The Mayor of the Liverpool City Region has today announced the next
phase of a modern smart ticketing system on the Merseyrail
network – a pilot for the introduction of contactless bank cards
and smart devices.
This next phase represents a critical step in delivering a truly
integrated, contactless travel system, making journeys quicker,
easier, and more convenient for thousands of passengers every
day.
Mayor said:
“As someone who uses our trains every day, I know just how much
easier Tap & Go has made life for passengers. It means no
more early-morning queues, guaranteed best-value fares, and a
smoother journey from start to finish.
“This smart ticketing pilot takes us another step closer to
delivering the modern, 21st-century transport network our
residents deserve – and I'm really looking forward to seeing the
new system fully rolled out in the new year.”
Information
Passengers are already benefitting from Tap & Go using a
MetroCard, launched by the Mayor in the summer.
This next phase introduces the use of contactless bank card and
digital wallet payments, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, to
the Merseyrail network.
Merseyrail is now running a pilot of smart tickets, inviting
members of the public to be among the first to try this new way
of travelling. Anyone who wishes to take part can sign up via a
link on the Merseyrail website,
where they'll receive details on how to join the Pilot.
As they did with MetroCard, pilot participants will help test the
technology in real-world conditions and play an essential role in
shaping the final system. Their feedback will ensure the service
is reliable, easy to use, and built around the needs of
passengers.
For those taking part, the benefits are clear: just tap your
contactless bank card or digital payment method at the start and
end of your journey — no need to buy a ticket in advance or queue
at a machine — and you'll always be charged the cheapest fare.
This is an important step toward a fully integrated public
transport network.
