NEARLY one in five bus journeys across the Liverpool City Region were paid for by using contactless technology in the first month of operation, new figures have revealed.

Across all of the 1,295 buses in the Liverpool City Region, brand new Electronic Ticket Machines (ETM) were installed in August 2019, making the area the only region outside of London with a 100% bus network accepting contactless payments.

The £1.05m funding to fit the ETMs was provided by a Transforming Cities Fund grant.

Bus operators such as Arriva see one in four journeys being paid for with contactless and Stagecoach have seen one in five using contactless to board buses.

It is believed that over the coming months, even more people will be using contactless due to an increase in awareness.

Metro mayor Steve Rotheram said: "The roll out of contactless technology on all our buses, along with the planned online ticket buying portal, is yet another step towards the creation of a London-style transport system, here in the Liverpool City Region.

"By continually improving our bus offer, we can encourage people out of their cars which will, over time, improve our air quality.”