Herts launches smartcard scheme for job seekers

Hertfordshire County Council has launched a smart card scheme to encourage bus operators to offer discounts to unemployed youngsters.

The scheme is being piloted by bus company, Arriva, who run almost 80 per cent of buses within the county. Over 200 buses have been equipped with smart card readers. Cardholders attending interviews and training sessions are allowed to travel at half price.

The Transmo ticketing system monitors card usage, checks authorisation and reimburses bus operators automatically. Spencer Robeson, head of passenger transport at the council, said: "At this point, we are not monitoring how many interviews each person attends, although it would be possible to impose penalties on benefit seekers who do not attend interviews. The monitoring is to assess how much it costs to support the Government's New Deal scheme for 18 to 24 year olds."

London Transport has launched its own savercards for unemployed 18 to 24 year olds, in conjunction with the Benefits Agency, but their cards do not contain chips. A London Underground spokeswoman conceded that not having access to electronic transactions poses problems. "We have very complicated arrangements for reimbursing partner companies, such as mainline train operators," she said. "We are planning to adopt a fully electronic ticketing system by 2001."