National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board - Meeting Minutes - 26 August 2025

Attendees

Chair

• Dr Andrew Seedhouse (AS)

Board Members

• *Claire Dickie: Rail Operator Representative (CD)
• *Diane Burke: Ferry Operator Representative (DB)
• Graeme MacFarlane: Bus Operator Representative (GMcF)
• Hussein Patwa: Accessibility Representative (HP)
• Kirsten Urquhart: Passenger Representative (KU)
• *Margaret Roy: Local Transport Authority Representative (ATCO) (MR)
• Mary Docherty: Transport Scotland Representative (MD)
• Marilena Papadopoulou: Tram Operator Representative (MP)
• *Michael Nimmo: Subway Operator Representative (MN)
• *Mostafa Gulam: Technical Systems Advisor (MG)
• *Ranald Robertson: Regional Transport Partnership Representative (RTP) (RR)

Other attendees

• Bettina Sizeland: Director of Bus, Accessibility and Active Travel (Transport Scotland) (SRO) (BS)
• Kat Quane: Smart Policy Delivery Lead (Trasport Scotland) (Sponsor) (KQ)
• *Kevin Ho: Programme Support Officer (Transport Scotland) (Secretariat) (KH)
• *Mary Anne Keegan: Smart Policy Manager (Transport Scotland) (MAK)

Guest attendees

• Edmund Gentle: Beep (EG)
• James Bloor: Beep (JBl)

Apologies

• James Gleave: Transport Strategy Advisor (JG)
• Juliet Bell: Smart Programme Manager (Transport Scotland) (JB)
• Matt Smallwood: Smart Delivery Advisor (MS)
• Stevie Chambers: Bus Operator Representative (SC)

Minutes

• The Board confirmed they were content to formally sign off the minutes from the meeting held on 1^st July 2025.

Agenda Item 1: Actions

250311-04 - Open

Bus-rail links for OneTicket

Ongoing - CD advised that they are currently undergoing a live procurement process to replace their retail system, which may impact the pace of progress in that area.

Focus remains on completing the live procurement process, which is progressing as planned. Once finalised, further development work will resume, with the project still on track for launch around April–May next year.

250107-01 - Closed

All members to review the draft STAR and edit/amend by end of July 2025.

Constructive comments received and circulated in advanced. Closed.

Agenda 2 - Chair Update

AS provided a brief update on developments since the previous meeting.

• Positive feedback received for the annual report.
• Annual appraisal letters were issued, expressing appreciation for members' contributions.
• Connecting the Value of Transport was published on the 4^th July 2025.
• A response was submitted to the consultation on the Public Transport Block Exemption. The final amendment order has now been published, with a simplified consultation focusing on the decisions made. In the short term, the key change ensures that the recommendation to vary the Act no longer expires on 28th February but continues indefinitely.
• Additionally, the CMA’s recommendation to include long-distance services within the definition of 'connecting services' has been incorporated. The draft order also introduces a requirement to review the block exemption every five years, starting from its commencement. No other changes were proposed.
• Block Exemption Guidance Consultation published 19^th August 2025. The guidance document has been published alongside the consultation, and stakeholders are being invited to provide feedback on the proposed content. The document summarises key points in four to five bullet points and reflects the proposed amendments to the order.
  • Stakeholders are encouraged to suggest updates to specific sections of the guidance if needed.
  • The first section provides an explanation of the block exemption itself, including a key change: it will now apply without a fixed duration.
  • Another notable update is the removal of the reference to the definition of a "connecting service" in relation to bus services.
  • This change enables operators to offer long-distance add-on tickets for trunk bus services used by passengers travelling over 15 miles representing a new and significant shift in policy.
• The 2025/26 Appraisal Form for the Pay & Workforce Commission, supporting the Scottish Spending Review and Public Service Reform, has been completed.
• Bi-annual meeting held with Alison Irvine, Chief Executive of Transport Scotland, and Roy Brannen, Director-General for Net Zero.
• National Barcode Standard: The final report for Phase One has been completed and will be shared with the steering group on Thursday ahead of a follow-up meeting.
  • Discussions are ongoing with RDG, DfT, Transport for Wales, and others.
  • There’s an informal suggestion that a Ministerial letter of support to DfT could help progress the project to Phase Two, which would involve setting up a trial area
• There was a discussion around RSPS-3001 compliance.
• RDG’s compliance framework is primarily geared towards retailing, with accreditation limited to Ticket Issuing System (TIS) suppliers. Although standards exist for gates and validation equipment, RDG lacks authority to enforce supplier compliance unless a third-party accreditation process is involved.
• Compliance with RSPS-3002 is enforced through ITSO certification testing, which ensures adherence to standards within the rail component.
• For technologies like barcode, magstripe, and EMV, even though RSP or RDG have set out standards, there’s currently no way to make suppliers follow them.

