Contactless ticketing to be introduced at 400 north & midlands train stations
It comes days before the northern leg of HS2 is said to be scrapped
Last updated 17th Nov 2021
Contactless ticketing will be introduced at more than 400 train stations across the north of the UK in an effort to “level up” the North and Midlands the Government has said.
£360m is being spent across the next 3 years by the Department for Transport to 'radically reform and improve passengers’ experience of fares, ticketing and retailing on the railways'.
The news emerges as the Government are expected to scarp the northern leg of HS2 later this week when the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) is published on Thursday.
The 'tap-in and tap-out' ticketing has been available to passengers using tubes and trains in London since 2014, and will now be introduced to 700 stations across the country.
As well as a new ticketing system, the department have said that they are aiming to introduce price caps and greater integration with local bus and tram networks across the country.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Passengers across the North and Midlands have waited far too long to see the same fast, easy and convenient ticketing as those in London. We’re determined to put that right.
"Today’s investment is just the first phase of our efforts to overhaul our rail network, focused on improving journeys for passengers right across the country."