Government to invest £360m in transforming rail ticketing

The Government’s department for transport announced £360m will be invested to “radically reform” and improve passengers’ experience of fares, ticketing, and retailing on the railways.

This will see contactless tap-in and tap-out ticketing at more than 700 stations across the country outside London and the South East, benefitting more than 400 stations across the North.

Over the next three years, the Government will roll out contactless pay-as-you-go ticketing across the commuter networks of the Midlands and North – introducing London-style price caps and greater integration with local bus and tram networks.

A statement issued by the department of transport declared: “This is just the first stage of the Government’s commitment to roll out convenient and modern digital ticketing across the whole rail network, improving thousands of daily commutes, simplifying journeys and ensuring passengers are charged the best price.

“It will also help to create a rail network which will not only deliver the types of journeys that create jobs, support businesses and unlock housing opportunities, but will level up the Midlands and the North to become an economic powerbase to rival London and the South-East.”

Transport secretary Grant Shapps added: “Passengers across the North and Midlands have waited far too long to see the same fast, easy and convenient ticketing as those in London. We’re determined to put that right.

“Today’s investment is just the first phase of our efforts to overhaul our rail network, focused on improving journeys for passengers right across the country.”

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