Credit and debit card payments coming to Metro buses this year
Credit and debit card payments coming to Metro buses this year
Metro customers in Greater Christchurch will soon have the option to board Metro buses and ferries using their debit or credit card when the first phase of Motu Move launches later this year.
The new payment methods are the first part of a phased roll out of the National Ticketing Solution (NTS) which is beginning in Canterbury. It uses the same technology which has been successfully piloted on Route 29 buses between Christchurch Airport and the city since December last year.
Starting in November, customers in Christchurch, Waimakariri, and Selwyn will be able to pay a standard Metro fare of $3 on buses and $5 on ferries using contactless payment. This includes debit/credit card or digital payments such as Google Pay and Apple Pay.
Customers with concessions such as child and youth fares and Community Service Card holders will need to continue to use their Metrocard. SuperGold card holders will continue presenting their card to the driver during SuperGold times.
Motu Move devices will be installed on all Metro buses and ferries from 10 September as part of preparations but won’t be active until later in the year. Route 29, which is currently piloting the new ticketing system, will continue to accept contactless payments during this time.
Other features of Motu Move such as tagging off, Motu Move cards and concessions will be introduced in future phases. More details will be shared closer to the rollout date, as well as being posted to our website and Facebook page.
Motu Move to roll out in phases
A phased rollout of the solution will bring more accessible public transport to the Greater Christchurch network faster than waiting for all the parts to be in place.
Being able to get on a bus with a debit or credit card is something the public has been asking after for a long time. While the delays in the project have been disappointing, it will be great to finally make travelling on our network easier, especially for casual users and visitors who might not have a Metrocard.
The new technology has been trialled on Route 29 between the airport and the city since December last year and has seen roughly 34% of adult fares paid for using the new contactless payments during that time. Fares are the same as a standard $3 Metrocard fare and there are no transaction fees.
While Motu Move will ultimately replace our current ticketing system, this first phase will simply provide an additional way to pay alongside Metrocard and cash. We’ll be engaging with our customers early on through each phase of the rollout so that the transition to Motu Move is as smooth as possible.