Quick Wins Update

Enhance integrated bus tickets retail offering (Grasshopper, ABC, One-Ticket) - Ongoing

• Both Grasshopper and ABC has now launched on digital Mtickets within operator's own apps. Early signs from Grasshopper are positive with triple the amount of tickets sold in July 2025 compared to the launch month of June 2025. ABC launched last week so early stages. Dumfries and Galloway are now also looking at a version of the One Ticket app to address the withdrawal of Stagecoach from this area.

U22s Transitionary Product - Ongoing

• Beep Travel has confirmed their availability and willingness to deliver the presentation at today’s meeting (26 August 2025).

New Inverness Multi Operator Smart Ticketing Project – Ongoing

• With recent changes to the Inverness and Nairn bus network with Highland Council in house bus operation replacing Stagecoach as the service operator on routes in both Inverness and Nairn the benefit offered by a Multi Operator Ticket has strengthened.
• At the Highland BSIP Programme Board on 3 July 2025 it was agreed that a partnership with Tripper offered the best delivery model for this with the participating operators being Stagecoach North Scotland, Highland Council and Scottish Citylink and Shiel Buses.
• Action – Graeme McFarlan and Ranald Robertson have exchanged emails with a view to arranging a meeting with William Mainus and David Phillips with John Elliot on behalf of Tripper to understand what will be needed to progress this. A risk identified is who should lead on the app purchase as Stagecoach do not lead on this elsewhere. Highland Council or Shiel could lead through their apps.

Rail & Bus integrated & digital ticketing - Ongoing

• A significant portion of the team’s focus has shifted to supporting the delivery of the abolition of peak fares, which is set to go live on Monday. As a result, resources that would typically support other development work have been fully redirected to ensure successful implementation.
• AS noted that the PlusBus discussion links to the QR code pilot already covered. A separate meeting was held with Julie Grey, Chief Executive of Plus Bus, who expressed strong interest in the potential of the QR solution. PlusBus has been briefed on the pilot.

Pilot Area testing of a single Multimodal QR Code Standard - Complete

• TRIG Project completed on time, and grant financial closure conditions all met. Final National Barcode Steering Group Report Phase 1 - due to be sent to the Board by the end of August 2025.
• Final report includes proposals for way forward.

Agenda Item 3: Transport Scotland Sponsor Update

KQ provided an update on:

Ticketing Measures

All ticketing provisions remain on track for completion ahead of the 1st April implementation date and within the current parliamentary term. A key legislative update involves the reclassification of trams: for legal purposes, trams will now be treated as a category of bus. This change addresses a gap in the original legislation, which only covered buses and connecting services, and ensures trams are formally recognised within the updated framework.

Bus Open Data

Progress continues as planned. The system, which aligns with the STAR report and aims to provide a single source of truth for bus data, is on track for delivery.

Sponsorship

MAK noted they’ve had several meetings with internal audit. An email has been sent to all members requesting to complete their register of interest. The annual report is now available on the Transport Scotland website.

Agenda Item 4: STAR report

AS provided a brief overview of the updates and comments on the draft Standard Technical Advisory Report.

• HP raised a point about the current draft of the NSTAB document, which is highly technical and aimed at a specialist audience. To support broader understanding and engagement, it was suggested that a simplified 3, 4 page summary be developed. This would outline the purpose and direction of NSTAB in plain language, making it accessible to non-technical stakeholders who may not wish to engage with the full 40+ page document.
• KQ responded that when the document is published on the Transport Scotland website, it must include a version that is easy to read and accessible. However, this version will still be approximately be 40 pages.
• AS noted that he had responded to several comments relating to the bus sector. He has arranged a separate discussion with GMcF and SC, as many of the comments originated from the bus sector, though not specifically from them. AS proposed to walk them through his responses to provide clarity and address any outstanding points.

