GWR auto-ticketing

Mobile ticketing allowing passengers to go from booking to boarding in a matter of minutes, and without the need for a paper ticket, has been extended by Great Western Railway across its network after a regional trial.

Following the installation of barcode readers at station ticket gates systemwide, passengers who download the app can now use their smart phones or tablets to buy tickets and to travel.

The scheme covers all single and return tickets; standard and first class, adult and child, although season tickets, group save, and rangers and rovers are not currently available.

Each ticket is displayed on the phone screen as an encrypted barcode to be scanned by the new readers at the ticket gates and can also be checked on board by train managers with mobile barcode-reading devices.

Head of retail Lee Edworthy explained: “Technology has fundamentally changed the way we travel. The expansion of mobile ticketing will make buying a ticket and travelling with us much easier and more convenient, saving valuable time.”

GWR has calculated if all users of the app were to buy the new-style tickets it would cut out a 10m stack of orange paperwork every week, enough to extend for half a kilometre every year.

www.gwr.com

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