From today (6 June), rail passengers in Yorkshire and the East Midlands are being invited to register for a digital ticketing trial designed to make train travel more straightforward.
The initiative is part of the government’s wider efforts to reform the rail system and increase public transport use.
Backed by government funding and involving East Midlands Railway (EMR) and Northern Rail, the trial will test GPS-based technology to automatically record train journeys.
This system is designed to ensure passengers are charged the correct fare without needing to select a specific ticket in advance. Up to 4,000 people will be able to take part, with 1,000 participants on each of the following routes:
- Leicester – Derby – Nottingham (EMR)
- Harrogate – Leeds (Northern)
- Sheffield – Doncaster (Northern)
- Sheffield – Barnsley (Northern)
The first phase, led by EMR, will begin in early September. The Northern-operated routes will start between September and November, with each trial expected to run for nine months.
This is the first time the technology has been tested in these regions, following previous pay-as-you-go rollouts in the South East that used contactless payments at barriers. In contrast, this new approach will use GPS to monitor travel, offering a different model that does not rely on station infrastructure.
Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said:Contactless ticketing is making journeys easier to navigate for millions of passengers, and now our digital trials are actively recruiting volunteers to help expand this technology across Yorkshire and the East Midlands.
Simplifying ticketing is a major part of our plans to overhaul the railways. I encourage anyone who regularly gets the train along these routes to get involved, and help us build a ticketing system that delivers a better experience for passengers and communities across the country.
This trial sits alongside other recent developments in the rail sector, including ongoing preparations for the introduction of Great British Railways – the future public body intended to bring track and train operations under one structure.
Passengers interested in volunteering can sign up via the EMR or Northern websites.