• MR noted that Ember develops both its own ticket machines and software in-house. MR asked whether GMcF or SC had engaged with Ember, as the company had suggested they may not have the capacity to participate in an integrated ticketing scheme.
• GMcF noted that Ember does not attend CPT Executive meetings, which may indicate limited involvement with the wider industry. He added that if this needs to change, he can raise the matter with Paul White at CPT, highlighting that CPT is the recognised trade body for bus and coach operators, and questioning why Ember is not currently a member.
• It was agreed that members were happy with the responses to the comments on the STAR report.

Agenda Item 5: Presentation from Beep Travel (Edmund Gentle and James Bloor)

AS welcomed EG and JB from Beep, who presented their Project Data Visualisation Service (DVS). The service integrates data feeds from multiple sources to enable reporting at both individual and group levels.

• EG shared his screen and provided a walkthrough of a demonstration report, offering an overview of the system’s capabilities.
• AS thanked Beep for the presentation and acknowledged the value of the data, particularly in understanding geographical and usage patterns.
• AS asked whether it is now possible to conduct analysis that links this data with other sources, given that the system is tied to individual cardholders who presumably have unique identifiers. This could potentially allow for more detailed insights into individual travel behaviour.
• JB explained that their underlying data system is highly flexible and can incorporate any data provided. If only HOPS data is available, it is not possible to link cards to individuals, as card data is held separately. However, if CMS data is also provided, it enables linking cards to individual users through unique identifiers. As long as a common identifier exists, the system can either merge data into individual profiles or link external datasets to bring in additional information. The structure of their platform allows for seamless integration of various data sources to enhance analysis.
• MG raised a point regarding the current focus of the system, which appears to be primarily IT-based. He noted that there is ongoing work both within Scotland and across the UK that places greater emphasis on the customer experience, particularly in relation to alternative ticketing media such as barcodes and bank cards. MG asked whether any consideration has been given to incorporating these other forms of ticketing into the system.
• JBl noted that their system has previously supported barcode data, including a trial project conducted with Plymouth University in the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole area using QR code journey records from Ticketer. As long as operators provide usable data sources, the system can integrate them. However, he highlighted a lack of industry focus on extracting and standardising QR and EMV journey data, which limits broader integration.
• MG commented that multi-operator ticketing may support future standardisation efforts. He noted involvement in various data and analytics projects, highlighting privacy as a key challenge. While concessionary travel data is accessible for reconciliation and reimbursement purposes, deeper insights such as identifying individuals by gender or disability require explicit user consent.

Agenda Item 6: Sectoral Update

Accessibility Representative Update - Hussian Patwa

• HP provided an update on ticketing infrastructure, noting his advisory role in a cross-border project currently under procurement. The project includes work on replacing ticket machines, with potential integration of accessibility features such as text-to-speech. If implemented, this would be a first and a significant improvement for disabled travellers.

Bus Representative Update - (First Bus Update) - Graeme McFarlane

• System Upgrade: Ticketing systems in Aberdeen and Glasgow have been upgraded, with positive feedback received. The improvements have significantly reduced issues such as concessionary travel discrepancies and machine failure rates, resulting in better service delivery.
• Product Rollout: ABC went live recently, with updates shared by Ryan to Juliet regarding Tripper, Grasshopper, and ABC products. This marks the completion of distribution for the three Glasgow smartphone products, with ongoing monitoring in the area.
• Expansion Plans: Work is underway with John Elliot to explore expanding Tripper in Lanarkshire, aiming to offer more travel choices.
• Scheme Ownership Concern: GMcF raised concerns about the lack of clear ownership of the Grasshopper scheme. While Aberdeenshire is expected to lead, there is limited support and no clear operator ownership. Juliet agreed to review governance arrangements, with GMcF suggesting that the local authority should take responsibility for managing the scheme.
• GMcF noted that the Under 22 bridging product will be explored separately through CPT, which can support discussions on potential retention product options.

