London Midland rail passengers will soon be enjoying a contactless Oyster card-style ticketing system which the rail service intends to roll out next year. London Midland operates train services through the heart of England from London in the south, to Birmingham in the midlands and Liverpool in the northwest. It services about 46 million passengers a year. The agency is expected to trial the new technology in January.

“We have infrastructure ready, such as smart card validators and ticket vending machines, to allow us to carry out trials and roll out the scheme further in 2010 and beyond,” said a London Midland spokesperson. The card will be compliant with the Integrated Transport Smartcard Organization that will allow it to work with other operators.

Read more here.