Payments infrastructure innovator Littlepay partners with Transport for NSW Rural & Regional to transfer bus system to open payments.

The new system will allow passengers to use debit and credit cards to purchase tickets using a bank card, mobile device or wearable.

The project delivered a modular solution by integrating components from multiple Australian vendors. All at a fraction of the cost of traditional ticketing systems.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Littlepay, a leading provider of payment solutions for the public transit and mobility sector, announces its first deployment with Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to bring the convenience of open payments to the bus system in regional NSW. 

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is trialling contactless payment technology on buses in Bathurst and Dubbo. The trial commenced in Bathurst in December 2022 and was recently launched in Dubbo. The contactless payment technology will accept debit cards containing a chip, credit cards (American Express, Mastercard or Visa), or a digital wallet linked to these cards.  Commuters on the A trial Bathurst Buslines and Dubbo Buslines will be the first to trial the new payment system.

Previously, the bus network in Dubbo and Bathurst required commuters to purchase a paper ticket with cash. With this project rollout, commuters will now also have the option to pay their fare by simply tapping their credit or debit card, mobile, or smartwatch when boarding the bus.

After signing the contract with TfNSW in 2022,  the promise of a modular ticketing system was delivered by integrating TransportMe validators and CBA Merchant services to Littlepay’s cloud-based payment platform, with the flexibility to add new hardware and payment options as required. 

For Littlepay, the deal follows a string of successful open payment ticketing rollouts in major metropolitan areas in Portugal, Finland, and cities across the U.K. and California.  To date, the Melbourne-based fintech company has flown under the radar, quietly collaborating with over 300 transport and mobility providers worldwide and powering payment systems for local buses, city networks, and national public transport systems in 12 countries across Australia, Europe, the U.K., and North, Central and South America.

“Littlepay’s core mission has always been to move more people on public transport through better payment experiences, which in turn supports sustainability. 

TFNSW has consistently demonstrated leadership in providing innovative technology solutions to improve public transit services, and we’re excited to have partnered with them on the implementation of our payment technology in regional NSW.

It’s ironic that Littlepay continues to build a reputation as a world leader in open payments for public transport, while our home city of Melbourne remains years away from enjoying the same convenience.”

said Amin Shayan, CEO of Littlepay