27.09.11
Smart cards
The introduction of the new Walrus card on Merseytravel reflects the rise of smartcard use in the transport industry.
The Walrus will eventually be compatible with several different forms of transport in Liverpool, including buses, trains and even ferries.
This level of integration makes travel easier for the passenger, who no longer has to worry about researching and purchasing multiple tickets for different modes of transport. It will reduce congestion, with less people queuing for tickets, or for information.
It could even encourage those who may have otherwise chosen to travel without a ticket to use their card, as it is much simpler than buying a paper ticket for every small part of a journey.
It is a great sign that service providers are responding to the fact that people often use combined forms of transport to make their journeys.
However, it may be more practical for a national card to work in all areas of the UK, as people often travel outside their home regions, and having multiple smartcards could increase the complication they aim to reduce.
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