Public transportation users in South Yorkshire can now purchase bus, tram and train tickets online and then transfer their ticket onto their smart travel card using the NFC contactless card writing capabilities that Apple has made available in iOS13[1].
The service has been introduced by TravelMaster[2], the jointly owned ticketing agency for South Yorkshire’s public transportation operators.
Android users have been able to use NFC to add tickets bought online to their contactless travel card since April 2019[3].
Customers without a compatible smartphone are still able to access the service, but need to use an on-vehicle ticketing machine to load their new ticket onto their card.
“The new system means that customers will be able to buy their transport tickets at their own convenience at home, at work or anywhere else that they can access the internet without having to worry about having the correct change on board or having to go out of their way to find somewhere that sells the ticket they need,” TravelMaster explained when launching the Android version of the service.
“With the TravelMaster Download App, any ticket that a customer buys through the website can be loaded to their smart card using any Android device with an NFC reader and the app installed.
“This means that it doesn’t matter if they don’t have their own Android device so long as they know someone who does.”
“We’re hopeful that as the system is enhanced with more places to collect purchased products added throughout the year, and as more people buy their tickets off-vehicle, we will also contribute to increased punctuality through reducing delays that can be caused
