STAGECOACH has begun rolling out new ticketing technology which is set to be introduced on bus services across Herefordshire.

The operator is installing new Ticketer TK300 ticket machines across its West network, which covers services in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Swindon.

The upgraded equipment is designed to make boarding buses quicker and easier for passengers, with faster contactless payments and ticket issuing.

The machines will also offer improved QR code scanning, while enhanced GPS technology is expected to provide more accurate information about the location of buses.

Stagecoach said the investment followed feedback from its drivers about the ticketing equipment currently used across the network.

The rollout has initially started in Oxford, before the technology is introduced more widely across the Stagecoach West area.

The company said early feedback from drivers using the new machines had been overwhelmingly positive, particularly about their speed and ease of use.

Martin Gibbon, managing director of Stagecoach West, said the investment had been made partly in response to comments from staff about the technology they use while working.

He said: “Our drivers have told us how important it is to have technology that makes their working day easier, and these new machines are a direct response to that feedback.”

Stagecoach operates a number of services across Herefordshire, including routes serving Ross-on-Wye and surrounding communities.

The new machines are intended to simplify everyday tasks for drivers while also speeding up the process of passengers buying or validating tickets when boarding.

The operator has not confirmed exactly when the new equipment will appear on individual Herefordshire routes, with the machines being introduced as part of a wider rollout across the West network.

Passengers will continue to be able to use existing payment and ticketing options as the new equipment is introduced across services.