Region's train ticket system 'embarrassing' - MP

Anneliese Midgley said she found it "embarrassing" and "wild" that Merseyrail did not allow digital ticketing

An MP has said the lack of a digital ticketing system for a city region's trains is an "embarrassment" to the region.

Passengers who purchase Merseyrail tickets online must physically print off their tickets at home or using a ticket machine in a station.

Some customers who have paid full price online have complained after being stopped and fined under byelaws stating they must be able to present a physical copy of their tickets - even if they can provide proof of purchase.

Anneliese Midgley, Labour MP for Knowsley, raised the issue to transport secretary Louise Haigh in Parliament on Thursday.

Ms Midgley said: "BBC Radio Merseyside has featured many stories about passengers being fined for buying train tickets in good faith only to find out they're the wrong ones.

"Some of my constituents in Knowsley find themselves being fined or denied travel by Mersey Travel for buying tickets legitimately online."

Merseyrail is set to introduce tap-and-go technology next year

Ms Haigh told the House that the government was working with regional mayors and said she had asked the Office for Rail and Road to review rail operators' "revenue protection practises".

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, Ms Midgley said Merseyrail needed to bring its ticketing system "into the 21st Century."

She said: "I've had things coming through my postbag and into my inbox since I have been elected in July.

"It can be a real headache, a stress and an unnecessary expense some of the time as well," she said.

Ms Midgley said the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority was due to bring in tap-and-go technology, which allows passengers to tap their debit cards at ticket gates, next year.

But she said the fact that passengers could not use tickets purchased online, unless they had been printed off, was "embarrassing and absolutely wild".

Alex Lennon was arrested after refusing to provide his details to Merseyrail enforcement staff

One man who fell foul of the rules was Sefton-based businessman Alex Lennon, 50.

He was stopped by Merseyrail staff at Liverpool Central Station on his way to London in January this year, having boarded at Waterloo station in Sefton.

Mr Lennon refused to share his personal details with staff, leading to an officer from British Transport Police (BTP) being called over.

He was arrested and detained for 90 minutes before being allowed to go on his way.

To make matters worse, BTP later sent him a letter suggesting he could be prosecuted for common assault, despite video footage showing there was no confrontation.

When the BBC contacted BTP, the force confirmed the notice was an error and Mr Lennon should have received a letter clarifying he was not under investigation for assault - which he said had never been confirmed in writing 10 months later.

Mr Lennon said: "I fully support what our MP is doing, it's long overdue.

"I travel round the country a lot and I talk to a lot of people particularly down south and none of them can believe our ticketing system and that people are being prosecuted for this."

A combined authority spokesman said: "We’re working with Merseyrail towards introducing a more simplified smart ticketing system to meet public demand and to address passengers’ current frustrations with online ticketing."

Merseyrail has been contacted for comment.