Tap and go coming to Chester railway station with Transport for Wales
Chester railway station is expected to receive tap and go ticketing facilities for Transport for Wales passengers as contactless rail travel continues to expand.
By Chester Standard
Chester railway station is expected to receive tap and go ticketing facilities for Transport for Wales passengers.
The move would allow passengers using eligible Transport for Wales services to tap in and tap out with a contactless card or smart device, rather than buying a traditional paper ticket before travelling.
Transport for Wales already operates Pay As You Go travel in parts of South Wales and North East Wales.
The system allows passengers to use a contactless Visa, Mastercard or Europay card, or a smart device such as a phone or smartwatch, at the start and end of their journey.
TfW says customers must use the same card or device to tap in and tap out so the system can calculate the correct fare.
The rail operator says Pay As You Go fares are typically cheaper than other fares and are capped at daily and weekly levels where the system applies.
However, there are restrictions.
Transport for Wales says Pay As You Go cannot be used outside the relevant Pay As You Go areas or between its South Wales and North Wales zones.
In North East Wales, the system applies to Transport for Wales services in the area covered by its Pay As You Go map.
It also cannot be used with Railcards, group tickets, family tickets, child tickets, first class tickets or return tickets.
Chester is an important rail hub for Cheshire and the wider border region, with services connecting the city to destinations including North Wales, Wrexham, Shrewsbury, Liverpool, Manchester and London.
The station already has ticket gates, including wide aisle gates, and step-free access to all platforms via lifts.
Transport for Wales has also been carrying out wider improvements at Chester station.
Those works include new signage, a passenger assist point, cycle stands, improved CCTV, toilet refurbishments, seating, waiting room improvements, hearing loop systems and other passenger facilities.
The expected tap and go upgrade would add another modern payment option for passengers using eligible Transport for Wales journeys.
For regular passengers, the main benefit is convenience.
Contactless ticketing can reduce the need to queue for a ticket machine or buy in advance, particularly for shorter and more flexible journeys.
It may also help occasional travellers who are used to tap-and-go systems on buses, trams or rail networks in other parts of the country.
Passengers will still need to check whether their journey is valid for Pay As You Go before travelling.
Those using other train operators, travelling outside the eligible area, using a Railcard or buying child, family, group or first-class tickets may still need to buy a separate ticket.
The change reflects a wider move across public transport towards simpler digital payment systems.
For Chester, it would be another upgrade at a station that serves both local passengers and cross-border travel between England and Wales.
Transport for Wales passengers should check the latest Pay As You Go guidance before using the system, as eligible stations, routes and restrictions can vary.