Pay After You Ride: New Rail Ticketing Trial Launches in the UK

By Ivan PetrenkoJun 7, 2025 15:44 PMNews
Share:
Commuters checking their phones while waiting at a busy train platform
Travellers test mobile ticketing in stations. Source: unsplash

A government-funded initiative is launching in September to trial a digital ticketing system on selected train routes in Yorkshire and the East Midlands. The pilot will be open to around 4,000 passengers, who will use a dedicated mobile application that applies GPS tracking to monitor rail journeys. Instead of buying a ticket in advance, the system figures out how much you owe after your journey ends, using the route you actually took.

The trial system will apply real-time location technology to determine how far and how long each passenger travels. This new method swaps the usual ticket zones and fare categories for a system that simply looks at where you went and works out the cost from that. Those interested in participating will need to register through official channels set up by East Midlands Railway and Northern. The goal is to see if this setup can actually work for running trains smoothly and still make sense to regular people using it.

The trial will run for nine months and cover the following routes:

  • Leicester – Derby – Nottingham
  • Harrogate – Leeds
  • Sheffield – Doncaster
  • Sheffield – Barnsley

Key details include:

  • Each route will involve up to 1,000 participants
  • East Midlands Railway will begin the first phase in early September
  • Northern will start trials on the other routes between autumn and winter

If extended beyond the trial areas, the system could shift how passengers plan regional trips. People who don’t know how the ticket zones work might find it easier if they don’t have to figure out what to buy before getting on the train. Instead, the app figures out the price by looking at how far you went and how long your trip took. If you're taking several trains or don’t ride often, this setup might save you the headache of trying to understand all the fare rules. The long-term effect on travel habits remains a key focus of the evaluation.

These trials mark an important step forward in simplifying rail travel and making the experience as frictionless as possible for our customers. By trialling Pay As You Go technology on some of our routes, we’re helping to shape a future where hopping on a train is as easy as checking in and out.
Alex Hornby, Commercial and Customer Director, Northern

Beyond pricing, the trial will collect behavioural data such as when passengers check in, how they board, and how they react to post-travel billing. This might give planners a better idea of what to expect on routes where the number of riders goes up and down a lot. The system also allows for testing how anonymised GPS data can be used to improve service schedules. These trials follow earlier contactless rollouts at 53 stations in the South East, and may help shape how digital ticketing expands more widely in the future.

Top Articles
Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Mar 3, 2025 18:00 PM
Practical Eco-Friendly Travel Solutions for Sustainable Tourism

Practical Eco-Friendly Travel Solutions for Sustainable Tourism

Feb 14, 2025 15:00 PM

Top Tips for Securing Your Luggage and Preventing Loss

Feb 7, 2025 14:00 PM

Your Guide to Hand Luggage and Baggage Rules

Feb 4, 2025 20:00 PM
More News
Wizz Air plane taking off from runway on a clear day

Wizz Air Adds Five New Direct Flights From London Luton to Popular Spanish Cities

Jul 24, 2025 02:33 AM
Railway workers performing track maintenance during station upgrade

Half-Term Rail Closures to Disrupt Travel Plans Across Kent and South East London

Jul 23, 2025 23:23 PM

Madrid Gains Daily Flights on Emirates’ Upgraded Long-Haul Jet

Jul 23, 2025 21:39 PM

voco Al Mouj Muscat Hotel Adds New Place to Stay in City’s Coastal District

Jul 23, 2025 19:54 PM
Passengers standing and sitting inside a crowded airplane cabin

Teenagers Cause Disruption on Virgin Atlantic Flight to London

Jul 23, 2025 12:21 PM
Modern double bed in a stylish hotel room with dark walls and warm lighting

Garner Bhuj Hotel Expands Stay Choices in Historic Kutch

Jul 23, 2025 10:37 AM
Aerial view of Berlin Brandenburg Airport showing multiple parked Ryanair planes and terminals

Berlin Airport Unveils New App-Connected Kiosks to Speed Up Ryanair Baggage Drop

Jul 22, 2025 23:41 PM
Modern bedroom with wooden headboard, pendant lights, and layered pillows

Remote Seychelles Location Adds Accommodation Designed for Nature Immersion

Jul 22, 2025 21:34 PM
easyJet aircraft taking off against a cloudy sky

easyJet Launches Summer Routes to Cape Verde and Georgia from the UK

Jul 22, 2025 19:28 PM

New Luxury Hotel in Osaka Expands Travel Options with Local Flair

Jul 22, 2025 10:42 AM

Zurich Expands Its Role in Switzerland’s Tourism Strategy

Jul 22, 2025 08:35 AM
Emirates A380 aircraft taxiing on runway

Emirates Expands Dubai to Mauritius Link with Third Daily Flight

Jul 21, 2025 23:25 PM
Stagecoach bus on urban street near brick wall and signposts

New East Midlands Bus Routes Improve Access to Coastal and Countryside Walks This Summer

Jul 21, 2025 21:32 PM
Fallen tree blocks city street after typhoon

Typhoon Wipha Hits Northern Vietnam: Dozens of Flights Cancelled

Jul 21, 2025 19:49 PM
Railway workers repairing train tracks during maintenance

Warning of Changes: Twyford to Henley-on-Thames Rail Link Closed from 28 July to 1 August

Jul 21, 2025 18:26 PM

IHG and Hainan Airlines Enhance Travel Services with New Airport Lounge and In-Flight Dining

Jul 21, 2025 17:33 PM

Walking Britain: Seasonal Trails Linking Coast, Countryside and Historic Towns

Jul 20, 2025 23:44 PM
A Vietjet Airbus aircraft taking off from an airport runway during daytime

New Vietjet Deal Makes Off-Season Travel to Asia and Australia More Accessible

Jul 20, 2025 21:37 PM
Trains at London Marylebone Station, London, UK

Rail Warning: Disruption on Birmingham to Marylebone Line This Sunday

Jul 19, 2025 20:27 PM
Railway workers in safety gear maintaining tracks beside a freight wagon

Rail Disruptions in Northern Italy May Hinder Access to Scenic Nature Spots This July

Jul 19, 2025 18:33 PM
Wizz Air Airbus A321neo aircraft approaching for landing

Palermo Gains Direct Flights to Warsaw Opening New Travel Possibilities

Jul 19, 2025 16:42 PM
Rail worker in safety gear walking near tracks inside a tunnel

Rail Disruption in Cumbria to Limit Access to Scenic Coastal Spots This September

Jul 19, 2025 02:28 AM

Brussels Airlines Expands Travel Options for Tomorrowland 2025 Attendees

Jul 19, 2025 00:34 AM

Rail Modernisation in Wales to Disrupt Travel from 2 to 11 August

Jul 18, 2025 22:46 PM
Jet2.com aircraft taxiing on runway at airport

New Jet2.com Service Links Edinburgh with Northern Italy’s Ski Resorts

Jul 18, 2025 20:39 PM
Emirates Airbus A380 taking off under cloudy sky

Emirates Expands Dublin Route with New Flight, Offering More Travel Choices

Jul 18, 2025 18:22 PM