A TICKET which could be utilised on buses and trains could be created in a bid to entice people from Edinburgh to East Lothian.

The ticket, which would work in a similar way to the Oyster card in London, was suggested by Councillor David Berry at the local authority’s policy and performance review committee last Tuesday morning.

The Oyster card allows people in London to travel on bus, tube, tram and a variety of other methods of transport without having to buy separate tickets.

Mr Berry encouraged East Lothian Council to look into the idea and said: “It would make it easier for everybody – not just tourists but particularly tourists who usually avoid public transport. If you do not know what you are doing, if you are not native, then you are lost.”

The councillor told the Courier similar systems were already in place in a number of cities and highlighted there had been a version in Munich for more than 40 years.

He added: “We are behind the times on making public transport easy to use.”

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council confirmed it was an idea that was being explored. She added: “This is being developed by Transport Scotland so it can be used countrywide.

“Our current understanding is Transport Scotland are in talks with both Abellio ScotRail and First bus in the development of the card but no timescale has been given.”

A spokesman for Transport Scotland added: “In line with the recently issued National Transport Strategy refresh, bus operators have agreed to convert the current paper-based One Ticket multi-operator and multi-modal ticket onto smart ticketing.

“This will bring benefits to passengers and operators alike, with timing dependent on progressive ticket machines upgrades across 2016 and 2017.

“This is an important step as part of the wider programme to introduce smart ticketing on all public transport throughout Scotland.”