EMR Launches Pioneering GPS Ticketing Trial as UK Digital Rail Journeys Hit 87% High

LONDON, UK – East Midlands Railway (EMR) has launched a pioneering GPS-based Pay As You Go ticketing trial, attracting over 500 passengers to its routes in a significant step towards frictionless travel. The initiative comes as new industry data reveals that digital ticketing has reached an all-time high, accounting for a remarkable 87% of all UK rail journeys in November.

East Midlands Railway, in partnership with Transport UK, has confirmed strong initial uptake for its innovative ticketing trial, which aims to eliminate fare complexity for passengers travelling between Leicester, Derby, and Nottingham. The system allows registered customers to travel without a pre-purchased ticket; instead, their journeys are tracked via their mobile phone’s GPS. At the end of each trip, the system automatically calculates and charges the best-value fare, ensuring passengers always pay the lowest possible price without needing to navigate complex ticketing options in advance.

The trial leverages GPS technology to create a “tap-free” travel experience, a significant evolution from existing digital ticketing methods that rely on QR codes or NFC technology. By passively tracking a user’s location, the system can infer the start and end points of a journey without requiring the passenger to interact with ticket gates or platform validators. This approach is central to a wider national programme, funded by the Department for Transport, designed to modernise the UK’s rail network and make train travel smarter and more intuitive for everyone.

This initiative is perfectly timed with the UK’s rapid shift away from paper tickets. The recent milestone of 87% of all journeys being completed with electronic tickets in November underscores a profound change in passenger behaviour. This figure represents a notable increase from the 81-82% reported in summer 2024, demonstrating accelerating adoption. The government’s ambition, first set in 2017, to provide a digital ticketing option for all journeys has largely been realised, and trials like EMR’s represent the next frontier: moving from simple e-tickets to fully automated, account-based travel systems.

Key Takeaways

• Fare Simplicity: The trial’s core benefit is automatically calculating the cheapest fare, removing the burden of choice and potential for error from the passenger.
• Frictionless Technology: By using GPS, the system moves beyond “tap-in, tap-out” infrastructure, pointing towards a future of seamless “walk-on” rail travel.
• Market Alignment: The project launches as digital ticketing becomes the overwhelming standard in the UK, with nearly nine in ten journeys now conducted without a paper ticket.

Editor’s Analysis

While closed-loop contactless systems like London’s Oyster have been a global benchmark for years, they depend on a dense network of expensive physical hardware like gates and validators. The EMR trial’s reliance on software and passenger-owned GPS devices represents a paradigm shift. This low-infrastructure model could prove highly scalable and cost-effective for regional, inter-city, and even rural networks globally, which lack the passenger density to justify a full gate-line rollout. If successful, this “walk-in, walk-out” approach could provide a blueprint for operators worldwide seeking to modernise their fare collection systems without massive capital investment, fundamentally changing the passenger experience from a transactional one to a seamless, background service.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the East Midlands Railway Digital Pay As You Go trial work?

Participants use a mobile app that tracks their train journeys using GPS. The system then automatically calculates the best-value fare for the journey taken and charges their account, eliminating the need to buy a ticket in advance.

How long will the EMR ticketing trial last?

The trial is scheduled to run until August 2026, allowing for extensive data collection and system refinement.

Is it still possible to join the trial?

Yes, East Midlands Railway has confirmed that places are still available and is urging interested customers to register via the trial’s dedicated page on the EMR website.