Magnetic train tickets will begin being phased out by East Japan Railway next spring, with JR East moving to replace them with tickets that display QR codes.

Magnetic train tickets set for QR code shift
Magnetic train tickets set for QR code shift

Magnetic train tickets on local lines

The company said Tuesday that the change is planned only for local lines⁠. Long-distance journeys will not be affected because they often involve other railway operators.

Passengers currently insert magnetic tickets into fare gates at the start and end of each trip. Under the new process, they will hold QR-coded tickets over readers installed at the gates⁠.

QR codes and ticket use at JR East

The railway operator linked the decision to the high cost of recycling the existing tickets, which contain metal.

JR East also pointed to declining use of paper tickets as more passengers choose prepaid cards. Paper tickets now account for only 2.5 percent of the company’s annual ridership.

JR East President Kise Yoichi acknowledged that some passengers may feel disappointed because magnetic tickets have been used for many years. He said the change would benefit both the company and the environment, and he expressed hope that customers would understand the reasons behind the decision.