Rail Minister Huw Merriman visited Watford this morning following the announcement that more than 50 rail stations across the South-East will convert to Pay As You Go ticketing by the end of this year. A total of 53 stations were named in the first tranche – with more than 200 being converted in total. The new stations include Basildon, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead, Garston and Watford North.
This will deliver cheaper and simpler journeys for thousands of commuters and is hoped will attract more passengers back onto trains.
Pay As You Go is already available at more than 350 stations, including Watford Junction. Thanks to £20 million funding from the government, tens of thousands of passengers across the South-East will be able to use their bank card or smart device to just tap-in on the reader.
Joining the minster was Ian McConnell, Managing Director of West Midlands Trains and Cole Braithwaite, WMT’s Area Station Manager.
Rail Minister Huw Merriman said “By removing the stress of finding the best deal in advance or having the right ticket ready to go at the barriers, the extension of tap-in tap-out ticketing is the next step of our plan for rail reform and we’re working towards Pay As You Go being rolled out beyond the South East through the Midlands and up to the North.”
Dean Russell added that “One of the best ways to get more people back onto the trains is to make journeys as simple, flexible and convenient as possible. I am really pleased that Watford North has been named in the first tranche, so that local commuters can now use PAYG at Garston, Watford Junction and Watford North.”
