- Travellers on Northern Trains between Harrogate and Leeds
won't need to buy a ticket before hopping on the train, if they
take part in the latest trial of digital ticketing.
- Participating passengers will get up to £15 free travel,
while using simpler, more flexible tickets.
- Cutting-edge tech will make sure people are charged the
lowest rates for tickets on the day of travel, putting money back
in people's pockets and making travelling across the North
easier, driving growth as part of the Plan for Change.
Passengers in the North are the latest to benefit from simplified
train tickets, with the further roll out of digital trials.
From today (29 September), rail passengers
travelling on Northern trains between Harrogate and Leeds will
find it even easier to take the train over the Arthington Viaduct
to visit the Kirkstall Abbey, get to and from work in Leeds city
centre, or play a round at Pannal Golf Club.
The simplified system makes it as easy as hopping on a train and
pressing a button on your phone to start your journey, removing
the need to pre-book tickets and worrying about paying higher
prices through third party apps.
Technology in passenger's phones will be able to register when
they get off the train automatically, and they'll be charged the
lowest possible fare at the end of the day.
For ticket inspections and to go through ticket barriers, a
unique bar code will pop up in the app to be scanned.
Passengers who try the apps will also get £15 worth of free
travel thanks to Government backing of the trial,with credit
automatically added to their account.
In a further boost for train users in the North, more trials will
launch on the Sheffield – Doncaster and Sheffield – Barnsley
routes run by Northern, on 27th October and 24th
November respectively.
By making it easier to choose rail, the scheme hopes to put money
in people's pockets by helping them get the cheapest fares on the
day of travel, make it easier to access work, and as a result
boost growth as part of the Plan for Change.
Rail Minister, Lord , said:
“We're bringing ticketing into the 21st
century. These trials are modernising fares and ticketing, making
it simpler and easier for people to choose rail.
“As part of our Plan for Change, we're delivering
straightforward, stress-free train travel across the north,
supporting passengers and boosting economic growth, jobs and
homes.”
Passengers can still make the most of simpler and more flexible
train travel and a guarantee of the best value fare on the day,
by simply signing up for the trials via Northern's website.
Passengers taking part in East Midlands Rail's trial of the
technology have said it made train travel feel “simple and
trustworthy”, and another adding that it meant “little to no
worrying about being overcharged”, which was a “big shift from
how I normally feel about train transport, which can sometimes
feel complicated or inconvenient.”
It comes as the Government is delivering the biggest overhaul of
the railways in a generation through the creation of Great
British Railways, which will help to deliver better and more
reliable services for passengers.
Backed by nearly £1 million of Government funding, the trials are
part of plans to modernise our transport system, putting
passenger experience at the heart of every journey and
encouraging more people to take the train – building on the
Government's mission to deliver growth.
Mayor of West Yorkshire said: “Introducing smart,
location-based ticketing will remove barriers to rail travel and
make it easier to get the best value fares without the need to
plan ahead. “I'd …
… connecting travel options across West Yorkshire. “Innovative
approaches like this will help us create a better-connected
region and encourage more people to choose sustainable transport
as a way to travel.”
, Mayor of York and North
Yorkshire, said: “Train tickets can be confusing,
frustrating and a barrier for people wanting to use the train.
“This digital ticketing trial is a step in the right …
… to see it being rolled out in our region, and I'd encourage
anyone who travels on the Harrogate to Leeds line regularly to
register and help shape more accessible rail travel here and
across the country.”
Alex Hornby, Commercial and Customer Director at
Northern, said:
"We're proud to be at the forefront of simplifying rail travel
for our customers in the North. These trials mark a significant
step forward in making train journeys simpler, smarter and more
flexible whether for work, leisure or everyday journeys."
