New national ticketing system for NZ

Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has announced the selection of Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) to provide a National Ticketing Solution (NTS) for New Zealand. When completed, the project will cover 13 regions across New Zealand and enable seamless travel on bus, rail and ferry services.

The NTS is set to make public transport a more convenient, reliable and cost-effective choice for riders, encouraging Kiwis to use bus, rail and ferry options more often.

“When we remove barriers and make public transport easier to use, we can improve safety and reduce road congestion and emissions,” said Yogesh Anand, Waka Kotahi NTS Executive Sponsor.

“We also understand that accessible and affordable public transport options are key to helping cities grow sustainably and become more livable and connected.”

The new account-based ticketing solution will provide riders with a consistent and reliable customer experience no matter which part of the country they are in or whether they travel by bus, train or ferry.

The solution is similar to systems that Cubic has deployed in New York, London and Brisbane. It provides a futureproof backbone for the whole country’s public transport payment system, which can grow with the needs of New Zealand and seamlessly integrate with the existing operators and authorities in each region.

Choosing an account-based solution enables Waka Kotahi to implement ‘open loop’ payments on credit and debit cards and digital versions such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. In addition, it will maintain other payment options to ensure that passengers can choose their preferred payment method and be confident that they will receive the correct fare, including across multimodal journeys.

Image credit: iStock.com/chameleonseye