Thousands more rail passengers across Yorkshire will be able to use simpler, flexible ticketing as Digital Pay As You Go technology is extended to all travellers on Northern’s two trial routes.
Digital ticketing allows passengers to download an app that uses GPS to track their journeys to calculate the best fare without physically checking in and out or buying a ticket in advance.
The technology also helps to minimise fare evasion as it makes sure passengers pay the right fare for their journey and protects passengers who might innocently buy the wrong tickets as Digital Pay as You selects for them.
After launching in 2025, the trials were opened to an initial 2,000 passengers across two routes in the North: Leeds to Harrogate and Doncaster to Sheffield.
Over 30,000 journeys have benefited, with passengers leaving positive reviews, praising how easy the technology is to use. The expanded trials include a third route in the East Midlands, from Leicester to Nottingham via Derby.
The trials come as part of wider fare and ticketing reforms ahead of Great British Railways (GBR), including the roll out Pay-As-You-Go and plans to develop a GBR website, an app that will act as a one-stop-shop for passengers to buy tickets, check train times and claim Delay Repay to cut through the confusing options currently available to passengers.
Now, the cap on the number of people able to take part has been lifted in response to the trials’ popularity and success in the region, meaning an unlimited number of passengers can benefit from contactless ticketing on these routes.
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said: “Buying a train ticket across much of the Yorkshire is far too complicated, with the whole system long overdue an upgrade to bring it into the 21st century.
“The Digital Pay As You Go trials have been a huge success and by extending them, we’re making bringing that convenience, accessibility and flexible for even more passengers.
“This is rail reform in action. We’re delivering straightforward, stress-free train travel across the North supporting passengers, a key step in our mission to boost growth, jobs and homes as we work to set up Great British Railways.”
It comes as part of the Government’s mission to put power into the hands of local communities, working with authorities who are best placed to design ticketing solutions that work for their communities.
This includes the roll out of contactless ticketing with bankcards at over 100 stations in the South East, connecting trains with London’s airports, bus, Tube, and tram networks and making 55 million journeys in the region simpler every year.
Alex Hornby, Northern’s commercial and customer director, said: “The future of ticketing is happening right here in the North, which is making train travel simpler, frictionless and more convenient for our customers.
“We’re delighted the trial has been extended until September 2027 as thousands of people will be able to use this innovative technology on two of our routes.
“It has already been used to make more than 30,000 journeys on Northern services and we’ve received a lot of positive feedback so far.
“Customers are still welcome to sign up now to try out these digital pay-as-you-go app, and receive £15 worth of free credit to their account.”
The government’s £156 million investment in new ticketing schemes means that by 2027, Pay as You Go will be available at over 100 more stations across Greater Manchester, the Midlands and the South East. A new GBR website and app is also in development, which will serve as a one-stop-shop with passengers able to buy tickets, check train times and access support in one simple to use app.
Image credit: Northern
