R5AC aims to launch travel smartcard
The RAC has opened talks with London Underground, Railtrack, taxi firms and other transport companies to develop a transport smartcard.
It will be co-ordinated by the RAC and be redeemable against all the other modes of transport.
The scheme, already dubbed the “mobility” smartcard, is part of the RAC’s aim to reposition itself as a transport company rather than simply a membership body for motorists.
The organisation is a member of the Shell Smart Card consortium trial in Scotland. But that is seen as a test for the development of the transport card idea.
“The card would make people think about their choice of transport,” says an RAC spokesman. “We are talking to rail providers and airlines because members do not sit in their cars 24 hours a day.”
Future plans include sponsorship of city centre park and ride schemes, developing information systems to aid rail travel and tendering for Highways Agency contracts to develop motorway information systems.
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