The Technology Strategy Board, the innovation arm of the UK Government, has awarded a £1.1 million grant to an industry consortium bidding to develop a nationwide smart ticketing scheme for transit fares and other purchases across the country's transport network.
The 'MultiPass' consortium, led by UK start-up Tedipay, includes several key players from transport and ticketing industries, including GuestLogix, GIS, Global Travel Ventures, Centre for Transport Studies at Imperial College London and transport operators including Abellio Greater Anglia.
Inspired by its sci-fi namesake from Luc Besson's film 'The Fifth Element', MultiPass is promising "seamless best price travel across Britain".
"No need to queue for tickets - just turn up and go," says the press blurb. "No need to think what ticket to buy - MultiPass always charges the lowest possible fare for any journey the passenger makes, on any transport mode, with any operator, at any time."
Consumers will also be able to use MultiPass to pay for snacks and drinks, car parking and other travel-related products and services.
The MultiPass platform incorporates a "virtual ticket gate" and a multi-functional NFC and SIM-based mobile wallet compatible with the UK smart ticketing standard, ITSO.