The UK government has confirmed that 53 train stations across the South East, from Shepperton to Shoeburyness, will benefit from the introduction of tap-in tap-out ticketing by the end of the year. Tap-In Tap-Out Ticketing Rollout UK

£20 Million Funding for Pay As You Go

Thanks to £20 million in government funding, tens of thousands of passengers across the South East will be able to use a bank card or smart device to tap in for travel. This system ensures passengers are automatically guaranteed the best price available on the day of travel, eliminating the need to plan ahead or search for the right ticket.

Expansion of Pay As You Go

Pay As You Go is already available at over 350 stations across London and the South East, from Reading and Gatwick Airport to Shenfield and Welwyn Garden City. The new announcement, in partnership with Transport for London (TfL), C2C, Southeastern, South Western Railway, London Northwestern, and Chiltern, will increase the total number of tap-in-tap-out stations in England to over 400 by year’s end.

Government’s Plan for Rail Reform

This development aligns with the Transport Secretary’s commitment to reform and overhaul fares and ticketing across Britain’s railways, making them simpler and more flexible. The government aims to encourage more people to use railways by making ticketing more convenient, thereby contributing to economic growth.

Pay As You Go Beyond the South East

The government is also working towards extending Pay As You Go beyond the South East to the Midlands and the North. As part of this initiative, pilot schemes are being developed in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, in collaboration with the Great British Railways transition team.

The Popularity of Pay As You Go

Pay As You Go is widely used across London and the surrounding area, with more than 75% of all Tube and rail Pay As You Go journeys made using contactless payment cards or mobile devices. The Department for Transport is working to extend this popular system to other regions.

The Impact of Contactless Payments

The introduction of contactless, Pay As You Go payments is a significant step towards modernising rail fares. It eliminates the need to queue at ticket machines or pre-book paper tickets, allowing passengers to simply tap their contactless cards or devices to pay for their journey.

Rollout by the End of 2023 Tap-In Tap-Out Ticketing Rollout UK

Pay As You Go ticketing will be available at all of these stations by the end of December 2023. The specific opening dates will depend on the existing technology at each station. Further information on when each station will introduce this will be available at each station.