Transport for Greater Manchester have been issued with a challenge by local Lib Dems.
Greater Manchester Liberal Democrats are calling for TfGM, First and Stagecoach to work together and launch an Oyster-style travel smartcard by Christmas.
“Get Me There could be rolled out to everyone on buses and trams by Christmas. Almost every bus and every tram stop in Greater Manchester already has the equipment needed to run a smartcard.” said Cllr Iain Roberts, leader of the Lib Dem group on TfGM.
Earlier this summer, Transport for Greater Manchester were forced to abandon the current implementation of the scheme which is only being used at present by concessionary card holders
The scheme was due to be rolled out across the spring and summer of this year.
The Liberal Democrats have criticised previous “big bang” approaches taken in Greater Manchester, where ATOS recently admitted they were unable to deliver the Get Me There system after more than three years of work.
“ATOS had no track record of delivering this sort of system so it should be no great surprise that they failed. But where our system has stalled, others across the country are rolling out travel smartcard systems more quickly and at a lower cost.” said Cllr Geoff Abell, Lib Dem Rail and Tram Spokesman for Greater Manchester.
