Minister for Transport, Plaid’s Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, has today launched a new ‘Smart Card’ that paves the way for integrated public transport across the Welsh nation. As a first step, the new smartcard has been rolled-out across Wales for concessionary bus pass holders. It is hoped that by 2014 only one card will be needed for all passengers to travel on all bus and train services in Wales, transforming the way people use public transport. The new technology will reduce costs, improve efficiency and provide the basis for an All-Wales public transport card.

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“I’m delighted that this new system will now be in place for all users of the free bus across all 22 local authorities in Wales. This is only the beginning of this technology. We will now begin to develop the Wales Transport Entitlement card which will mean that people could only need one card to travel on all bus and train services in Wales. We have already started installing some of the 2,500 new ticket machines that will read these cards on buses across Wales and expect to make further good progress throughout this year.” - Plaid’s Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, Minister for Transport.