Radical reforms of ticketing to improve passengers experience for fares, ticketing and retail on the railway network are to be carried out.
Tap-in and Tap-out facilities will be available at over 700 stations throughout the country outside of London and the South East, with 400 stations in the North set to get the new approach in ticketing.
The Government will begin the rollout of contactless pay-as-you-go ticketing over the next three years and will work through commuter networks for the Midlands and the North of the country with London-style price caps and improved integration with local bus and tram networks.
This is the first phase of the Government’s ongoing commitment to installing convenient, modern digital ticketing facilities throughout the entire network, which will bring improvements for passengers making journeys easier whilst also making sure that the best available price is charged.
The ticketing reforms will not only support the rail network, it will also create jobs, support businesses and enable new opportunities for housing, levelling up the Midlands and the North to become an economic powerhouse to rival London and the South-East.
The reforms come ahead of the publication of the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP), which once fully delivered, will see cities across the North of England get access to a contactless ticketing scheme.
The IRP will be released shortly and will reveal how the government plans to transform rail across the North and Midlands, whilst providing benefits for passengers which will be in place far sooner than with previous plans.
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.”
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£360m investment does sound a lot.