First 47 UK railway stations to get £20m upgrades in days - full list
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Dozens of UK railway stations will undergo a major revamp in a fortnight, as part of a £20 million funding to "modernise the network". On February 2, commuters across the South East heading into the Big Smoke will finally be able to tap-in and tap-out instead of having to buy a physical or e-ticket for each individual journey or round trip.
The government says the move, which includes 47 railway stations next month and a further 49 later in the year, will end the 2complex web of fares" and make "working people better off". The Department of Transport also states it's 'working closely' with Greater Manchester and the West Midlands to develop proposals for rolling out contactless ticketing even further.
Already well-established on London's Underground, paying for your fare with your contactless card or smart device will charge travellers the cheapest adult fare for your journey on the day and time of your travel. "For most people, this fare is the same as a ticket bought on the day," explains National Rail. "Daily and Monday to Sunday capping is also available for journeys into and within London. When your contactless journeys add up to a certain amount in a day or week (Monday to Sunday), you won't be charged anymore.".
It's worth noting that railcard and other discounts (like child fares) aren't currently available when you pay contactless. Brits can still pay for their tickets as normal and load them onto their phone for convenience, if they have access to cheaper fares. The Mirror has enquired whether Oyster Cards will be accepted at these stations, as this would also allow travellers to apply their discount while 'tapping in'.
