Merseyrail 'tap-and-go' ticketing launched

The system allows passengers to use a MetroCard linked to their bank account

A new contactless payment system for purchasing train tickets on the Merseyrail network has been launched.

The "tap-and-go" system allows passengers to use a MetroCard linked to their bank account to make journeys across the Liverpool City Region.

Merseyrail said it will remove the need to queue for tickets and will guarantee the lowest fare on all journeys. The roll-out follows a two-month pilot scheme.

City region mayor Steve Rotheram said the new system is helping to make travel in the region "simple, affordable, and fit for the future".

"No more queuing, no paper tickets, and no worrying about whether you've bought the right fare," he said.

The second phase will launch later this year and will see passengers able to use their bank card, or devices such as phones or watches, without the need for a MetroCard.

Merseyrail managing director Neil Grabham said the technology is "a significant advancement in our efforts to make rail travel simpler, faster and accessible for all".

This smart ticketing system is part of Rotheram's plan to create an integrated transport system across the region on buses, trains, and ferries.

Steve Rotheram said it was a "game-changer" for how people travel on Merseyrail