Plans to trial simpler and more flexible travel ticketing across the Midlands and North have taken one step closer this week with trials on course for later this year.

The government has confirmed it is beginning the procurement process to find suppliers who will run the technology trials across the East Midlands and Yorkshire. The successful bidders will work alongside Northern and East Midlands Railways to deliver the trials.

Unlike the previous rollout of pay-as-you-go, these trials will use GPS-based technology. This will track your location on your train journey, ensuring travellers pay the best fare. For ticket inspections and to go through ticket barriers, a unique bar code will pop up in the app to be scanned.

The use of contactless ticketing seeks to offer passengers ‘simpler, more accessible and more flexible train travel as well as a guarantee of the best value ticket on the day.’

Backed by Government funding, the trials are part of plans to modernise the transport system, ‘put passenger experience at the heart of the railways and drive more people back onto trains building on the Government’s mission to deliver growth.’

Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy said: “We’ve seen the success that contactless ticketing has on making journeys easier to navigate and attracting more people to our railways.

“It’s only right that we now look to expand contactless ticketing to other major cities across the North, ensuring they can reap the economic benefits that simpler ticketing offers and that passengers are having a better experience.”

Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive Officer of Rail Delivery Group, said: “We are proud to support the Pay As You Go trials in Yorkshire and East Midlands. This is another step in making fares and ticketing easier for everyone.

“We are committed to developing a simpler fare system that not only meets passengers’ expectations but also supports the long-term growth of rail travel making customers experience of the railway better.”