Train passengers in parts of England will no longer need paper or mobile tickets as a new GPS-based system goes on trial.
Instead of buying tickets in advance, travellers will scan a barcode from an app at the station. Their phone will then track the journey using GPS and charge the lowest possible fare at the end of the day.
Where the Trial Is Running
The scheme starts today on East Midlands Railway services between Leicester, Derby and Nottingham. Later this month it will extend to Northern routes covering Harrogate, Leeds, Sheffield, Doncaster and Barnsley.
Up to 4,000 passengers can sign up, with more than 500 already registered.
Cutting Through the Confusion
Rail minister Lord Peter Hendy said the aim was to make ticketing easier.
“The system is far too complicated. This trial is about making fares simpler, more flexible and more convenient,” he said.
Officials believe the change will reduce queues, remove uncertainty over ticket types and bring rail travel in line with contactless payments on buses and the London Underground.
Following International Examples
Similar systems already run in countries including Switzerland and Denmark. Scotland has also tested a “Tap & Pay” model on ScotRail services around Strathclyde and Edinburgh.
What It Means for Passengers
If the trial is successful, the technology could eventually replace traditional tickets altogether. Passengers would simply tap in, travel, and let the system handle the rest.
