London Underground launches pilot for contactless payment cards
Transport for London (TfL) has launched a pilot of contactless payment on the Tube and rail network, with about 5,000 customer volunteers now using this new way of touching in and out on the transport network. The pilot is being carried out in preparation for the launch of contactless payment card acceptance later this year. The new payment option has been used more than 11 million times on London's buses since December 2012. It will allow customers to use their contactless debit, credit or charge cards to pay their fares on Tube, London Overground, DLR, Tram and most National Rail services in London by touching their card onto yellow card readers, as they already do with Oyster pre-paid cards. Contactless payment means that customers do not need to spend time topping up their Oyster balance because fares are charged directly to payment card accounts, TfL says. Transparency is also guaranteed with TfL online accounts enabling customers to view their journey history and fares paid, including the ability to apply for refunds on incomplete journeys. Upgrades to the readers mean they are also capable of accepting suitable mobile payment applications. Mobile phones with a Visa, MasterCard or American Express payment application could be accepted on TfL services. TfL is continuing to advise customers to keep their Oyster card separate from other contactless cards to avoid 'card clash', which results in gates not opening or no green light to proceed.
Pictured: A still from TfL promotional video for contactless card travel
TfL Contactless: www.tfl.gov.uk/contactless
Aligned Assets releases risk information module for local government
Gazetteer specialists Aligned Assets have released a Risk Information Module as part of its local government gazetteer management system, Symphony iManage. The module will allow councils to store data pertaining to risks against any record in their Local Land and Property Gazetteers (LLPG). The LLPG, which all councils will maintain, acts as a central repository for all address and property data within their administrative boundaries, and is the definitive source of address data used throughout council departments. Example information that can be stored in the new module includes: potentially violent occupants, asbestos or dangerous dogs; information about an immobile householder or vulnerable persons; restricted access to sites; or information on liquor licences or fireworks storage. The module will help to protect members of staff who perform site-visits and prepare enforcement officers before they carry out their statutory duties, the company says. It will also be enhanced to enable other agencies to enter proposed location based intelligence such as risks via a web form or web services.
Aligned Assets Risk Information Module: www.aligned-assets.co.uk/rim
Auriga launches change, transition and transformation service
ICT and security consultancy Auriga Consulting has launched a Change, Transition and Transformation (CTT) service for public sector organisations embarking upon transformative cloud projects. The service packages Auriga's expertise in change management and transformative strategy as a standalone offering over G-Cloud for the first time, the company says. In addition to CTT, Auriga has also enhanced existing offerings on the G-Cloud 5 platform. The company's CLAS and CESG Certified Professional (CCP) Consultancy Service now acts as a comprehensive IA (information assurance) resource, capable of providing strategy, policy and governance through to operational assurance activities such as audit and Security Operating Procedures (SyOPs), it says. Its Government Security Classifications Policy (GSCP) Transition Service has also been revised to include guidance on implementing GSCP in concert with other areas, such as joining the Public Services Network, risk management process reengineering, and the consumption and adoption of Cloud services under GSCP.
Auriga: www.aurigaconsulting.com
