Shere SMART
 |
|
| System information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Shere SMART Terminal |
| Machine type | Ticket Office-based |
| Type of ticket stock | Hopper-fed |
| Manufacturer | Shere Ltd, Guildford, Surrey |
| History | |
| First introduced | January 2003 |
| Machine number range | 5010-5381 |
| Window number range | Upwards from 90 |
| Machines in use | 264 |
| Locations/Areas/Train Operating Companies | |
| Current users | First Capital Connect |
| Former users |
Southeastern |
Southeastern
South West Trains
Northern Rail
Arriva Trains Wales
First Great Western
Merseyrail
The Shere SMART ("SMART Terminal") is a desktop-based railway ticket issuing system, developed by the Guildford-based company Shere Ltd, utilising Newbury Data ND4020 ticket printer, first introduced in Britain in 2003. Since the first trial installation of the system in the ticket office at London Bridge station, approximately 300 terminals have been installed at stations on the Southern and former Thameslink networks.
After the railway network was privatised in the mid-1990s, it was decided that when the existing "Heritage" ticket issuing systems (APTIS, SPORTIS and the Quickfare passenger-operated machines) needed replacing, the contracts should be put out to competitive tender. Although the Rail Settlement Plan (RSP) scheme, overseen and controlled by the newly created Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), would set various requirements and regulate the introduction of such systems through an official accreditation process, any company which wished to set up a ticket issuing system and offer it for accreditation could do so. Once it had been accredited, the system could then be offered to the individual Train Operating Companies once they were ready to replace their existing equipment.
Accordingly, having met RSP's requirements, the SMART Terminal began to be installed on a trial basis in 2003. London Bridge was the first station to gain one, in January of that year, when Connex South Eastern elected to put the system on trial. Over the next 18 months, more machines were trialled at various locations by other TOCs as part of the tendering process. (Train Operating Company names shown in the table are those current at the time of installation.)
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