Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram announced today (18 March) that tap-and-go will be arriving on the Merseyrail network.

Merseyrail is working in partnership with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to develop the system, which will be rolled out across Merseyrail’s Northern and Wirral lines.

Phase 1 will launch this autumn  and will allow passengers to tap in and out using a MetroCard, which will be linked to the user’s bank or credit card.

The second phase will launch in 2025, and will allow the use of a bank card, or devices such as smart phones or watches, to tap in and out, without the need for a MetroCard.

Tap-and-go works by tapping in at the start and end of your journey, using a platform validator or ticket gate.

The move is part of the Mayor’s commitment to providing a “London-style transport system making journeys smoother, quicker and more affordable for all”.

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram says: “Travelling on public transport should be simple, especially when it comes to how people pay for their journey.

“Yet, the reality is that our current ticketing system is no longer equipped to meet the demands of a growing 21st Century city region like ours.

“I understand people’s frustrations about the current system and that’s why we’ve been working towards introducing a more simplified ticketing structure, but increasing public demand has meant that we’re now accelerating our plans.

“By upgrading our current paper ticketing with a new and improved smart system, we can make it easier and quicker for people to get from A to B.

“The tap-and-go, contactless system we’re introducing will unlock so many benefits for our region, removing the need for unnecessary queues, ensuring that no one spends more than they need to get around our region – and protecting revenue streams for further investment in improvements.”

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