First Bus says York customers have caught on to TOTO
- 245% increase in fare payment option in the past 12 months
- 1 million more trips paid for by ‘tapping out’
First Bus has revealed that Tap on Tap off (TOTO) payment of fares has increased 245 per cent in the past year.
TOTO accounted for more than 1,760,000 trips in the 12 months to 31 March 2025, a rise of more than one million on the previous year.
The figures are for its City services and do not include the Park and Ride.
It means one in three customers is now using TOTO to pay and this has become the most popular form of payment, nudging ahead of digital tickets bought through the First Bus app.
Kayleigh Ingham, Commercial Director of First Bus in North & West Yorkshire, said: “This phenomenal growth in TOTO shows that our customers are seeing the benefits of using our TOTO technology. They know it’s the way to guarantee the best value fare for their journey.
“We have focused a promotional campaign on encouraging the use of TOTO, especially for regular bus travel, where it delivers most value for money. TOTO is now showing strong take up and we expect it to grow further.”
Paying with cash has fallen to around seven per cent of all fare transactions during the same period.
First Bus introduced TOTO in October 2022. A customer using contactless payment by card or mobile must ‘tap out’ on the card reader located near the front of the bus as they exit to ensure the system correctly calculates the cost of the journey.
Ends