Northern digital ticket, £15 free travel

[Snow1964]

DfT Press Release, new Northern digital ticket with £15 free travel

Harrogate to Leeds now
Sheffield-Doncaster from 27 October
Sheffield-Barnsley from 24 November

Passengers in the North are the latest to benefit from simplified train tickets, with the further rollout of digital trials.
From today (29 September 2025), rail passengers travelling on Northern trains between Harrogate and Leeds will find it even easier to take the train over the Arthington Viaduct to visit Kirkstall Abbey, get to and from work in Leeds city centre or play a round at Pannal Golf Club.
The simplified system makes it as easy as hopping on a train and pressing a button on your phone to start your journey, removing the need to pre-book tickets and worrying about paying higher prices through third-party apps.
Technology in passengers’ phones will be able to register when they get off the train automatically, and they’ll be charged the lowest possible fare at the end of the day.
Sign up to Northern Train’s digital ticketing trial.
For ticket inspections and to go through ticket barriers, a unique bar code will pop up in the app to be scanned.
Passengers who try the apps will also get £15 worth of free travel thanks to government backing of the trial, with credit automatically added to their account.
In a further boost for train users in the North, more trials will launch on the Sheffield – Doncaster and Sheffield – Barnsley routes run by Northern, on 27 October 2025 and 24 November 2025 respectively.
By making it easier to choose rail, the scheme hopes to put money in people’s pockets by helping them get the cheapest fares on the day of travel, make it easier to access work and as a result boost growth, as part of the Plan for Change.
Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said:
We’re bringing ticketing into the 21st century. These trials are modernising fares and ticketing, making it simpler and easier for people to choose rail.
As part of our Plan for Change, we’re delivering straightforward, stress-free train travel across the North, supporting passengers and boosting economic growth, jobs and homes.
Passengers can still make the most of simpler and more flexible train travel and a guarantee of the best value fare on the day, by simply signing up for the trials via Northern’s website.
Passengers taking part in East Midlands Rail’s trial of the technology have said it made train travel feel ‘simple and trustworthy’ and another added that it meant ‘little to no worrying about being overcharged’, which was a ‘big shift from how I normally feel about train transport, which can sometimes feel complicated or inconvenient’.
It comes as the government is delivering the biggest overhaul of the railways in a generation through the creation of Great British Railways, which will help to deliver better and more reliable services for passengers.
Backed by nearly £1 million of government funding, the trials are part of plans to modernise our transport system, putting passenger experience at the heart of every journey and encouraging more people to take the train – building on the government’s mission to deliver growth.

Cutting-edge rail ticket technology trials launch in the North

Passengers can now sign up for Northern Train's digital ticketing trial.

www.gov.uk

 

[Iskra]

Sheffield to Barnsley is a bit of an odd inclusion, as many passengers continue beyond Barnsley to Wakefield and Leeds.

If I boarded at Meadowhall or Chapeltown heading to Leeds, would I have to get off the train at Barnsley for it to work, or would it just end when the train leaves the station? Or do I just buy the same ticket that I always did to keep it simple?

It’s also going to be confusing for passengers doing it between Doncaster and Sheffield as it isn’t valid on XC or TP, which could land some in hot water.

It’s nice to see a genuine attempt at simplification though, without it just masking a price hike.

 

[ricoblade]

I've registered previously and am a semi-frequent Senior Railcard traveller between Doncaster and Sheffield so will be interested in how this will actually pan out. The returns are £6.50 peak, £5.50 off-peak (there's also the SY Connect Day+ at £11..40 which costs in when using buses and trams at either end) and as said above can be used on any service. I find this as good contingency as the pattern per hour is one semi-fast Northern and one semi=fast TPE, one Northern stopper and generally a two hourly fast XC.

 

[BurtonM]

Is this that GPS ticketing thing?
Of course the only 'improvement' the North gets is this stuff nobody actually wants.

 

[redreni]

"Lowest possible fare" is a pretty bold claim!

 

[sheff1]

Unless I have missed it, no mention of Railcard or South Yorkshire Concession discounts.

 

[JB1601]

Used the new app for the first time this morning. Early days but I’m impressed. Apart from not having to buy a ticket, it also gives me flexibility to get the bus home if preferable rather than having to commit at the outset to a return.