Passenger Representative Update - Kirsten Urquhart

• A meeting was held with ScotRail’s retail team to discuss the integration of the Young Scot digital card within the app, specifically for the 16–18 product. During the session, a screen share from a young person was presented to demonstrate the app’s security features, which the team confirmed were satisfactory. ScotRail is currently exploring options to incorporate this functionality into their ticket machines.
• Conversation held with TravelTech, including engagement with the TravelTech incubator at Edinburgh University’s Futures Institute. They expressed interest in data use, particularly around journey and route planning. Young Scot is exploring opportunities to better understand travel patterns such as where young people get off buses or trains to improve service provision.
• Collaborating with Police Scotland’s Specialist Task Force to refine anti-social behaviour reports, with promising youth engagement offering insight into post-22 attitudes over the next four years.

Transport Scotland Update - Mary Docherty

• The asylum seekers travel scheme has received internal approval and will be delivered via the NEC card, likely launching in late autumn or possibly December. The scheme has a fixed budget and will end once funds are exhausted, offering around three months of bus travel only.
• Procurement has begun to replace the current HOPS and reimbursement system, as existing contracts are ending. The team is also developing a pilot for digital concessions, exploring NEC card functionality on mobile devices. This is currently at the business case stage and subject to internal approval, aiming to compare digital delivery with the existing plastic card model.

Regional Transport Partnership Update - Ranald Robertson

• Regional Bus Strategies: Regional transport partnerships are progressing bus strategies with a focus on integrated fares, ticketing, and improved connectivity. SPT and SEStran are consulting on new strategies; HITRANS and Tactran are advancing delivery plans; Nestrans continues smart ticketing rollout; ZetTrans and SWestrans are embedding island and rural connectivity into long-term transport strategies.
• HITRANS Regional Rail Strategy ("Route & Branch"): A new Rail Strategy is being developed as a supporting document to the Regional Transport Strategy. A consultant will be appointed in 2025 with a budget of £40–50k to shape priorities, interventions, and a delivery plan.
• Integrated Ticketing & DRT – Regional Delivery: HITRANS is progressing sustainable travel initiatives including the BetterPoints campaign and expanding its Moove Flexi DRT app across several areas. Moray Council continues to operate m.connect via Liftango. Tactran is enhancing its ENABLE MaaS platform with new DRT booking features. Nestrans maintains integrated ticketing through the GrassHOPPER system, now on the Tripper platform. ZetTrans is aligning with national smart ticketing developments, including ferry concessions.

Subway Operator Update - Michael Nimmo

• Contactless project is on track to go live by the end of the year.
• Planning is underway for future phases, potentially including concessions and under-16 travel, with adjustments to the overall ticketing offer depending on uptake. Notably, there is a significant under-22 customer base across school, university, and work travel. ZoneCard prices are expected to change in September, aligned with ScotRail season ticket updates.

Local Transport Authority Update - Margaret Roy

• Local authorities have been heavily focused on school transport over the summer, with schools across Scotland returning last week.
• The key development is the Tier 1 Bus Infrastructure Fund, with £10 million distributed across all 32 authorities. Amy Phillips is leading on this and has issued reporting templates to capture planned local delivery. Progress will be discussed at the upcoming ATCO Scotland meeting.

Technical Update - Mostafa Gulam

• MG provided an update on the TfL procurement contract.

Tram Update - Marielena Papadopoulou

• MP reported a busy summer for trams due to the festival and multiple concerts, with strong and growing uptake of the ABT system.
• The ABT system has been well implemented, with ongoing improvements via Arrive (formerly Flowbird). The business has decided to refurbish existing tram stop ticket machines rather than invest in new equipment, pending further performance data from ABT over the year.

Ferries Update (Calmac update) - Diane Burke

• DB reported that the CHFS3 contract is nearing final agreement, set to commence on 1st October and span a 10-year period. It includes obligations around smart ticketing and digital enablement, with alignment to board priorities ensured.
• The ScotRail partnership agreement has also been signed, with a joint action plan to be published in November 2025. Current joint work includes research into integrated transport preferences across customer segments and a pilot for accessible wayfinding solutions, with procurement due to conclude by the end of September.

Agenda Item 7: Next steps & AOB

• It was proposed to move the next meeting to the 7^th or the 13^th October 2025.
• GMcF noted that a two-page document outlining the overall experience and detailing the pros and cons of total costing was sent to JB. It would be worthwhile to upload this document to Khub for wider reference.
• It was agreed that a doodle poll will be sent to check members preference for the next meeting.
• Date of next meeting: TBC