00:00Passengers on Mersey Rail can now use contactless payments to travel without a paper ticket
00:06following a full rollout across the network. After a trial last year involving 50 volunteers,
00:13the system went live in August, letting passengers tap in and out with phones,
00:18bank cards or smartwatches. The MetroCard scheme continues alongside contactless payments,
00:24with season tickets and daily fares still available. New gates at Moorfield Station are
00:30designed to speed up journeys and reduce congestion. The Liverpool City Region Combined
00:36Authority says the system guarantees the lowest fare and caps daily and weekly charges.
00:42More than 6,000 people joined the new operation in its first month, recording over 53,000 journeys.
00:49Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham described the introduction as long overdue and said it
00:55aligns the network with modern standards expected in 2026. Ticket offices remain open for those
01:02preferring traditional purchases and the smart system forms part of wider plans to connect the
01:07region's transport. Commuters can link MetroCards to bank accounts to ensure automatic fare calculation
01:14for convenience and savings. Authorities emphasise contactless payments are part of broader
01:19improvements to passenger services, modernising travel and making daily commuting more efficient
01:24across Merseyside. Traditional tickets do still work, keeping options flexible for all.
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