Paypoint Regulatory News (PAY)

23 Nov 2005 07:03

PayPoint PLC23 November 2005 23 November 2005 PayPoint announces three exclusive transport ticketing contracts PayPoint plc, a leading UK cash payment collection network, today announces thatit has signed three exclusive contracts to sell bus tickets through itsterminals for the following companies: - Greater Manchester Travelcards Ltd, a network including more than 50 bus operators operating under the brand System One Travel - Metro Coastlines, the municipal bus and tram operator in Blackpool - First York, a division of the national bus operator First Greater Manchester Travelcards' multi-operator tickets are accepted by thecity's principal bus operators and provide customers with unlimited travelwithin the Greater Manchester area. Approximately 1.3 million tickets are soldannually resulting in around 13.5 million passenger bus journeys using SystemOne Travel each year. Under this contract, PayPoint will initially sell weekly and monthly bus ticketsthrough its network of approximately 600 payment terminals in Greater Manchesterfrom February 1 2006. Tickets are currently issued using handwritten tokens and switching to PayPointterminals will automate the sale of bus tickets, making it faster and moreefficient. The Metro Coastlines contract will see PayPoint sell Travelcard and Zonecard busand tram tickets through around 55 outlets in the Blackpool area. Approximately19 million passenger journeys are made each year using Metro Coastline'sservices. Tickets will go on sale through PayPoint from 1 January 2006. Finally, the First contract will see PayPoint sell a range of period and carnettickets through its network of 50 agents in the York area from 28 November 2005. Approximately 13 million passenger journeys are made each year using FirstYork services. First is the largest bus operator in the UK, running more than 1in 5 of all local bus services and carrying 2.8 million passengers every day. Under all three contracts, customers will buy tickets using PayPoint's 'simpleticketing' solution where transactions are initiated by the agent through thePayPoint terminal's touch screen menu. Once the transaction is complete, thecustomer's receipt is sealed within a laminated wallet to enhance itsdurability, and the receipt then acts as the customer's ticket to travel. The announcements come as bus operators across the country strive to increaseoff-bus sales to improve driver security and shorten journey times by reducingthe amount of time required for passengers to board at each stop. PayPoint is ideally placed to serve this demand with its nationwide network ofmore than 14,000 terminal sites in newsagents, convenience stores, supermarkets,petrol station forecourts and off licences located in residential areas. In addition to PayPoint's 'simple ticketing' solution, it is also laying thefoundations for future growth within the sector by rolling out a new terminalwith an integrated contactless smart card reader, establishing it as the onlynational smart card network within the UK. Dominic Taylor, Chief Executive of PayPoint, said: "We are delighted to beannouncing these further three contracts, which strengthen our position as theleading payments solution provider in the transport sector." Enquiries Finsbury Don Hunter 020 7251 3801 About PayPoint PayPoint is a leading branded payment collection network of over 14,000 outletsused, primarily, for the cash payment of bills and services and prepayments formobile telephones and energy meters. PayPoint began trading in 1996 and initially collected payments through itsnetwork of retail agents for its founder client investors, who included BritishGas, BT, BBC TV Licensing, London Electricity (now part of EDF Energy) and fourwater companies. It now has more than 500 clients including many of the UK and Ireland's majorenergy, cable, mobile and fixed line telephony companies. Its blue chip clientlist also extends to numerous water companies, local authorities and housingassociations and a growing transport and travel base. PayPoint listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange