Exciting news for rail travellers in England! A brand-new GPS pay-as-you-go ticketing system is set to be trialled, making train journeys more seamless than ever. Starting 1st September, East Midlands Railway is kicking off the trial between Leicester, Derby and Nottingham. This tech-savvy approach lets passengers check in and out using an app on their phones, automatically tracking the journey and charging only at the end of the day.
The system is designed to wave goodbye to paper and QR code tickets, aiming to make rail travel more convenient and cost-effective. It’s already making waves in Switzerland, Denmark, and Scotland, and now it’s our turn to hop on board.
Ministerial voices are behind this push, with Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy championing a 21st-century upgrade for the ticketing system. The goal? To simplify and modernise the way we buy tickets, making the experience smoother and more flexible. By the end of September, Northern Rail will also join the trial, expanding to routes including Harrogate, Leeds, Sheffield, Doncaster, and Barnsley.
With the promise of saving both money and time, this trial is creating quite a buzz, and more than 500 people have already expressed interest. If you’re a regular train user, keep an eye out—you could be part of this innovative journey in revolutionising rail travel! 🚆📲