Not used it with any ticket gates yet. Only downside is it’s a shame you have to set up a bespoke app (with yet another account) rather than just touching in and out with contactless like in London. As a result you also have to “start” and “end” your journey as well as using the PAYG barcode on the gates so I can see many forgetting to do that.

 

[xotGD]

"Lowest possible fare" is a pretty bold claim!

The same price as an Advance? I doubt it.

 

[kieron]

Not used it with any ticket gates yet. Only downside is it’s a shame you have to set up a bespoke app (with yet another account) rather than just touching in and out with contactless like in London. As a result you also have to “start” and “end” your journey as well as using the PAYG barcode on the gates so I can see many forgetting to do that.

One benefit of using GPS is that there should be plenty of evidence to show where someone who forgets to touch out actually went. I can imagine a future version allowing people to stay touched in all day with the system working out when they caught trains, but they're not there now.

 

[ricoblade]

I got an email from Northern yesterday for sign-up to the Doncaster, Sheffield trial (I had to register again despite already registering my interest overall). Interestingly it asked whether and what railcard I use (Senior) so hopefully that will flow through to the fare.

 

[yorksrob]

Doesn't sound like any improvement on a Metrocard to me.

 

[sprunt]

As a result you also have to “start” and “end” your journey as well as using the PAYG barcode on the gates so I can see many forgetting to do that.

Does "Technology in passengers’ phones will be able to register when they get off the train automatically, and they’ll be charged the lowest possible fare at the end of the day." not mean that you don't have to end your journey, the app just registers via the GPS that you got off at wherever and that's where you are now?

Presumably lowest possible fare means that they'll charge you for a return were it makes sense, rather than two singles?

 

[JB1601]

The Northern trial app does require you to start and end your journeys. I read that line you quote too so I’m not sure what it refers to as it’s not the way it’s working for me.

Many of the stations on the Harrogate line don’t have barriers so it is very easy to forget to “end” the journey as indeed I found last week. However I think the GPS kicks in as after a while I got a notification asking me if I was still travelling and if not to press “end”.

It did save me a few pence when I ended up returning from work during “off peak” one day last week. So I travelled in on a peak single and home on an off peak single, rather than having to commit to an anytime return at the outset.

 

[xotGD]

It did save me a few pence when I ended up returning from work during “off peak” one day last week. So I travelled in on a peak single and home on an off peak single, rather than having to commit to an anytime return at the outset.

But wouldn't two Advances have been cheaper?

 

[JB1601]

But wouldn't two Advances have been cheaper?

There aren’t any that I’ve seen available (at least during my journey times).

 

[Mark J]

"Lowest possible fare" is a pretty bold claim!

'Highest possible fare' is the likely outcome!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Oct 2025 ==

Does "Technology in passengers’ phones will be able to register when they get off the train automatically, and they’ll be charged the lowest possible fare at the end of the day." not mean that you don't have to end your journey, the app just registers via the GPS that you got off at wherever and that's where you are now?

Presumably lowest possible fare means that they'll charge you for a return were it makes sense, rather than two singles?

I really have zero faith this will work.

What happens if your phone battery dies before you get off the train?

What happens if the area you get off the train has poor network coverage/reception?

What happens if there are technical issues with the system?

Contactless and e-tickets seem to offer more than enough flexibility.

A GPS based ticket system will likely just open up a whole load of issues.

 

[JB1601]

Phone battery failing is just as much of an issue with e-tickets and the battery being charged is very much a condition of using that.

I think if the GPS isn’t available it offers you the opportunity to choose what station you end the journey at. As I mentioned earlier it is still relying on your checking in/out at the start/end of the journey rather than detecting it as initially implied, so I don’t know if they’ve moved away from that bit.

I did 4 days in the office this week so was looking to see if it capped at the weekly season ticket, and it did. All the journeys in the app are marked “weekly cap” and I’ve not been charged any further. For me this is a great benefit as I don’t always know if it is worth buying a season ticket at the outset. Coupled with the ability to buy an off peak single for the return if I’m working late/in the pub I am very much enjoying this trial. As I mentioned there are no advances on this stretch, so I’m not losing out there. I just wish it was less of a faff eg just touching in and out on the readers with a card like in London.

