DURHAM City bus passengers are helping to road test a new cashless payment system.

Instead of paying cash for a ticket, Durham University staff, using the 40B Stanley Travel service between Durham Railway Station and the university, present a Pay As You Go smartcard.

The trial is part of the North East Smart Ticketing Initiative (NESTI), a partnership of local authorities and transport operators, looking for ways of making bus travel easier.

Councillor Neil Foster, Durham County Council cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “We are delighted to be at the forefront in testing this new technology. It should make travel on public transport even more convenient and attract more passengers.”

Harvey Emms, Chair of the NESTI partnership board, said: “The Stanley Travel pilot is an important stepping stone in making a Pay As You Go smartcard a reality across the North-East.

“NESTI is working together with other local bus operators and the Nexus Metro so in the future people will be able to use a Pay As You Go smartcard to pay for their public transport journeys across the North-East.”

A similar pilot is underway on the Tyne and Wear Metro system.

The plan is to make Pay As You Go Travel available across the North-East, including bus companies Arriva, Go North East and Stagecoach.