Iff card
Encyclopedia
Iff card is a contactless smart card
introduced in Cardiff
in 2010. It allows customers to travel on Cardiff Bus
services after having pre-paid.
The name "Iff" is a play on the word "Cardiff".
. The first 30,000 cards were issued free of charge and pre-loaded with £3 of credit, after which the cards will be charged at £5.
The company spent £300,000 on developing the card whose ITSO technology can be shared with other transport providers and public bodies in the future.
More than 25,000 applications for the card were received within the first few weeks of its launch.
Those who have registered for an Iff card will be able to be sent service updates via text or e-mail during spells of bad weather.
hopes the card would become integrated with rail companies so it could be used across all transport systems. Deputy First Minister for Wales
, Ieuan Wyn Jones
hopes to see the smartcard technology rolled out throughout Wales by 2014.
Smart card
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card , is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. A smart card or microprocessor cards contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally polyvinyl chloride, but sometimes acrylonitrile...
introduced in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
in 2010. It allows customers to travel on Cardiff Bus
Cardiff Bus
Cardiff Bus is the dominant operator of bus services in Cardiff, Wales and the surrounding area, including Barry and Penarth. Its hub is Cardiff central bus station...
services after having pre-paid.
The name "Iff" is a play on the word "Cardiff".
Launch
Having been an aspiration of Cardiff Bus for many years beforehand, the card was launched in October 2010 during a publicity event outside Cardiff Central LibraryCardiff Central Library
Cardiff Central Library , is the main library in the city centre of Cardiff, Wales. Four buildings have been named as such, with the newest building opening on 14 March 2009 and officially being opened a few months later on 18 June 2009 by the Manic Street Preachers...
. The first 30,000 cards were issued free of charge and pre-loaded with £3 of credit, after which the cards will be charged at £5.
The company spent £300,000 on developing the card whose ITSO technology can be shared with other transport providers and public bodies in the future.
More than 25,000 applications for the card were received within the first few weeks of its launch.
Use
An amount of money is electronically loaded onto the card, either upon boarding a bus or at the Cardiff Bus customer service centre. A passenger then chooses a ticket type. The card can also be used as a season ticket. The card should be topped-up when the balance is low, however the card allows the customer to acquire a negative balance up to £3., the first operator in the UK to do so.Those who have registered for an Iff card will be able to be sent service updates via text or e-mail during spells of bad weather.
Restrictions
The card can be topped-up in units of £5, £10 and £20 up to maximum amount of £50. The card may be used by persons aged between 6 and 60. The Iff card cannot be used to pay a partial amount. The card would be cancelled if not used for a continuous period of one yearFuture
The Managing Director of Cardiff Bus hopes the online topping up service would be available by 2011. Executive Member for Cardiff CouncilCardiff Council
The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The council consists of 75 councillors, representing 29 electoral wards. The authority is properly styled as The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff or in...
hopes the card would become integrated with rail companies so it could be used across all transport systems. Deputy First Minister for Wales
Deputy First Minister for Wales
The Deputy First Minister for Wales can be the deputy leader of the Welsh Government, the devolved administration for Wales. The post was created October 2000 when Mike German of the Welsh Liberal Democrats was appointed Deputy First Minister as part of a coalition government with Welsh Labour...
, Ieuan Wyn Jones
Ieuan Wyn Jones
Ieuan Wyn Jones, AM is a Welsh politician, who was the Deputy First Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government from 2007 until 2011. Jones is the current leader of Plaid Cymru and Member of the National Assembly for Wales for the Ynys Môn constituency...
hopes to see the smartcard technology rolled out throughout Wales by 2014.