East Midlands Railway (EMR) is set to trial ticketless train travel using location-based technology in the East Midlands, starting Monday. This trial aims to assess the feasibility of a system that tracks passengers’ locations to automatically calculate and charge them the best fare at the end of the day. Approximately 1,000 individuals traveling through Derby, Leicester, and Nottingham will participate in this initial testing phase.
The technology relies on GPS tracking via users’ mobile phones to determine the most cost-effective fare, factoring in all journeys taken throughout the day. It also aims to identify whether a season ticket would have been more economical for passengers who take multiple trips. For ticket inspections and access through barriers, the app generates a scannable bar code.
An extension of this trial is scheduled to commence later in September, involving another 1,000 participants through services operated by rail operator Northern in Yorkshire. Interested passengers can sign up for the trial, named Digital Pay As You Go, via the EMR website.
As of now, more than 500 individuals have registered for the trial. EMR’s head of commercial strategy, Oli Cox, noted that complex fare structures often pose barriers for passengers. This trial is designed to simplify the ticketing process, allowing users to tap in and out effortlessly while ensuring access to the best available fare for the day.
It’s important to note that this trial will not influence existing plans to introduce ticket barriers at Nottingham railway station. Both the EMR and Northern trials are expected to last for nine months, with a combined funding of £1 million from the government’s Plan for Change initiative. Rail minister Lord Peter Hendy expressed his belief that this initiative could lead to significant savings of both time and money for passengers, emphasizing the necessity for an upgrade to the current ticketing system.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly702xd0edo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss