Merseyrail Tap & Go

[Fawkes Cat]

(I'm as certain as I can be that this is in the wrong place but cannot for the life of me work out where the right place is. Mods - please relocate as appropriate)

Merseyrail are looking for volunteers to try out their 'Tap & Go' system. Per https://www.merseyrail.org/tickets-passes/tap-and-go/tap-go-pilot-programme/, they say

Tap & Go Pilot Registration​

Tap & Go is Merseyrail’s new smart ticketing system, developed in partnership with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and designed to make travelling on the Merseyrail network quicker and easier. With Tap & Go, there’s no need for paper tickets or queues—just tap your MetroCard when you start and end your journey.

Tap & Go automatically works out the best value fare for you each day and charges the bank card linked to your account. You’ll never pay more than you should, with daily and weekly fare caps. For example:

• Travel off-peak and you’ll never pay more than the Day Saver price.
• Travel regularly and once you’ve reached the price of a weekly Railpass, the rest of your journeys that Monday–Sunday are free.

Following successful testing across the Merseyrail network, we’re inviting 50 people to join our public pilot and be the first to experience the convenience of Tap & Go. To register your interest in taking part, simply complete the form below. If selected, we’ll ask you to share your feedback and complete occasional surveys throughout the pilot to help us improve.

 

[MrJeeves]

I think this seems like the perfect place for this sort of post!

It'd be interesting to know who is running the scheme's backoffice and some more details about how it handles missing taps as the trial progresses!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think this seems like the perfect place for this sort of post!

It'd be interesting to know who is running the scheme's backoffice and some more details about how it handles missing taps as the trial progresses!

And what the reason is why they've gone for a smartcard rather than contactless based solution in 2025!

 

[cool110]

And what the reason is why they've gone for a smartcard rather than contactless based solution in 2025!

That's only for this initial trial, the plan is to enable straight contactless payment later in the year. Then again the plan was for this stage of the trial to launch last year.

Arriving in two phases, tap-and-go will be available at all Merseyrail stations for passengers using a MetroCard linked to their bank account from summer this year. The second phase will launch later in 2025 and see passengers able to use their bank card, or devices such as phones or watches, without the need for a MetroCard.

 

[stuart100100]

I've registered my interest although I don't travel every day, usually 3 times a week so might not be what they're looking for as won't reach the weekly cap

 

[gray1404]

I do sincerely hope that this doesn't mean concessionary pass holders who travel for free on Merseyrail will have to start tapping in and out at unbarriered stations on the Merseyrail network.

It is also a shame they are basing the weekly cap on a Monday to Sunday week rather then within any 7 days. If they are basing it on rail pass proces then worth remembering that a paper rail pass can start on any day of the week, not just a Monday.

There is no financial benefit of going paper free. They keep mentioning the London model but lower fares are not being offered for those using tap and go.

Again this doesn't look to benefit Railcard holders with no mention of being able to load a Railcard to a Metrocard.

When Merseyrail go contactless I wonder what the implications will be for their Penalty Fare system. Perhaps a higher back end charge if a customer has not tap in with their contactless card.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That's only for this initial trial, the plan is to enable straight contactless payment later in the year.

That's good news. Merseyrail has been in the dark ages on ticketing for a very long time - this is an extremely welcome update. I do have a Metrocard to be fair (for the odd Saveaway) but London is leading the way here.

I do sincerely hope that this doesn't mean concessionary pass holders who travel for free on Merseyrail will have to start tapping in and out at unbarriered stations on the Merseyrail network.

I'm not sure why it matters, but in London you don't need to tap in if you have a Travelcard or Freedom Pass that is valid for your entire journey so I don't see why you'd need to on Merseyside. Just be glad of your free travel!

It is also a shame they are basing the weekly cap on a Monday to Sunday week rather then within any 7 days. If they are basing it on rail pass proces then worth remembering that a paper rail pass can start on any day of the week, not just a Monday.

Same as London. It's just easier to implement and will suit almost everyone.

There is no financial benefit of going paper free. They keep mentioning the London model but lower fares are not being offered for those using tap and go.

It's still more convenient. And it means no disadvantage for those preferring to pay cash for a paper ticket, which is a perennial whinge on here. Count your blessings!

Again this doesn't look to benefit Railcard holders with no mention of being able to load a Railcard to a Metrocard.

Railcards aren't applicable to most Merseyrail travel because the day tickets aren't valid for them, so most people won't care. You only save on shorter journeys where a discounted Anytime is cheaper than a day ticket. But as unlike London there's no discount for using contactless, simply purchase a paper ticket with your Railcard if that's what you want to do and you aren't being disadvantaged.

When Merseyrail go contactless I wonder what the implications will be for their Penalty Fare system. Perhaps a higher back end charge if a customer has not tap in with their contactless card.

Guess it depends on how exactly it's implemented, but as a general thing these schemes charge some sort of penalty (or in the case of buses mostly just the maximum possible single fare from where you tapped in) if inspected without having tapped in and similarly if you fail to tap out.