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Centro partners with Logica to build and operate largest smartcard travel scheme outside of London

Free passes are smart choice for over 400,000 in West Midlands

One in six people living in the West Midlands can now enjoy using the bus anywhere in England for free after receiving a new travel pass.

Working in partnership with Centro, Logica, one of Europe’s leading business and IT service companies, has produced and delivered over 430,000 National Concessionary Passes for over 60s, and blind and disabled people in the region on behalf of public transport authority Centro.

The passes, which include smartcard technology, allow holders to use any local bus in England for free after 9:30am Monday to Friday, and all day on weekends and bank holidays. The integrated chips within the passes will soon allow people to swipe on and off over 2,600 buses from over 50 depots in the region, as well as trains and trams.

The cards were issued across the country as part of a Government scheme - the new English National Concessionary Transport Scheme (ENCTS). Thanks to Logica and Centro, many West Midlands residents received their smartcards before anyone else in England, meeting the April 1 deadline.

Both Centro and Logica will also work together to deliver a commercial and concessionary multi-modal scheme - the largest scheme outside of London’s Oyster card scheme which will go live during 2009. Logica will supply ITSO compliant smartcards, associated hardware and back office services to integrate all parts of the scheme. Centro is currently looking at companies to supply card readers for the vehicles.

The technology will deliver a number of benefits to Centro, transport operators and customers in the West Midlands, including faster and more efficient payments, reduced fraud and a quicker and more pleasant journey experience for the customer.

Logica’s extensive experience in smartcards includes the recently awarded contract to supply half a million cards for the NoWcard scheme in the North West of England. It also worked in partnership with Transport for Scotland to ensure the successful implementation of the first National concessionary scheme, which now has over one million cards in operation.

Geoff Inskip, Chief Executive of Centro said: “We were delighted to appoint Logica, who provide us with the detailed knowledge and experience in transport technology and smart retailing we need to provide passengers with a smart transport system in the West Midlands.”

“The concessionary and fare paying schemes provide huge benefits for everyone, offering greater convenience for passengers and lower administration costs for local authorities and operators”.

Harbinder Dhaliwal, Logica’s Director of Transport Solutions, Logica commented: “The Centro project is an exciting development in the use of smartcards for transport, re-enforcing our reputation as the leading provider of integrated ITSO compliant smart schemes in the UK. This project is a major step forward in the development of fully integrated ticketing systems in the West Midlands, extending the convenience and ease of smartcard technology to millions more passengers. We are delighted to work with Centro to help them realise their smartcard vision.”

Moving forward, the smartcard scheme will facilitate easier integration with wider transport and other non-transport activities including financial and retail environments such as fast food outlets, coffee shops, newsagents, off licences, bars, pubs, parking facilities and vending machines.

Further information from Babs Coombes:
tel: 0121 214 7266
mobile: 07887 794 208
email babscoombes@centro.org.uk 
visit Centro News Online at: www.centronews.org.uk

About Logica
Logica is a leading IT and business services company, employing 39,000 people across 36 countries. It provides business consulting, systems integration, and IT and business process outsourcing services.  Logica works closely with its customers to release their potential - enabling change that increases their efficiency, accelerates growth and manages risk.  It applies its deep industry knowledge, technical excellence and global delivery expertise to help its customers build leadership positions in their markets. Logica is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext (Amsterdam) (LSE: LOG; Euronext: LOG). More information is available at www.logica.com.

Press contacts
Nadia Boodram
Logica
nadia.boodram@logica.com
+44 (0) 20 7446 4152