Latest news with #ToTo
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
Scotsman
14-05-2025
- Scotsman
Exciting times ahead for transport in Edinburgh
At the end of April, I was lucky enough to visit the North Bridge and see first hand the specialist work that we're undertaking to restore this structure to its former glory. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This site was one of the first places I visited when taking over as Convener last year and I'm very impressed with the progress that the project team has made since then. Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, City Transport and Environment Convener One particularly striking element was the paintwork being completed by hand on the cast iron façade. This is in addition to resurfacing work, grit blasting structural steelwork, repairing and improving the footway paving and underdrainage among a host of other improvements. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I'm really excited for the scaffolding to come down and unveil this piece of Edinburgh's history – restored ready to step into the modern age. Regarding modernity, another significant development that is on the way is the Tap On Tap Off (ToTo) launch which is set for next week. This new integrated ticketing system across both Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses 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 system is an inclusive form of travel, which provides an alternative to car use for people across the city, but in particular for people with lower incomes or those with mobility issues. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Encouraging low carbon travel is also a key element of our wider climate ambitions and I'm sure this development will encourage greater use of our public transport network. I'm committed to keeping Edinburgh moving and ToTo is a very welcome addition. In terms of committee business, one key report which we'll consider next week is on the prioritisation of the City Mobility Plan. This report sets out our proposed capital investment programme over the next decade, including which projects to take forward and which to pause. Prioritising allows us to work smarter with the resources we have available - making sure we have a clear and achievable path to achieving our objectives. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad These goals include improving how we move around the city, including prioritising public transport, providing safer conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling and reducing harmful emissions. When considering prioritisation, we scored projects against 15 separate criteria points which include impact on road safety, public transport, inequality and capital-raising challenges. This is a complex and thorough piece of work which allows the City Mobility Plan to be agile and able to adapt in the future as necessary. However, one key element in this conversation is the fact that we remain dependent on external funding for many projects, particularly from the Scottish Government and by extension Transport Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Complex projects which take years to plan and complete but which are subject to annual external funding decisions makes this situation inherently difficult. We need commitment and stability from the Scottish Government if we're to deliver the changes which our city needs and deserves. I look forward to debating this important issue with colleagues next week. We live in interesting and ever evolving times for transport in Edinburgh. I'm committed to keeping the city moving sustainably as we press ahead with our bold vision for the future. Councillor Stephen Jenkinson is the Transport and Environment Convener at the City of Edinburgh Council
Scottish Sun
06-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Exact date major Scottish city to launch London-style transport system with capped daily fares
The technology calculates the cheapest fare based on the number of journeys Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR Scottish city is set to launch a London-style transport system within weeks. Edinburgh City Council announced its new "tap on, tap off" initiative will go live later this month on the capital's tram network following months of testing. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The "tap on, tap off" initiative will go live later this month Credit: Alamy The integrated fares system will allow punters to tap their contactless card or device onto 'platform validators' to begin their journey. Customers will then tap off using the same technique once they reach their destination. The technology, called "ToTo", calculates the cheapest fare based on the number of journeys made and debits the card in the early hours of the following morning. Weekly travel will also be capped at the seven-day rate, so you can travel as much as you like within the 'city zone' and only pay the weekly cap fare. The system will go live on Monday, May 19. In order to benefit from caps, exactly the same card or device must be used every time you tap on and tap off. This ensures that all journeys are assigned to the correct customer and prevents journeys from mistakenly being registered as incomplete. Sarah Singh, head of service delivery at Edinburgh Trams, said: "We are delighted to be able to share the launch date for this new payment system. "The delivery of this project reflects months of hard work from colleagues across the business and Lothian Buses, to fully integrate ToTo into their existing system, and we're pleased to be offering our best-ever service to customers across Edinburgh." Customers who benefit from existing concession cards should continue to use these as before and aren't required to tap off to end their journey. Edinburgh to launch London-Style Tap-and-Go Public Transport 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, the et app or the Bus & Tram App to pre-purchase their tickets. Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, transport convener for Edinburgh Council, 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."
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
Scotsman
05-05-2025
- Scotsman
Edinburgh trams: How does the Tap on, Tap off system work? When does it go live?
The 'tap on, tap off' system going live on Edinburgh's trams will work in conjunction with Lothian Buses Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Dubbed 'ToTo', the payment's official launch date has been confirmed for a fortnight's time, on Monday, May 19. A tram on Princes Street in Edinburgh | PA Here is how the ToTo system will work. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How will tap on, tap off work for Edinburgh trams? Under the system, customers can pay for travel by tapping their contactless card or relevant device onto 'platform validators' to start their journey. The person then taps off using the same technique after getting off the tram when they have finished their trip. Like 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 in the early hours of the following morning. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There is also a weekly cap based on the number of trips taken over a seven-day, Monday to Sunday, period. Why do I tap off after getting off the tram? Unlike buses, when using the tram, customers will need to 'tap off' using the platform validator when they reach their destination. This is because the network is split into two fare zones. One of Edinburgh's trams. Picture: Lisa Ferguson This makes sure they will only pay for travel on sections of the tramway they have actually used. Can I pay for more than one fare on a single contactless card? No - each contactless card or device can only be used for one standard adult fare. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If customers travelling in groups or with children, they will should need to use the ticket vending machines on tram platforms, or pre-purchase tickets on the app. Does the system also work for Lothian Buses travel? In short, yes. The ToTo payment method will work in conjunction with Lothian Buses' existing TapTapCap system, allowing integrated travel across Edinburgh. This means bus and tram travel across the city will be capped at the day ticket rate. What has been said about the 'tap on, tap off' system? ToTo is the first system of its kind in Scotland and has been developed in collaboration with payment provider Flowbird. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 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, to fully integrate ToTo into their existing system, and we're pleased to be offering our best-ever service to customers across Edinburgh.' Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, transport convener for Edinburgh Council, 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.
