The RFID tickets contain an aerial and microchip and do not have to be removed from purses or wallets to activate ticket barriers.

The tickets, which can activate barriers from 10cm away, use Philips Semiconductors MIFARE UltraLight microchips and can be used for multiple journey passes.

BemroseBooth business development director Andy Blundell said that the company would conduct a series of volume production trials later this year and go into live production in 2004.

We have been developing our RFID strategy for some time and this is the first of a series of co-branded solutions that we will be introducing, said Blundell.

Blundell added that BemroseBooth was in discussions with unnamed companies in the rail, bus and coach sectors in the UK and North America. It has worked with the electronics giant for the past year on the project.

Philips Semiconductors general manager of Business Line Identification Reinhard Kalla said: By combining our silicon expertise and BemroseBooths leading role in the in the high-volume paper ticket market we will be able to offer smart solutions that meet the needs of the transport industry.

The advantages of a contactless ticketing system include less passenger bottlenecks, fewer working parts in ticket readers and a reduction of the chance of cash crime against passengers.
BemroseBooth is an 850-employee company, based in Derby, Hull and Teesside. It has a turnover in excess of 60m.

Story by John Davies