Passengers across the East Midlands and Yorkshire are set to benefit from a new wave of digital ticketing trials designed to simplify rail travel and guarantee the best-value fares. Backed by nearly GBP 1 million of Government funding, the trials are part of a major programme to modernise Britain’s railways and deliver a more flexible, passenger-focused ticketing system.
From today, passengers travelling with East Midlands Railway (EMR) between Leicester, Derby and Nottingham can take part in the first trial. Using a location-enabled mobile app, customers will be able to check in and out of journeys, with GPS technology tracking their travel and automatically charging them the lowest available fare at the end of the day.
For ticket inspections and gate access, the app generates a unique barcode. This removes the need for paper tickets or QR-code based mobile tickets bought in advance, making travel easier and more flexible.
Up to 4,000 passengers will be able to participate by signing up through the operators’ websites.
Passenger benefits and simplicity
The system, already tested in Switzerland, Denmark and Scotland, is being introduced to England’s rail network for the first time.
Lord Peter Hendy, Rail Minister, said:
“The railway ticketing system is far too complicated and long overdue an upgrade to bring it into the 21st century. Through these trials we’re making buying tickets more convenient, accessible and flexible. By putting passenger experience at the heart of our decisions, we’re modernising fares and making it simpler and easier for people to choose rail.”
Oli Cox, Head of Commercial Strategy at East Midlands Railway, welcomed the initiative:
“We’ve had a fantastic response from customers, with more than 500 people already registering their interest. This trial removes the uncertainty around fares, letting passengers tap in and out on their phone, confident they’ll pay the best-value fare of the day.”
Expansion to Northern services
From the end of September, similar trials will launch with Northern Trains, covering routes from Harrogate to Leeds, and services between Sheffield, Doncaster and Barnsley. Each route will accommodate up to 1,000 trial participants, running for nine months.
Northern is already seeing a shift towards digital ticketing, with mobile tickets accounting for nearly 78% of sales earlier this year and reducing the use of traditional orange magstripe tickets by over 2.3 million in the past 12 months.
Alex Hornby, Commercial and Customer Director at Northern, said:
“These trials mark an important step forward in simplifying rail travel. By testing Digital Pay As You Go technology, we’re shaping a future where boarding a train is as easy as tapping in and out.”
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