Merseyrail launches contactless payments on rail network
01 November, 2013
category: Contactless, Smart Cards, Transit
Merseyrail, a British train operating company in Merseyside, England, will soon launch contactless payment technology at its rails stations to ease congestion for its passengers, according The Liverpool Daily Post.
The network has worked with MasterCard and Global Payments to introduce the system, which will be unveiled beginning in November and will enable commuters to pay for tickets up to £20 by using their debit, credit, or prepaid cards, without the need to use their PIN. On Merseyrail 98% of customer transactions are under £20.
Contactless payment technology will make buying tickets quicker, ease congestion at rail stations, and is more secure. Using contactless cards, customers simply tap them against the reader to pay for their travel. When a beep sounds, or a green light flashes, payment is complete.
Most Merseyrail stations will be equipped with the contactless technology by the end of the November. The first phase of contactless will launch with MasterCard and Visa; American Express will follow next year.
Earlier this year it was announced that the full roll out of Merseyside’s transport smartcard. Similar to London’s Oyster card, the smartcard is aimed at taking the hassle out of travelling on a bus, train, or ferry and encouraging more people to use public transport.
The phased roll out of the cards was supposed to be complete by this year, but transport authority Merseytravel has since admitted the technology will not be in until next year.
