The Key (smartcard)
The Key is a contactless smartcard that is being progressively introduced to replace paper ticketing in public transport in Britain.
It stores electronic tickets for use on bus and rail services in the United Kingdom, mainly those operated by the Go-Ahead Group.
The Key is an ITSO compatible smartcard, ITSO being the UK Department for Transport’s chosen standard for interoperable contactless ticketing.
It is also the format that ENCTS concessionary passes are required to be issued in. All Go-Ahead bus services which accept The Key also process ENCTS cards electronically.
The Key brand is owned and operated by the Go-Ahead Group. The Key is available to customers on the majority of the deregulated bus services operated by Go-Ahead Group in towns and cities across England.
In addition, Govia train operating companies Southern, Govia Thameslink Railway and London Midland train operators introduced The Key as a new smart ticketing system on a phased basis across a series of routes and stations since 2010.
The London Oyster card system was not originally compatible with ITSO. ITSO cards can now be used on Oyster card readers.
Bus and rail operators accepting The Key
, the position is:Full range of ticket types means that tickets can be purchased for single rides, daily, weekly, monthly and season tickets.
| Mode of Transport | Region | Introduction | Zones | Accepting transport operators | Ticket types | Comments |
| Bus | Bournemouth and Dorset | January 2012 | 7 | Wilts & Dorset | Zonal coverage includes overlap with Bluestar Buses | |
| Bus | Brighton & Hove | September 2011 | Single | Brighton & Hove | ' | Currently or previously did include local operators Compass Travel and The Big Lemon. |
| Bus | Crawley and Surrey, Sussex and Kent region | January 2012 | 4 | Metrobus | ||
| Bus | Isle of Wight | April 2012 | Single | Southern Vectis | ||
| Bus | Newcastle, Sunderland and North East region | July 2010 April 2011 | 7 | Go North East | ||
| Bus | Oxford | 2007 Initial introduction, converted to ITSO in October 2010 August 2011, Oxford SmartZone launched adding Stagecoach | 3 | Oxford Bus Company Brookes Buses Thames Travel Stagecoach | Cityzone does not cover Stagecoach buses | |
| Bus | Plymouth | August 2011 | 2 | Plymouth Citybus | ||
| Bus | Southampton and Hampshire | January 2012 | 7 | Unilink Bluestar Buses | ' | Zonal coverage includes overlap with More Buses / Salisbury Reds |
| Rail | Birmingham - the West Midlands Rail Franchise | February 2010 | n/a | London Midland | | |
| Rail | Sussex - the South Central Rail Franchise | October 2011 | n/a | Southern & Gatwick Express | Extending to full network coverage by late 2013, including integration with Transport for London's Oyster card scheme | |
| Rail | South East England | ? | n/a | Govia Thameslink Railway | ||
| Rail | South East England | December 2016 | n/a | Southeastern |