BEFORE boarding a Thamesdown bus passengers must now have the correct change ready.

It's all part of the new fastFare initiative, a coin-operated ticket system, which bypasses the driver to speed up journey times.

On its first day, yesterday, there was a mixed reaction from passengers.

Members of the Open Door Resource, a service for adults with learning difficulties, are angry.

Pat Bull, deputy manager at the centre said: "One of our members had difficulties because he didn't know how to work out how much money to put in the machine.

"Before they would hand money to a driver and they would pick out what they needed. Now I'm not sure what they will do. They do travel on buses regularly."

It works using a small electronic cash machine next to the driver. Passengers have to place the exact fare into the machine instead of giving it to the driver.

Although coins are preferred, notes can also be used, but they must be first shown to the driver.

The driver will then check that the correct fare has been paid and he will then issue the ticket. Thamesdown says similar schemes have been operating across the country for a while now and they are just "catching up".

John Owen, managing director of Thamesdown Transport, said: "Considering that this is a major change I think it's gone well.

"We had one or two small teething problems with some of the ticket machines but that's all.

"FastFare will benefit the passengers. Up to 20 per cent of journey times can be spent waiting at bus stops while the driver dispenses change.

"If you get rid of this then the journey time will be quicker. The change will also benefit our drivers. We have a responsibility for the health and safety of drivers. We had concerns about the drivers carrying cash on the buses.

"With fastFare no one has access to the sealed cash vault."

The new system will apply to Thamesdown buses on urban routes in Swindon from services 1 to 25 where travel costs 80p, £1.30 or up to a maximum of £2.

But drivers will still give change on rural routes and on the park and ride because of the variable prices on those routes.

The company is also re-launching its Bluebus Card a magnetic cash card, similar to a phone card, that deducts the balance you put on the card every time you use it.

Lyndsay Scanlan