From this week onwards, passengers on one of the region’s busiest routes will be able to take advantage of simpler and more flexible payment options.
Starting today, Monday 3rd November, anyone making the journey between Sheffield and nearby Doncaster will be able to use a new digital ticketing system. This adds to areas and routes which have already been included in an ongoing trial.
So far, more than 2,000 individual journeys operated by Northern and East Midlands Railway have been made using new technology which allows apps to track movements via GPS. A daily fare is then calculated based on where people have been and how much they owe, removing the need for paper or mobile tickets.
When barriers need to be passed, a unique barcode is generated, which appears as a pop up within the mobile app. The system is being touted as one of the most significant steps in Labour’s flagship ‘once in a generation’ UK rail upgrade, which also includes the creation of Great British Railways. Anyone taking part in the trial has been offered £15 of free travel, which automatically credits to their account.
The test will soon be rolled out further, with Sheffield to Barnsley trains set to become eligible by 1st December 2025. Feedback so far has been positive, with users describing the system as ‘easy to install…and simple to use’, and ‘much better than the chore of buying tickets in advance’.
‘It’s encouraging to see new technology being trialled to make rail travel easier for us all here in South Yorkshire. We know ticketing can be a barrier, especially for people who don’t travel often, so anything that helps make the system more straightforward to use is a step in the right direction,’ said Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire. ‘I’ll be keeping a close eye on how this trial works for passengers. If it helps break down barriers and makes rail more accessible for everyone, then it’s something we’ll want to build on.’
Image: Sam / Unsplash
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