New Merseyrail ticket barriers and Contactless payment introduction

[Trainbike46]

Yesterday I travelled through Liverpool Central. They were in the process of replacing the ticket barriers with new ones, and the new ones are fitted with contactless readers. Presumably this means Merseyrail is in the process of rolling out a contactless payment system - has there been any information on what area(s) will be covered, and how the new system will work?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yesterday I travelled through Liverpool Central. They were in the process of replacing the ticket barriers with new ones, and the new ones are fitted with contactless readers. Presumably this means Merseyrail is in the process of rolling out a contactless payment system - has there been any information on what area(s) will be covered, and how the new system will work?

It will in due course implement the presently-MetroCard-only "tap & go" system onto payment cards. Full details of how this works can be found here:

Tap & Go: quicker, easier smart ticketing | Merseyrail

There’s no need for paper tickets or queues - just tap your MetroCard when you start and end your journey on a platform validator or ticket gate. No queues, no fuss, let's go!

www.merseyrail.org

Tap & Go is Merseyrail's new smart ticketing system

Tap & Go is designed to make travelling on the Merseyrail network quicker and easier. There’s no need for paper tickets or queues - just tap your MetroCard when you start and end your journey on a platform validator or ticket gate. No queues, no fuss, let's go! The smart ticketing system automatically works out the best value fare for you each day and charges the bank card linked to your account, taking the hassle out of travel. Get started, register your MetroCard on the MetroSmart website and keep reading for everything you need to know.

 

[Phillipimo]

Yesterday I travelled through Liverpool Central. They were in the process of replacing the ticket barriers with new ones, and the new ones are fitted with contactless readers.

Interesting because the old barriers did have card readers (for Walrus/Metro cards). Maybe they aren't the correct type for bank cards or they just needed replacing?

 

[lfc84]

Steve Rotheram

HERE WE GO...TAP&GO! From today Merseyrail passengers can use contactless ticketing with a Metrocard. I use public transport every day, so I know how game changing this technology will be for...

www.facebook.com

 

[JBuchananGB]

I do get rather annoyed with MerseyRail's ticketing, and this new Tap & Go hasn't helped. As a Railcard Holder I get no reduction on many MerseyRail fares, and my Railcard can't be applied to the Tap & Go system.
Example of a trip I might take would be off-peak from Birkdale to Formby and back.
MerseyRail DaySaver, single Zone: £4.80.
Anytime Day Return (Railcard Discount): £3.45
or Birkdale to Liverpool Central:
MerseyRail DaySaver, all zones: £6.40
Anytime Day Return (Railcard discount): £5.75
Off-Peak Day return to Edge Hill (via Liverpool) (Railcard discount) £4.25.
There are plenty of other examples where Railcard users can get better fares than users of Tap & Go.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Interesting because the old barriers did have card readers (for Walrus/Metro cards). Maybe they aren't the correct type for bank cards or they just needed replacing?

They're in the process of replacing all their gates.

 

[M28361M]

The new barriers have barcode readers too, I notice. I assume Merseyrail are finally preparing to fully accept e-Tickets.

 

[Edvid]

Are these new gates the ubiquitous Cubic E2s with up-facing 'bolt-on' readers, Vix 'Smart Gates' with integrated readers à la TfW in South Wales, or another model entirely?

 

[Trainbike46]

Are these new gates the ubiquitous Cubic E2s with up-facing 'bolt-on' readers, Vix 'Smart Gates' with integrated readers à la TfW in South Wales, or another model entirely?

Not an expert on gates, but they look similar to the pictures of Vix smart gates available on the Internet. They are definitely not the same type as commonly used elsewhere, so I think they are Vix smart gates, but could be another model entirely.

Sorry I forgot to take a picture while I was in Liverpool.

 

[Bungle965]

Are these new gates the ubiquitous Cubic E2s with up-facing 'bolt-on' readers, Vix 'Smart Gates' with integrated readers à la TfW in South Wales, or another model entirely?

They're Vix gates.

 

[Edvid]

Not an expert on gates, but they look similar to the pictures of Vix smart gates available on the Internet. They are definitely not the same type as commonly used elsewhere, so I think they are Vix smart gates, but could be another model entirely.

They're Vix gates.

Thank you both. So it seems Vix have found a second GB rail operator for their ticket gates; I'm curious to see where else they'll show up.

As it happens a recent Liverpool Echo article on the Tap & Go scheme also has pictures of said gates (the CCST-compatible model) at Moorfields.

 

[Bungle965]

Thank you both. So it seems Vix have found a second GB rail operator for their ticket gates; I'm curious to see where else they'll show up.

As it happens a recent Liverpool Echo article on the Tap & Go scheme also has pictures of said gates (the CCST-compatible model) at Moorfields.

Yes for the first time in a long time we're seeing some competition in the ATG market.
Cubic, S&B and Vix all have new models for the market

 

[plugwash]

Interesting because the old barriers did have card readers (for Walrus/Metro cards). Maybe they aren't the correct type for bank cards or they just needed replacing?

I suspect the biggest sticking point is that security requirements are very different for stuff that interacts with payment cards, than they are for readers that only read system-specific cards.

Wonder if we will see people getting in touble for touching in to the Manchester PAYG system and touching out of the liverpool one and vice-versa.

