A new pay-as-you-go rail ticketing system that uses GPS to track passengers' journeys is set to be trialled in England for the first time. The pilot, announced by the Department for Transport (DfT), will allow passengers on East Midlands Railway services between Leicester, Derby and Nottingham to check in on their phones and be automatically charged the best available fare at the end of the day.
The technology, which replaces the need for paper tickets or pre-purchased mobile tickets, provides a barcode for ticket inspections and barriers. The DfT said the system, if successful, would simplify ticketing and save passengers time and money. Similar trials have already taken place in Switzerland, Denmark and Scotland.
The pilot will initially involve up to 4,000 passengers on East Midlands Railway routes, with expansion to Northern Trains in Yorkshire from the end of the month. Rail minister Peter Hendy said the current ticketing system was “far too complicated” and that the trial would make buying tickets “more convenient, more accessible and more flexible”.
Oli Cox, head of commercial strategy at East Midlands Railway, said over 500 people had already registered for the trial. He noted that complex fares can be a barrier to travel, but this trial removes uncertainty by allowing passengers to tap in and out on their phones, ensuring they always receive the best-value fare.
The initiative is part of broader government efforts to reform England's rail fare system, with Labour promising a “best price guarantee” under its plans for a nationalised Great British Railways, expected to launch by 2027. Meanwhile, peak fares have been abolished on Scotrail services in Scotland from Monday, cutting some rush hour tickets by up to 50%.
