THE Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram has today announced the next phase of a modern smart ticketing system on the Merseyrail network – a pilot for the introduction of contactless bank cards and smart devices.

This next phase represents a critical step in delivering a truly integrated, contactless travel system, making journeys quicker, easier, and more convenient for thousands of passengers every day.

Mayor Steve Rotheram said:- “As someone who uses our trains every day, I know just how much easier Tap & Go has made life for passengers. It means no more early-morning queues, guaranteed best-value fares, and a smoother journey from start to finish. This smart ticketing pilot takes us another step closer to delivering the modern, 21st-century transport network our residents deserve – and I’m really looking forward to seeing the new system fully rolled out in the new year.”

Passengers are already benefitting from Tap & Go using a MetroCard, launched by the Mayor in the summer.

This next phase introduces the use of contactless bank card and digital wallet payments, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, to the Merseyrail network.

Merseyrail is now running a pilot of smart tickets, inviting members of the public to be among the 1st to try this new way of travelling. Anyone who wishes to take part can sign up via a link on the Merseyrail website, where they’ll receive details on how to join the Pilot. 

As they did with MetroCard, pilot participants will help test the technology in real-world conditions and play an essential role in shaping the final system. Their feedback will ensure the service is reliable, easy to use, and built around the needs of passengers.

For those taking part, the benefits are clear:- just tap your contactless bank card or digital payment method at the start and end of your journey — no need to buy a ticket in advance or queue at a machine — and you’ll always be charged the cheapest fare. This is an important step toward a fully integrated public transport network.