Catching the bus in Somerset could soon become a lot less confusing.

A new national ticketing scheme could allow passengers to use one ticket across different bus companies, instead of having to work out which operator runs which part of a journey.

The scheme, called Project Coral, is being developed with government funding.

If it works, it could bring a contactless tap-on, tap-off system to buses across the country.

For people in Somerset, that could make it easier to travel between towns, villages and neighbouring counties without needing separate tickets for different operators.

It could help passengers heading to work, school, college, hospital appointments, shopping trips or days out.

The project is being led by Transport for the West Midlands.

Talks are taking place with government ministers and the five biggest bus operators: Arriva, First Group, Go-Ahead, National Express and Stagecoach.

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Somerset Council says the scheme could be rolled out across the south west within the next 12 months if the pilot is successful.

Natasha Bates, Somerset Council's service manager for transport planning, updated councillors at a virtual meeting of the council's bus advisory board on Monday, 28 April.

She said: "The project's aim is to deliver a back office system to support the roll-out of multi-operator ticketing – so it facilitates the administration and division of revenue taken through the sale of multi-operator tickets.

"The Department for Transport has been very clear that local authorities shouldn't go ahead and sort out their own back office system; the aim is for everyone to use this Project Coral solution.

"The DfT is keen for all local authorities to embrace multi-operator ticketing."

The important bit for passengers is simple.

The system is designed to make bus travel feel more like using a bank card on the Tube or other urban transport networks.

You tap when you get on, tap when you get off, and the system works out the fare.

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That could be especially useful in rural counties such as Somerset, where journeys can involve different routes, different towns and different operators.

Somerset Council is now working with Peninsula Transport and other south west transport authorities to get ready.

Peninsula Transport brings together Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay to push for better transport links across the region.

Ms Bates said: "They will then start contacting local transport authorities to confirm commitment and commence the roll-out of the project.

"At this stage, we don't know what this might mean in terms of cost or work involved.

"In the meantime, we are working behind the scenes with Peninsula Transport and the other local transport authorities in the south west to get ourselves as Project Coral-ready as we possibly can be."

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council's portfolio holder for transport and waste services, said cross-border travel was a key part of the plan.

He said: "We will be working cross-border with operators – that's the whole idea.

"The government is quite right about this, but I wish they'd get on with it."

A further update is expected at the next bus advisory board meeting on Tuesday, 23 June.

Original reporting: Daniel Mumby/LDRS

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