but it will reduce a lot of people waiting at ticket machines and enable the people that need to be there to get quicker access to the ticket machines also.' This system works alongside Lothian Buses' existing TapTapCap system to cap bus and tram travel across the city at the Cap rate, aligning Edinburgh Trams with services offered by its sister company. Sarah Boyd, Managing Director of Lothian Buses said: 'Lothian is delighted to work with Edinburgh Trams to further enhance our TapTapCap solution which now offers integrated payment for journeys across the city's bus and tram network. But also, this system is going to give the tram operator a more advanced set of data on where people are travelling to, what stops they are getting off at, than it has had previously. There's no doubting the system is easier – and as a first experience, certainly beats, in its freedom, using the app, which for me was also a major step up from waiting at ticket machines as a tram glides past. For a short while the 'trambassadors' are likely to continue to be out on the route. Harrison said: 'We'll have them as long as we need them. Until we see the results we see. All the office staff are out. It's a big thing for the tram company, so we're going to make sure that we educate the people of Edinburgh. And obviously we're getting to the festival season and we'll have to look at how we man the busy stations to make sure the visitors get the same level of information.' READ MORE But for Harrison, it's also about data. 'What," he said, "it will give me is destination data and I'll get to know where people get off. At the moment we just assume and we look at CCTV. So in the future start to inform what service patterns I can provide, so we can put the trams where the people are. Tap off, although it's a little bit of inconvenience for people, it gives the operator data. So I can start to understand people's travel patterns.' Making payment easier, he pointed out, removes a barrier to travel. 'We will get more travellers this way. . One of the many reasons we are doing it is that it should remove a barrier and more people should travel. I takes a split second to do a transaction.' Was it 'totolly' easy? It seemed so, but the proof will be in our card statements. The good news, meanwhile, for those who fear forgetting the tap off, is that all the previous payment methods are still in use: tickets, the app, national entitlement cards. If you want, you can ignore ToTo, and choose not to 'tap on, tap off' at all.
Edinburgh Reporter
05-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
TOTO is GO – Tap on Tap off on trams will be in effect in two weeks' time
The new tap on tap off service on Edinburgh Trams will begin in two weeks' time on 19 May. The Flowbird system has now been tested alongside Lothian Buses to ensure it works properly. Customers will be able to tap on with a contactless device or card using the Platform Validators – the machines at each tram stop. The difference is that the passenger must tap on and then tap off at the end of the journey. The system has a daily capped rate whether the passenger uses a bus or a tram for their journey. The only requirement is that the same card is used on the day to ensure that the cap comes into effect. In addition the card or device must only be used for an adult fare. If travelling with children then the tickets must be bought from a vending machine on the platform or using the Bus & Tram app. In the same way as the contactless payments already accepted in the city by Lothian Buses, the new system calculates the cheapest fare based on the number of journeys made and then debits the card that the passenger used in the early hours of the following morning. All concession card holders can continue to use them as before. Sarah Singh, Head of Service Delivery, said: 'We are delighted to be able to share the launch date for this new payment system, two weeks from today. 'The delivery of this project reflects months of hard work from colleagues across the business and Lothian Buses.' Transport Convener for Edinburgh Council, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, said, 'Integrating this new ToTo system across both Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses is a significant milestone for our public transport network and I'm excited that we're only a couple weeks away from launch. This will allow residents and visitors to travel more efficiently and at the best value with ticket prices automatically capped at the cheapest daily and weekly rate. 'Our excellent public transport services is the most inclusive form of travel; it provides an alternative to car use especially for people on lower incomes or with mobility issues. Our integrated public transport system is something we're very proud of here in Edinburgh – compared with similar sized cities we are an example to be celebrated and followed. Low carbon travel is also a key element of our wider climate ambitions and I'm sure this development will encourage greater use. 'I'd like to thank colleagues at both organisations for their efforts, and as a regular user of both bus and tram, I look forward to testing out the new system myself. I'm proud of the Council's influence in delivering this key step through its ownership status of the operating companies and via direct investment. We're committed to keeping Edinburgh moving and delivering the best possible public transport services for all.' Further information and FAQs about contactless payment can be found on a dedicated page on the Edinburgh Trams website, here. Like this: Like Related
CBS News
10-03-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Baltimore City cracks down on parking violations with 24-hour enforcement
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) launched a 24-hour parking enforcement program Monday. The effort aims to improve parking compliance, reduce traffic and allow agency resources to be better utilized. The overnight enforcement will target habitual parking offenders, including commercial vehicles parked illegally in residential areas, vehicles violating residential permit parking, scofflaw offenders and other traffic management issues. Abandoned vehicles could be cited and towed during the overnight enforcement period, BCDOT officials said. The department will use data-driven strategies to guide deployments and allocate resources. Real-time data will help officials identify high-risk areas and improve response times. "Transportation Enforcement Officers being cross-trained, overnight towing services, and more focused enforcement is going to help deliver a more effective and responsive enforcement program and give our teams the tools they need to get the job done," said Mayor Brandon Scott. City residents are able to report parking issues online or by calling 311. Parking in Baltimore In February, the Parking Authority of Baltimore City launched a new mobile payment option that can be used for metered parking and in city-owned lots. Drivers can use three apps - Flowbird, PayByPhone and ParkMobile - along with a text-to-pay option when paying for parking. The options allow users to receive notifications when their parking time is about to expire and extend their time without having to return to their vehicle. The payment solutions allow the Parking Authority to better manage parking turnover and move the department toward its goal of making one or two spaces available per block. The department manages 12 city-owned parking garages and several parking lots, along with more than 900 multi-space parking meters and 4,000 single-space meters.