 

[azzarazza]

Travelled through central the other day, was in peak hours but the throughput seemed a lot slower than the old gates. Maybe teething troubles? They do look nicer though!

 

[Edvid]

Merseytravel recently posted a short video on their Facebook profile to show how the new gates interact with MetroCards and magstripe tickets.

3K views · 15 reactions | Have you used the new smart barriers at Moorfields Station yet? ️ Merseyrail | Merseytravel

Have you used the new smart barriers at Moorfields Station yet? ️ Merseyrail

www.facebook.com

On those NFC pads the 'ready' state is green (Cubic equivalent is yellow), whereas yellow only represents the 'pending' state for smartcards (and likely cEMV in due course). Presumably red doesn't appear unless passage is refused (Cubic gates show it briefly during magstripe 'reading').

 

[M28361M]

Merseyrail is inviting people to register for a pilot scheme of using bank cards or smart devices to Tap & Go. https://www.merseyrail.org/tickets-passes/tap-and-go/tap-go-pilot/

We’re gearing up for a new and exciting chapter in Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s and Merseyrail’s commitment to provide modern, convenient travel across the city region

New ticket gates and platform validators are being installed at stations across the network so you’ll soon be able to use your contactless bank cards or smart devices to tap in and tap out to pay for your journeys.

If you would like to be one of the very first people to try out this exciting upgrade to the system, you can! We’re running a pilot for some volunteers to trial the system and provide feedback.

The standalone validators at my local station have just been replaced with new Vix ones.

 

[Lloyds siding]

My Merseytravel Over 60s pass was rejected by the gate yesterday and today (it's previously worked fine in the new gates). I was not alone.

 

[AntoniC]

Merseyrail is inviting people to register for a pilot scheme of using bank cards or smart devices to Tap & Go. https://www.merseyrail.org/tickets-passes/tap-and-go/tap-go-pilot/

The standalone validators at my local station have just been replaced with new Vix ones.

I successfully applied for this scheme.
I have been sent a ticket sized plastic card with a unique number to identify myself and also asked to show my email acceptance AND proof of ID if stopped.
The proof of ID is fun as I don`t drive and I wont carry my passport round with me , so my photo ID Costco card will have to do !

 

[M28361M]

I was also accepted for the pilot, but the scheme does not extend to the Wirral Line, and more importantly for me, also excludes the Southport line. That is a bit of a dealbreaker for me, so I will not be taking part unfortunately.

 

[Djgr]

According to the Liverpool Echo contact goes live (not as a trial) on February 25th

Tap and go on your phone coming to Merseyrail within weeks

Passengers will at last be able to pay by phone, bank card or smartwatch for their journey

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[redreni]

So the lesson being taken from London and the Home Counties is not permitting Railcard discounts works: some people determinedly stick with paper tickets, but most overpay?

 

[johntea]

Out of interest whilst we're talking about ticket gates what model are in use at Manchester Victoria?

The code readers on those are halfway down the barriers and are a real struggle getting them to read a code causing quite a bit of congestion when a train load of passengers are trying to scan their tickets to exit the barriers! (I seem to remember they're slightly curved too which probably doesn't help)

 

[Haywain]

Out of interest whilst we're talking about ticket gates what model are in use at Manchester Victoria?

The code readers on those are halfway down the barriers and are a real struggle getting them to read a code causing quite a bit of congestion when a train load of passengers are trying to scan their tickets to exit the barriers! (I seem to remember they're slightly curved too which probably doesn't help)

Scanners for reading eTickets on barriers in Manchester have nothing to do with contactless payment in Merseyside.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Out of interest whilst we're talking about ticket gates what model are in use at Manchester Victoria?

The code readers on those are halfway down the barriers and are a real struggle getting them to read a code causing quite a bit of congestion when a train load of passengers are trying to scan their tickets to exit the barriers! (I seem to remember they're slightly curved too which probably doesn't help)

No those are S&B gates, we recognised the problem and relocated the scanner on our S&B gates 5 years ago

 

[M28361M]

Tap & Go for contactless debit/credit cards has indeed gone live today but with one important omission. As Merseyrail's Tap&Go information page says:

Can I use Tap & Go on all train routes?

Tap & Go using a MetroCard is available to use for journeys that are wholly on Merseyrail’s Northern and Wirral lines. Tap & Go cannot be used on the City line, as these services are run by Northern Rail, not Merseyrail.

The above also applies to Tap & Go using bank cards and smart devices, with the exception of Chester station. Chester station ticket gates currently do not accept bank card taps. Tap & Go on MetroCard can be used at Chester. There are platform validators on the Merseyrail platform but you only need to tap on one with your MetroCard if you haven’t or aren’t going to tap on the Chester station ticket gates.

Chester is an important destination for Merseyrail journeys so I can foresee lots of people getting caught out by this. Hopefully TFW can be persuaded to update the ticket gates soon.

 

[mattdickinson]

Tap & Go for contactless debit/credit cards has indeed gone live today but with one important omission. As Merseyrail's Tap&Go information page says:

Chester is an important destination for Merseyrail journeys so I can foresee lots of people getting caught out by this. Hopefully TFW can be persuaded to update the ticket gates soon.

Chester is also covered by the proposed TfW North Wales scheme (for stations between Rhyl and Gobowen). It will be interesting to see if the two schemes are at all integrated.