Littlepay selected for Project Coral, a landmark DfT-funded national programme enabling contactless travel across multiple operators

Littlepay has been selected for Project Coral, a landmark DfT-funded national programme at the heart of the UK Government’s “Better Connected” strategy to modernise public transport ticketing. The programme will simplify contactless travel across multiple modes and operators, supporting the expansion of regional pay-as-you-go travel.

Simplifying the Passenger Experience

The platform removes complexity from public transport. Passengers can travel across multiple operators using a single contactless payment method, with fares automatically calculated and capped to ensure the best value over time.

This removes the need to pre-plan journeys or manage multiple tickets, making travel simpler, more flexible and easier to use across a region.

“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.”

said Sandeep Shingadia, executive director of TfWM

A National Platform for Contactless Travel

The UK Government has set out a clear ambition to deliver simpler, more consistent payment experiences across public transport, as outlined in its Better Connected strategy, which sets out plans to expand pay-as-you-go travel and simplify fares, particularly across rail and other modes. Project Coral is a key step towards achieving this, providing a practical approach to integrating travel across operators and modes. 

At the centre of the programme is a shared broker platform, which connects operators and payment systems to enable contactless travel across the region. Rather than replacing existing infrastructure, the platform works alongside it, bringing together journey and payment data to support multi-operator fare calculation and region-wide capping.

Littlepay has been closely involved in the development of Project Coral since its inception, helping to shape a practical, EMV-based approach to multi-operator fare payments. Its broker platform will provide the core capability required to support integrated, account-based travel at scale.

Revenue Sharing and Settlement

The programme will be supported by Littlepay’s partner, Euclid, whose “Fareshare” platform provides revenue apportionment, settlement and reporting across participating operators. Working alongside the broker, this ensures that fares can be accurately calculated, allocated and reconciled between operators.

The Challenge of Multi-Operator Travel

Multi-operator contactless travel is already in place in parts of the UK, with Littlepay supporting successful implementations in regions such as Leicester, Cornwall, the South East and North Wales. However, extending these approaches across other regions and modes has proved challenging, particularly where there is less alignment between operators, systems and commercial models.

These differences make it difficult to deliver consistent, region-wide travel offers across multiple operators.

Project Coral builds on these foundations by introducing a shared broker model that makes it easier to extend contactless travel across wider networks, while maintaining flexibility for different operators and avoiding the need to replace existing systems.

Supporting Bus Reform and Franchising

The programme supports wider UK bus reform and franchising objectives, where local transport authorities are taking greater control of network design and the passenger experience. 

By providing shared payment infrastructure, the broker model enables authorities to focus on delivering simple, region-wide travel offers rather than building and maintaining bespoke payment systems, while continuing to support a diverse operator landscape. 

The initial deployment in the West Midlands will focus on bus and tram services, with future expansion planned across additional modes, including rail.

Why Littlepay

Littlepay was selected for its proven experience in delivering contactless fare payments across multi-operator transport networks, and its clear, practical approach to delivering EMV-based travel at scale.

Its modular API-based architecture enables authorities and operators to integrate existing systems, reducing delivery risk and accelerating rollout, while supporting future expansion across modes and regions.

“This programme reflects a clear shift towards simpler, more passenger-focused public transport.

The broker model makes it possible for authorities and operators to simplify travel across networks without needing to replace existing systems. It provides a practical route to expanding pay-as-you-go travel across regions and modes.

We’re proud to support WMCA in delivering a solution that builds on proven foundations and helps move the UK towards a more joined-up approach to fare collection.”

said Sarah McLaughlin, Senior Business Development Manager at Littlepay

Looking Ahead

Development is expected to begin shortly, with initial deployment targeted for 2027. The programme has been designed to extend across additional regions and modes, supporting a more connected approach to contactless travel across the UK.