 

[Watershed]

Mod note:

Discussion of issues to do with phone batteries and eTickets has been moved to this thread:

Phone batteries and eTickets

Mod note: split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/northern-digital-ticket-%C2%A315-free-travel.292744 Phone battery failing is just as much of an issue with e-tickets No it isn't. E-tickets can be printed.

www.railforums.co.uk

Please can any further discussion of that topic place there.

Thank you.

 

[Via Bank]

At first glance this looks basically the same as SBB EasyRide, ÖBB SimplyGo, etc. Both of which work perfectly well… but also work across all modes across the whole country, in countries that don’t tend to use ticket gates.

 

[Deerfold]

At first glance this looks basically the same as SBB EasyRide, ÖBB SimplyGo, etc. Both of which work perfectly well… but also work across all modes across the whole country, in countries that don’t tend to use ticket gates.

I've used similar in Copenhagen. Just tell the app you've started travelling on public transport and again that you've finished - very easy to use.
They're not good at capping in Denmark but do have good period area tickets - sadly last week I overpaid after my plans changed.

 

[ricoblade]

I got the invite to download the app this morning. Interestingly the instructions say "Swipe right to start your trip when you board your train" (my bold) rather than "before you board your train". Can see this one potentially causing some Disputes and Prosecusiton issues.

 

[Snow1964]

DfT have issued a notice confirming Sheffield-Doncaster is now live for digital ticketing.

Rail passengers in South Yorkshire can now join hundreds across England in trialling new digital ticketing technology.

From today (3 November 2025), people going between Sheffield and Doncaster can take advantage of simpler and more flexible ticket options when they travel on Northern rail services.

More than 2,000 journeys and counting have already been made under similar trials on East Midlands Railway and Northern services, which both launched in September 2025.

Digital ticketing trials allow passengers to check in and check out seamlessly on rail journeys, using a location-identifying app on their phone. The app tracks journeys using GPS (Global Positioning System) technology and then automatically charges participants at the end of the day. For ticket inspections and to go through ticket barriers, a unique bar code will pop up in the app to be scanned.

This technology replaces the need for paper tickets or more commonly used mobile tickets bought online or in-app ahead of journeys. Doing away with the need to plan and book travel in advance, the app tracks which trains passengers take, detecting when they have left the rail network.

The latest trial comes as the government is delivering the biggest overhaul of the railways in a generation through the creation of Great British Railways, which will help to deliver better services for passengers and simpler fares across the network.

Thanks to government backing, passengers taking part in the trial will get £15 worth of free travel, with credit automatically added to their account

Innovative rail ticket technology trial expands across the North

Passengers can sign up for the rail digital ticketing trials on Northern's website.

www.gov.uk

Obviously it is a trial at this stage. No indication yet if trial so far has been successful and if it will be rolled out to more lines in the future.

 

[sheff1]

DfT have issued a notice confirming Sheffield-Doncaster is now live for digital ticketing.

Not sure what ticket barriers DfT think people will encounter at, or between, Sheffield and Doncaster.

Also wonder when we will see the first thread in the Disputes section when someone has travelled on TPE or Cross Country when usimg the app.

 

[ricoblade]

I might get the chance to use this on Sunday for Doncaster<>Sheffield. I have the £15 credit in my account so it will not cost me anything and I've just worked out how to add my Senior Railcard (I was not prompted to do this in any of the joining instructions). Hopefully will see what happens!

Quick update - I didn't travel last week but did yesterday.

Started the first journey a few minutes before the train came in at Doncaster and ended it having left Sheffield station.

I then did the reverse but the app tried to "Smart Stop" the journey after we had just pulled out of Sheffield. Good job I noticed it and cancellled the Smart Stop, there's a potential minefield there for "not having a ticket" if the app arbitrarily ends a journey like that.

Got charged 2x£2.70 (10p cheaper than an Off-Peak Day Retturn) out of my £15 credit which was reconciled overnight. When I looked yesterday, the 2 charges were there but it wasn't clear as to whether it had used the credit as this was still showing the £15.

Another update

I haven't used this very much despite travelling the route once or twice a week as I don't want to be limited to Northern services. I said upthread that one of the benefits of this route is that there is 1 Northen semi-fast, 1 Northern stopper and 1 TPE per hour with also generally a 2-hourly XC, which gives flexibility and resilince which is more important to me than maybe saving 10p.

Also, if you start your trip well in advance, which I think is advisable to mitigagte any technical/network issues, the Smart Stop tries to kick in which you need to be on top of.