New 'pay as you go' travel scheme

It is hoped the scheme in the North East will speed up boarding times

A £15m travel scheme based on London's Oyster card system may be introduced across the north east of England.

The region's first 'smart card' would be aimed at making travel easier and allowing passengers to skip ticket queues by paying fares in advance.

Train operator Nexus and local bus companies are discussing the project they hope to introduce by 2011.

Transport bosses said they were optimistic it would encourage commuters to leave their cars at home.

Tobyn Hughes, Nexus' head of strategy, said: "Smart card ticketing is used all over Europe to make passengers' journeys easier. We believe people in the North East deserve something similar.

"Smart cards can allow passengers to 'pay as you go' just like mobile phones, without worrying about carrying change, and they speed up boarding times.

"They will also let part-time workers enjoy discounts for regular travel that otherwise apply only to five-day-a-week commuters."

The Oyster card in London was first introduced in July 2003 and within four years 10 million had been issued.