First Bus in York spearheads £20m investment in new ticket machines

First Bus in York is spearheading a £20m national investment in new ticket machines to benefit customers and drivers.

Its fleet of 86 electric buses are among the first in the country to be fitted with technology from Ticketer, the UK bus and coach industry’s leading provider of real-time information, fleet management and smart ticketing solutions.

This multi-year contract renewal marks a significant milestone in the relationship between the two businesses that spans more than a decade and plays a key role in the operations of First Bus, one of the UK’s leading bus operators.

An upfront investment of £10m has meant the new system rollout is underway, with the first two depots in York and Worcester already being fitted.  

Ticketer is providing its TK300 driver console, Voice Messaging, Enhanced Predictions and Mobile Device Management, amongst a suite of enhanced future capabilities designed to elevate the passenger experience, support operational excellence, and empower drivers with smarter, real-time tools.  

These innovations - part of a broader wave of upcoming advancements – will harness data-driven insights, seamless integration, and user-centric design to deliver the next generation of connected transport services.

Simon Mathieson, Director of Operational Excellence for First Bus, said: “We’re pleased to be extending our partnership with Ticketer for a further five years and continuing to give our people and passengers the best travel experience when using the bus. We’ve listened to our drivers’ needs and worked tirelessly to provide them with the best option to make this element of their job as efficient as possible.  

“This renewal is testament to our strong working relationship with Ticketer, and our shared commitment to delivering innovative solutions as part of our commitment to improving services for our drivers and customers time and time again.” 

Adam Toone, Chief Commercial and Operations Officer, Ticketer, added: "Our partnership with First Bus has always been rooted in innovation, mutual trust and a shared mission to make public transport better for everyone. We’re thrilled to continue working closely with First Bus to push the boundaries of what’s possible in bus travel and are excited to see where our partnership will take them next." ENDS