Mayor Steve Rotheram has today unveiled a major upgrade for Merseyrail passengers with the launch of a new Tap & Go payment system.
Following a successful period of testing, the contactless MetroCard now allows travellers to tap in and out at stations, removing the need to queue for tickets while guaranteeing the lowest possible fare. Linking a bank account to a MetroCard takes just minutes.
The Mayor showcased the new system at Liverpool Central, describing it as a “step change” in delivering a smarter, easier, and more accessible transport network across the Liverpool City Region. A full roll-out of bank card Tap & Go is also planned later this year.
Speaking about the rollout, Mayor Steve Rotheram said:
“Our region deserves a transport system that is simple, affordable, and fit for the future. As someone who regularly uses the train myself, I know how much of a difference ‘Tap & Go’ will make for passengers. No more queuing, no paper tickets, and no worrying about whether you’ve bought the right fare. This is about making travel easier for everyone and helping build the fully integrated transport network our residents deserve.”
Funded through a multi-million-pound investment by the Combined Authority, the scheme is the latest move to modernise ticketing across the city region.
By automatically calculating the best value fares, the system ensures passengers never pay more than they should. Daily and weekly caps mean quicker journeys, more convenience, and money saved.
A passenger pilot, operating for a number of weeks throughout the summer, saw responses to questions like “How likely are you to continue using Tap & Go?” and “Would you recommend Tap & Go to other Merseyrail passengers?” receive a satisfaction score of 4.85 (out of a maximum of 5), with 96% of passengers actively encouraging the pilot system to other travellers when it became live. The main benefits of the system were expressed as “saving time” and “not having to think about tickets”.
Neil Grabham, Managing Director of Merseyrail, said:
“The introduction of Tap & Go across the Merseyrail network represents a significant advancement in our efforts to make rail travel simpler, faster and accessible for all.
“We’re proud to support this forward-thinking initiative, which prioritises customer’s experience by eliminating barriers to travel and ensuring the best value fares are always available.
“This marks another important step in our ongoing commitment to delivering a modern, customer-centric railway that remains deeply connected to the communities we serve.”
The second phase will launch later this year and see passengers able to use their bank card, or devices such as phones or watches, without the need for a MetroCard.
This smart ticketing initiative is part of Mayor Rotheram’s wider plan to create an integrated transport system across the Liverpool City Region—bringing buses, trains, and ferries into one cohesive network with smart, contactless travel at its heart.
It is hoped the new system will encourage more people out of their cars and on to public transport. This in turn will help to improve air quality and support the city region’s ambition to be net zero carbon by 2035. To get started, passengers can visit the website or head to any staffed Merseyrail station, where MetroCards and support will be available.
Passengers are reminded they need to tap their MetroCard at the start and end of each journey on the platform validators.
With a new £500m publicly owned fleet of trains already transforming the passenger experience and plans in motion to bring similar technology to the rest of city region’s transport network, Tap & Go marks a turning point in the journey toward a better-connected region, and accessible travel for all.
READ MORE: Take a super-realistic virtual tour of the new Mersey Ferry
