East Midlands & Northern Trains: Digital Ticketing Trials Launch

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Introduction

Passengers in the East Midlands and Yorkshire will participate in new digital ticketing trials backed by nearly GBP 1 million in government funding. These trials, which will begin with East Midlands Railway (EMR) and then expand to Northern Trains, aim to modernize Britain’s railways, offering a more flexible, passenger-focused ticketing system.

East Midlands Railway Trial

Starting today, passengers traveling with East Midlands Railway (EMR) between Leicester, Derby, and Nottingham can participate in the initial trial. The system utilizes a location-enabled mobile app where customers can check in and out of journeys. GPS technology will track travel and automatically charge the lowest available fare at the end of the day.

The app generates a unique barcode for ticket inspections and gate access, eliminating the need for paper tickets or QR-code-based mobile tickets. Up to 4,000 passengers can participate by registering through the operator’s websites. This system has previously been tested in Switzerland, Denmark, and Scotland.

Government and Industry Perspectives

Lord Peter Hendy, Rail Minister, stated that the railway ticketing system needs an upgrade to bring it into the 21st century. These trials are intended to make buying tickets more convenient, accessible, and flexible. Oli Cox, Head of Commercial Strategy at East Midlands Railway, noted a strong customer response, with over 500 people already registering interest. The trial aims to remove fare uncertainty, allowing passengers to use their phones to pay the best-value fare of the day.

Northern Trains Trial

At the end of September, similar trials will begin with Northern Trains. These trials will cover routes from Harrogate to Leeds and services between Sheffield, Doncaster, and Barnsley. Each route will accommodate up to 1,000 trial participants, with the trials running for nine months.

Northern has already seen a shift towards digital ticketing, with mobile tickets accounting for nearly 78% of sales earlier this year and reducing the use of traditional orange magstripe tickets by over 2.3 million in the past 12 months. Alex Hornby, Commercial and Customer Director at Northern, stated that these trials are an important step in simplifying rail travel.

Digital Ticketing Technology

The trials will test Digital Pay As You Go technology to simplify the boarding process.

Conclusion

The trials, supported by approximately GBP 1 million in government funding, will introduce digital ticketing systems on East Midlands Railway and Northern Trains. The initiative aims to streamline the rail travel experience by using mobile apps and GPS technology to determine fares. The trials will involve a total of 6,000 passengers and will assess the practicality of digital ticketing technology.

Company Summary

East Midlands Railway (EMR): A train operating company providing passenger rail services in the East Midlands of England.

Northern Trains: A train operating company providing passenger rail services in the North of England.

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