Customers can use credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Android devices to swipe a sensor upon boarding a service to buy a ticket.
Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark drew on his experience of opening the town’s Arriva depot, twice, to launch the technology last week on a bus outside the War Memorial.
After a hard week of Brexit talks, the Business Secretary took control of the first ticket paid for with the contactless payment system.
“Making bus travel more convenient for passengers is really important so it’s great Arriva is introducing contactless ticketing,” said Mr Clark, who also opened a zebra crossing in Tunbridge Wells earlier this year.
The system is available on all Arriva buses within the Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks areas, with the exception of some of the route 7 and 6 services that come from Maidstone.
Both these routes are likely to be facilitated, with the Ticketer ETM-made system, from early next year. Cash payments will still be possible.
