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The Connected Kent and Medway smartcard makes bus travel your Oyster - but not on Arriva and Stagecoach

A pay-as-you-go travel card launches in Kent today, allowing passengers to pay for their bus travel without having to scrabble around for change.

The Connected Kent and Medway smartcard has been designed as a joint initiative between Kent County Council and Medway Council and will be available for use from today.

The pay-as-you-go card closely resembles the capital’s Oyster card in that it can be topped up online, at certain libraries or in person on the bus.

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Kent's new 'Oyster' style card can be used from today
Kent's new 'Oyster' style card can be used from today

There is also the ability for the card to auto top-up, meaning that if you forget, the card will have done it for you and you will always have credit.

It will initially be accepted on seven operators: Nu-Venture, Autocar, Chalkwell, ASD, County Connect, Farleigh and Go-Coach.

However, two of the largest bus operators Arriva and Stagecoach are not at this point part of the scheme.

Cllr Matthew Balfour, KCC cabinet member for transport said: “This scheme will make it easier for people to get around the county by bus as well as speeding up the time it takes to board.

“Our main aim with this card is to make it effortless for passengers to travel on different routes, with multiple operators and this, we hope, will provide a viable alternative to the car journey.”

He added: “Ultimately it will help tackle congestion and support the regeneration of the Kent economy.”

Arriva bus depot in Armstrong Road, Maidstone
Arriva bus depot in Armstrong Road, Maidstone

In the long term, the councils wants to see a smartcard which can be expanded to include train journeys, bike hire, car hire, and allow residents an easy door-to-door journey.

Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services Cllr Phil Filmer said: “We’re all in a rush these days, so anything we can do to make local travel more convenient for residents can only be a good thing.

"The introduction of the payment card may even encourage more drivers to ditch the car and try travelling by bus instead.”

People can visit a journey planning website at www.kentconnected.org and the smartcard website is www.connectedkentandmedway.org

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