More details have emerged about potential plans for a London-style tap and go payment system on the Merseyrail network.
It has been a long-held ambition to bring in a more modern, smart-ticketing system on the region's rail network that will allow people to use contactless technology to pay for tickets using debit cards and the branded Metro Cards.
It is hoped the plans would prevent the long queues regularly seen at Merseyrail stations as customers wait to buy tickets from ticket offices and that such technology would bring the network more in line with what is used on the London Underground and the Manchester Metrolink.
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Eventually, the ambition would be for smart payments to operate not just on Merseyrail but on the region's ferries and bus network, the latter of which is due to come into public control under plans by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram.
A meeting of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in April heard that the first phase of the smart ticketing system could be in place on Merseyrail within a year.
Almost £3m had already been made available through the government's Transforming Cities fund since 2019, which has led to the introduction of a tap and go scheme on the region's buses as well as the installation of electronic ticket machines.
But a further £1.7m in funding has now also been signed off that will go towards getting the tap and go system up and running across the Merseyrail and ferry network with a roll out date of March 31 next year earmarked for the region’s trains.
Now a Prior Information Notice (PIN) has been issued. This is a notice that advertises an intention to tender future planned procurements. The notice has been advertised on the government's tender portal.
The notice, advertised by Merseyrail Electrics, contains more details of the potential plans for the smart ticketing system, with the potential future contract values at £3m.
The notice states: "Merseyrail are working in close partnership with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) to transform customer journeys ensuring that customers can benefit from a pay as you go (PAYG) Account Based Ticketing system (ABTS). This aligns with the 'London style ticketing' which is a vision endorsed by Merseyrail and the Metro Mayer of the Liverpool City Region.
"Merseyrail operate a frequent train service across a small dense urban network and the average fare is low. Research shows that customers tend not to purchase their ticket before travel and instead prefer to purchase their ticket at a station.
Using a new ABT (Account Based Ticketing) system passengers would simply tap a platform validator or station gate at the start and end of their journey. The ABT system uses these taps to calculate and charge the best value fare for the journey, removing the need for passengers to queue at ticket offices or work out which ticket they require."
It states that the system would provide the flexibility to accept Metro Card, bank card and mobile phone technology as well as ticket barcodes. Merseyrail's current gate lines do not support that latter technology so replacement gate lines will be required.
If the plans go ahead to a full contract tender, this will be carried out in two phases. The first phase would involve the Metro Card technology, while the second would create the ability for passengers to tap their bank card to pay for journeys.
The notice states: "This procurement will involve replacing 50 gates with priced options for the potential of a further 13 additional gates being installed to the Merseyrail estate."
If a full contract tendering process does begin, then it is likely that Merseyrail will be advertising the project for a period of 144 months. It is estimated that the date for the dispatch for invitations to tender is this Friday (June 9).
Speaking about the plans back in April, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said: "“I’m probably one of the few people who gets excited by this report, but this is about smart ticketing and if you speak to passengers, they’re desperate for an electronic form. Hopefully people will agree with that.”
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