Merseyrail contactless ticketing pilot expands Tap & Go

Merseyrail contactless ticketing pilot plans are moving forward as the Liverpool City Region advances the next phase of a modern smart ticketing system.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Mayor Steve Rotheram announced the pilot on the Merseyrail network in a statement from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, describing it as a crucial step toward a fully integrated travel system.

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What the Merseyrail contactless ticketing pilot covers?

At the centre of this phase is the introduction of contactless payment technology that can be used with bank cards and smart devices. It sits within the wider smart ticketing system intended to modernise how passengers pay for travel, as set out in a Merseyrail update on the phase 2 Tap & Go pilot.

Tap & Go smart ticketing system moves beyond MetroCard

Tap & Go was first launched in the summer and has, so far, been available to passengers in possession of a MetroCard. Under this smart ticketing pilot trial, Merseyrail is now looking to add contactless bank cards and digital wallet payments into the mix, alongside existing options, as reported by Railway-News.

Merseyrail has now begun running the pilot of smart tickets and is inviting members of the public to be among the first to try the new technology.

Mayor Steve Rotheram on the Tap & Go changes

Mayor Steve Rotheram 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.” He added that the smart ticketing pilot takes the region another step closer to a modern, 21st-century transport network, and he is looking forward to seeing the new system fully rolled out in the new year.

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