More than 53,000 journeys have been made on Merseyrail using the new contactless Tap and Go system in its first month of operation.
Launched at the start of August 2025, Tap and Go is part of Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram’scommitment to delivering a modern, affordable and passenger-first public transport system.
The system allows passengers to simply tap in and out of stations using their MetroCard, with the reassurance that they’ll always pay the best value fare thanks to daily and weekly fare capping.
The rollout has been warmly received by both regular commuters and casual travellers, who have praised its speed, convenience and value. So far, more than 6,000 passengers have registered for the new system — with numbers rising daily.
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram welcomed the early success of Tap and Go:
“This is a really good news story for everyone who travels across our region. Tap and Go is not just faster and simpler—it’s saving people money, cutting down queues, and making the whole journey experience smoother.
“From commuters to casual travellers, thousands of people are telling us how much easier it makes getting around. We’ve always been clear that we’re building a modern, passenger-first transport system, and this is exactly the kind of innovation that shows we’re on the right track, with more developments to come.”
Currently available across the Merseyrail network, Tap and Go will continue to expand as the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority advances its ambitious transport transformation programme. This wider agenda has already seen the introduction of new publicly owned battery-powered trains, investment in active travel infrastructure, and progress on bus franchising.
Designed to make travel simpler and more flexible, Tap and Go removes barriers to public transport and supports a more connected network. Passengers are reminded to tap their MetroCard at the start and end of each journey using the platform validators or station gates.
Neil Grabham Managing Director of Merseyrail, said:
“We’re proud to celebrate the successful launch of Tap & Go, which has already been embraced by over 6,000 customers and enabled more than 50,000 journeys across the Merseyrail network. This marks a transformative moment for rail travel in the Liverpool City Region, one that reflects our commitment to innovation, simplicity, and putting customers first”
What’s next for Tap and Go?
Following this successful first month, the Combined Authority and Merseyrail will continue to promote Tap and Go across the city region, while also working towards contactless payments using debit cards and mobile devices, along with expanding the system’s reach across buses and other local transport modes in future phases.
To get started, passengers can visit the Merseyrail website or head to any staffed Merseyrail station, where MetroCards and support will be available.
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