Merseytravel passengers to benefit from more smarter options

More ITSO bus and rail tickets are now available for passengers in Liverpool area to buy online via the MetroSmart portal, as part of the Combined Authority’s Smart Ticketing programme.

Solo Young Person Tickets, Solo Term Time Tickets and Merseyrail Only Rail Pass are all ITSO smart card products which can be brought via the portal, developed by Imaginet, which has the ability to have more than one card linked to an account (e.g. children’s tickets added to parent's accounts).

In another move designed to improve the customer experience, Merseyrail, supported with funding from Transport for the North, has installed over 180 Init Platform Validators (ITSO Certified) at 66 stations across the Merseyrail network.

This means that customers can ‘collect’ the Merseyrail Only Rail Pass they have purchased online by tapping their smart card on the Platform Validators, or by using the rail gates, provided by Cubic, at any of the Merseyrail stations at the start and end of each journey.

This is the latest stage in the development of smart ticketing for the City Region and part of Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s aim to deliver a London-style public transport network, making access to public transport more streamlined and customer friendly.

A number of further long-term aims remain, including ‘tap and go’ travel, digital season tickets and other more flexible products as peoples travel patterns change.

Steve says “Last year when we launched the MetroCard, I said that this was a key step on our journey to delivering a London-style public transport network for our city region that is quick, affordable and easy to use.

“The last twelve months might have seen fewer people using public transport, but the MetroCard will be a feature on our local network for years to come.

“These new features are only the beginning. We’ll be looking to add more kinds of ticket and greater functionality to the cards in future.”

Suzanne Grant, Commercial Director at Merseyrail says “The installation of platform validators across our network and making the Merseyrail Only Railpass available on the MetroSmart Portal is a major step forward. This will modernise and simplify the process of purchasing a train ticket – something we know that our passengers want.

“This launch is an exciting step as we continue to work with our partners to ensure that travelling on the Merseyrail network is as easy and straightforward as possible for the people of the Liverpool City Region.

“More information on how to use the platform validators is available on our website or by asking our helpful station staff.”