The travelling public will soon be able to make contactless payment on Department of Public Transportation buses using a tap-to-pay feature, MPs heard today.

Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, told the House of Assembly that the Government is preparing to implement the new system that will allow passengers to board by tapping a debit or credit card.

He said the move will remove the need for cash or exact change, and “significantly” speed up boarding times, particularly during peak periods.

Mr Darrell said it would also bring “improved data on ridership patterns that will help DPT plan routes and schedules more effectively, and a more convenient, modern experience for residents and visitors alike”.

This year, the department introduced offline fare validation within the Shorelink app which allowed eligible mobile fares to be validated even without an internet connection.

He said the move was a “practical enhancement that further strengthens the reliability of the system as we move towards full tap-to-pay capability”.

Traditional fare payment options will remain available throughout the tap-to-pay roll-out which Mr Darrell said will ensure “no passenger is left behind during this transition”.

In other updates, Mr Darrell said the final order of 20 electric buses will be placed this year, expected to enter service in early 2027.

The DPT placed its first order for electric buses from the Golden Dragon Bus Company in 2022, with another 40 ordered in 2023.

The arrival of the new buses will bring the department's fully electrified fleet to a total of 110 and will mark the completion of the DPT’s electric bus programme.

As the new buses are commissioned, older diesel buses that have reached the end of their service life will be retired, Mr Darrell said, cutting long-term operating and maintenance costs.

He told the House that since the start of the school year places significant extra pressure on the public bus network, the department kept prepared to support the increase in demand.

He said the department “remains in a position where we do not require the use of supplementary minibuses to satisfy the winter schedule”.

The move is a direct result of the introduction of the 20 new electric buses, coupled with increased maintenance efforts and focused recruitment of bus operators, he added.

The DPT will publish the winter bus schedule on the Shorelink app and will continue to provide real-time updates on cancellations and service alerts throughout the school year.