A "major step" taken in the planned implementation of a London-style tap and go system on Merseyrail that promises to revolutionise travel for thousands.
Initially slated for introduction in 2024, the system was meant to debut last autumn. Under a £10m investment plan, travellers are should be able to tap a Metro Card linked directly to their bank account to pay for journeys across Liverpool City Region.
The project rollout is divided into two stages, featuring the use of bank cards and smart devices during its second part, which is now anticipated later in the year. The Local Democracy Reporting Service previously understood the project had been delayed due to a need to secure lifetime funding for the project.
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Now 50 volunteers are being sought to test the new system, which Liverpool City Region Combined Authority hopes "will guarantee the best fare and remove the need to queue for tickets". It's a big stride towards creating a local version of London’s transport model, pushing closer to the grand release of Tap and Go by year's end.
Participants in the pilot will experience streamlined commuting, tapping Metro Cards at barriers and having fares tallied both per journey and on a weekly basis, depending on where they board and alight.
The Combined Authority asserts that the new system will not only speed up journeys but also bolster passengers' finances, as daily and weekly caps will guarantee the best value ticket – equivalent to fares from station ticket offices.
However, the trial run is limited to those aged 18 and above, covering solely Merseyrail's Northern and Wirral lines. To secure the lowest fare, passengers must tap in and out at the start and end of their journey.
Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, commented: "The measure of any 21st century public transport system is how quickly, cheaply and easily it helps passengers get from A to B – and that starts by how people pay for their journey.
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"For too long, passengers in our region have been forced to contend with an outdated, antiquated and fragmented ticketing system that simply doesn't work in their favour."
"Our plans for a new tap-and-go system will make it easier than ever for passengers, removing unnecessary queues and ensuring they never have to pay over the odds to get about our region. We've seen how well it can work in places like London – and now it's time that we built a system befitting of a modern, future-facing city region like ours.
"Moving to this testing stage is a big step forward towards rolling out this technology which will unlock so many benefits for our region, removing the need for unnecessary queues, ensuring that no one spends more than they need to get around our region – and protecting revenue streams for further investment in improvements.
"We've seen how well it works in London and now it's time that we built our own system to benefit the residents of our city region."
The project is set for completion by December 31, 2025.