The West Midlands has taken a major step towards a simpler, more convenient contactless payment system for bus and tram travel, following the appointment of a new delivery partner. 

Backed by funding from the Department for Transport (DfT),the project will overcome existing financial data‑sharing barriers to offer people seamless, best‑value travel across multiple public transport operators, modes and local authority areas. 

Following a competitive procurement process, Littlepay has been appointed to deliver the new system. Initially, it will cover bus and tram travel across the West Midlands, but has the capability to be rolled out to more transport modes, including rail, in the future. 

Under the new system, passengers will be able to travel using a contactless bank card or mobile payment wallets across multiple operators, with journeys automatically calculated and charged at the best value over the course of the day or week. This removes the need to plan ahead or buy separate tickets, making travel simpler and more flexible. 

At the heart of the system is a new central ‘broker’, which brings together journey data from participating operators to enable consistent charging and a seamless customer experience across the network. 

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, has led the development of the system, working in partnership with Project Coral bus operators including Arriva, Go-Ahead Group, First Bus, National Express, Stagecoach, Nottingham City Transport, Rotala and representatives from ALBUM and CPT, supported by Midlands Connect and the Rail Delivery Group .  

Bus operators, working collaboratively with TfWM, have agreed and defined a specification for multi-operator and multi-modal contactless capping of fares. This expertise has helped shape the business case for investment in a back office necessary to deliver the benefits of such a system. 

 Creating seamless travel for passengers requires partnership between local authorities and operators. The operators involved in this project fully support this approach and will work collaboratively with Local Transport Authorities to deliver simpler, more seamless journeys for passengers. 

Development is expected to commence shortly, with initial deployment in the West Midlands expected from spring/summer 2027. 

The programme is designed for national rollout, with further expansion across additional areas and modes planned as part of its long‑term delivery. Engagement with local transport authorities and other partners will support this next phase. 

Sandeep Shingadia, executive director of TfWM, said: “This is about making everyday journeys easier for passengers. By offering contactless fare‑capping across operators, people will no longer need to worry about tickets or fares — the system will automatically work out the best price. 

“Backed by Department for Transport funding, it will remove long‑standing barriers and create a modern, region‑wide contactless system that works across operators and modes. 

“The new system will form the backbone of a more integrated transport network, supporting our ambitions for growth, connectivity and cleaner travel, while also providing a scalable solution that can be expanded to more regions in the future.” 

Littlepay was selected for its expertise and position at the cutting edge of fare payments technology after demonstrating a clear understanding of the complexities of multi-operator environments and how to deliver solutions at scale. 

Sarah McLaughlin, senior business development manager at Littlepay, said: “We’re proud to be working with Transport for West Midlands on this landmark programme, which represents a major step forward for multi-operator, multi-modal fare payments in the UK. 

“This is exactly the kind of programme the industry has been working towards, where passengers get a truly seamless experience across operators without needing to think about fares. Littlepay’s platform is designed to integrate across existing systems while enabling future expansion, supporting a more connected and adaptable transport network in the West Midlands and beyond.”  The broker model is key to unlocking that, and it creates a foundation not just for the West Midlands, but for wider interoperability across the UK over time. We’re excited to be part of something that sets a new benchmark for fare payments.” 

The ITS UK Member News Service shares announcements and press releases from member organisations. The content is solely the responsibility of the issuing organisation and does not imply endorsement by ITS UK.