Transport bosses 'committed' to iPhone ticket plan

The Pop card was released for Android phones in 2020, but is not on iPhones

Transport bosses say they remain hopeful of making digital tickets available on iPhones after years of frustration.

The Tyne and Wear Metro has been urged to finally deliver a "seamless" experience for Apple users who are currently unable to keep Metro tickets on their phone.

A Pop card app allowing customers to buy and store tickets was released for Android handsets in 2020, but has remained off limits for iPhones.

Metro operator Nexus says it wants to become an "early adopter" when Apple rolls out the required technology to its UK devices.

Passengers using an iPhone currently have no choice but to obtain a physical Pop card if they want to access its prices, which are cheaper than paper tickets bought from station machines.

Conservative and Labour councillors in North Tyneside this week called on Nexus to resolve the problem.

Paying 'over the odds'

A motion from Tory councillor Ian McAlpine complained that the Metro's payment system "needs further improvement to match the modern experience in places like London and Manchester".

Passed unanimously by the council, it warned people are increasingly reliant on digital wallets and that the lack of iPhone access leaves some paying "over the odds".

Nexus has previously explained the technology required to store a Pop card has only been available to use via Google Pay and not in the Apple Wallet.

However, it told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Friday that Apple is planning to rollout the technology to its UK devices.

David Bartlett, head of smart ticketing at Nexus, said the organisation remained "committed" to introducing the measure.

"Apple has announced its intention to bring that functionality to the UK. We hope to be an early adopter of this technology when it becomes available."

He added new smartcard readers would be needed for the network's gates and validators, with the aim being to install them during the first half of next year.