Passengers in the East Midlands are set to be the first to experience a trial of ticketless train travel, utilizing location-based technology. Starting Monday, East Midlands Railway (EMR) will implement this pilot program with up to 1,000 participants traveling through cities such as Derby, Leicester, and Nottingham.
The functionality of the new system relies on GPS tracking via users’ mobile phones, which will automatically charge passengers the best fare at the end of their travel day. Should passengers take multiple journeys, the system will also analyze the routes to determine if a season ticket would have been more economical. For ticket inspections and when passing through barriers, the app will generate a scannable bar code.
The trial, which is named Digital Pay As You Go, has already attracted over 500 sign-ups and is designed to simplify the often complicated fare structures that can deter travel. EMR’s head of commercial strategy, Oli Cox, stated that the trial aims to eliminate fare uncertainty, allowing users to travel by simply tapping in and out with their phones.
As part of a broader initiative, further trials will launch with Northern rail services in Yorkshire at the end of September, targeting another 1,000 users. Both trials will run for nine months, supported by £1 million in government funding as part of the Plan for Change.
Rail minister Lord Peter Hendy remarked on the necessity of updating the current railway ticketing system, emphasizing its complexity and the need for modernization to enhance passenger experience and efficiency.
For more information, passengers can visit East Midlands Railway or Northern Rail.