Snapper card system for Auckland buses 

Source: ONE News

A company which failed to win the tender for the Auckland public transport integrated ticketing system has announced it will introduce its card system to most Auckland buses next year.

The Snapper card system, which is already in use in Wellington, will be introduced gradually to some Auckland buses from next year, Snapper says.

Snapper is owned by Infratil, as is NZ Bus, which runs the majority of Auckland buses and whose services are set to be among the first to accept Snapper cards.

Snapper says its technology could easily be extended to other public transport modes before the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

"This means that more than half of all Auckland commuters will be able to pay for their journey by using a Snapper card, and the company will be working to extend its coverage further," it says.

"Snapper says it would be possible to have integrated ticketing on 90% of Auckland public transport in time for the Rugby World Cup, and is willing to work closely with the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (Arta) to help achieve this goal."

Arta, which has said integrated ticketing was an important way to improve public transport use in Auckland, earlier this year chose a consortium headed by French electronics company Thales ahead of Snapper for the delivery of an integrated ticketing system.

A probity review of the tender process was held after Snapper complained but the Thales consortium held on to the contract.

But Snapper chief executive Miki Szikszai says the company maintains its system "is the quickest and most cost effective way for Aucklanders to get a world class integrated ticketing system across buses, taxis, ferries and trains without ratepayers and taxpayers needing to pay for any of the system that supports it".

Arta chief executive Fergus Gammie says it is was premature for Snapper to be announcing an integrated ticketing system for Auckland.

"Arta is currently negotiating a contract for a full multi-modal integrated ticketing system for bus, rail and ferry services in Auckland," he says.

"Snapper was an unsuccessful bidder in the public tender for the Auckland ticketing system. There will be opportunities for other suppliers to be involved in Auckland's system, these will be developed in conjunction with NZTA and the industry.

"All Auckland public transport operators will be required to participate in Arta's ticketing system. Arta is working with all of its operators, including NZ Bus, on this matter."

Gammie says more details of the timing for Auckland's integrated ticket will be made available shortly.

Snapper cards are widely used in Wellington, where they can be used to pay for bus fares, train tickets (from the ticket booth), coffee, lunch, dry cleaning and movies.