Sell · Universal Payment Gateway

Simple, secure payment solutions for modern bus networks

The TDS Universal Payment Gateway (UPG) connects your booking engine, distribution partners and back office to one secure payment platform for passenger transport, independently audited and certified as a PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider.

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One payment infrastructure for your entire network

Most carriers struggle with fragmented payment flows across:

  • Websites and mobile booking
  • Ticket counters and call centers
  • Partner marketplaces
  • Agency sales
  • Onboard transactions

UPG replaces disconnected processors with one gateway that supports every channel, with central visibility and control.

Payments

Accept, manage and optimize payments across every channel

Every sales channel

Accept payments across all your direct and third-party sales channels.

Multiple processors

Support several processors and merchant accounts.

Central visibility

See and control payments for every channel in one place.

One checkout

Standardize checkout and reconciliation across your network.

Fewer failures

Reduce operational friction and payment failures.

New markets

Expand into new markets without rebuilding your payment infrastructure.

Split settlement

One fare, split between carriers automatically.

When a ticket covers more than one bus carrier, TDS syncs the sale with NBTA clearing and each carrier is paid its share, so nobody reconciles interline revenue by hand.

Sample interline tripFares and shares are illustrative.

  1. One ticket

    Origin → Destination1 ticket · $86

    The rider books the whole trip in one search, on any partner's website, app or counter.

  2. Two carriers

    Leg 1Carrier A

    Leg 2Carrier B

    Each carrier runs its own leg on one through-ticket, and bags are checked through.

  3. NBTA clearing

    • Sale reported
    • Cleared by NBTA
    • Settled monthly

    TDS syncs every bus interline sale with NBTA clearing, which settles between bus carriers each month.

  4. Each carrier paid

    Carrier A$52

    Carrier B$34

    Every carrier receives its share of the fare, with an auditable trail behind each payment.

Interline connections TDS supports

  • Intercity bus to Intercity bus
  • Airline to Intercity bus
  • Rail to Intercity bus
  • Intercity bus to Shuttle
  • Intercity bus to Transit

NBTA clearing is for bus carriers only. Airline and rail connections are settled outside NBTA.

Multiple payment options

UPG supports the payment mix that modern transport operators and international passengers need:

  • Major credit and debit cards
  • Digital wallets
  • Stored payment methods and tokenization
  • Multi-currency processing
  • Regional payment methods
  • Agency settlement and invoice workflows

Digital wallets depend on what your processor supports, and regional methods on your merchant setup.

Built for transport distribution complexity

Unlike generic payment gateways, UPG is designed for multi-channel passenger transport sales. It supports:

  • Split settlement
  • Marketplace ticket distribution
  • Agency billing workflows
  • Refunds and exchanges
  • Multi-operator environments
  • Cross-border payment flows

So payments work reliably across the whole life of a ticket, from booking through travel and post-trip changes.

Hosted payment fields (recommended)

Secure hosted fields embed payment capture directly in your checkout, while keeping sensitive card data out of your environment.

  • Faster implementation
  • Reduced PCI scope
  • Built-in security best practices
  • An optimized checkout experience
  • Compatible with TDS booking flows and partner channels

Direct API integration

For operators with custom applications or advanced workflows, UPG also supports full API integration. It's ideal for:

  • Custom booking engines
  • Mobile apps
  • Kiosk or onboard sales tools
  • Agency and B2B portals
  • Enterprise system integrations

The API gives you full control over payment flows, on the same secure gateway and reporting infrastructure.

Independently audited. PCI DSS Level 1 certified.

TDS is independently audited and certified as a PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider, the highest level of PCI compliance, so cardholder data is handled to the strictest global security standard. Security features include:

  • Independently audited PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider
  • Tokenization and encrypted storage
  • Secure hosted capture options
  • Role-based access controls
  • Audit logging and monitoring
  • Fraud-reduction support through processor integrations

This reduces your compliance burden while protecting customer data and brand trust.

Outcomes

Payments that scale with your network

  • Launch new sales channels quickly
  • Enter new markets with localized payment support
  • Standardize checkout across brands and partners
  • More accurate reporting and reconciliation
  • Support future payment methods without rebuilding your stack

Whether you run a regional corridor or a multi-country network, UPG provides the infrastructure to grow.

Works with

Related products

Customer Experience

Webstores, apps & kiosks

OTA Distribution

Retail Distribution Hub

Data & Analytics

Network intelligence

See TDS in action.

A demo with our team, focused on the products you need, with time for your questions.

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