Contactless ticketing trials in the North and Midlands

Trials for contactless rail ticketing are on track for later this year across the North and Midlands, which will use Global Positioning System (GPS) based technology which will track locations on train journeys. This means that everyone will pay the best fare for the journey taken. For ticket inspections and to go through ticket barriers, a unique bar code will be available in the app.

Contactless tickets are simpler, more accessible, and more flexible as well as making sure passengers get the best value ticket at the time of travel. Saving both time and money means that the trials will help to improve living standards and the lives of working people, all part of the government’s Plan for Change.

Rail minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: “We’ve seen the success that contactless ticketing has on making journeys easier to navigate and attracting more people to our railways.

“It’s only right that we now look to expand contactless ticketing to other major cities across the North and Midlands, ensuring they can reap the economic benefits that simpler ticketing offers and that passengers are having a better experience.”

This follows the 53 stations across the South East that experienced the rollout of contactless ticketing, with more than 268,000 entries and exists made using contactless cards and mobile services.