Rail customers travelling on key routes in South East Wales will be able to enjoy cheaper ‘Pay As You Go’ fares following the introduction of a brand new contactless tap-in, tap-out payment service.

The trial scheme has now been launched by Transport for Wales and will bring faster, easier and cheaper travel for rail customers travelling between Cardiff Central, Newport and Pontyclun.

The scheme marks the first location in the UK outside of London, where passengers can make the most of the technology which supports turn-up and go travel.

During 2024, the ‘Pay As You Go’ scheme will be rolled out to a total of 95 stations across South Wales, with the Ebbw Vale Line set to be the next stage of the programme.

The scheme will see passengers able to simply tap their debit/credit card or smart device at the new Pay As You Go barriers or via yellow platform validators at the start and end of a journey, effectively allowing them to travel without a paper or digital ticket.

Pay As You Go fares are usually cheaper than current fares and will feature a capped daily and weekly level so that customers are getting the very best value for money. An example of this is:

A single journey from Cardiff to Newport will cost only £2.50 and is capped at £6.80 (daily) and £20.40 (weekly).

With rail fares set to rise below inflation by 4.9% on Sunday the 3rd of March, these savings will no doubt be welcomed by rail passengers in South East Wales.

Further benefits are also available for customers using Pay As You Go with a dedicated dashboard, which enables customers to add missing ‘taps’ plus more features using the Transport for Wales app.

Following a successful trial last year, we’re delighted to launch our new Pay As You Go payment option on the first routes in South East Wales.

“This is the first stage in the delivery of Pay As You Go, with several more routes planned to join the system before the end of the year.

Similar technology is already well-used in major cities like London and Manchester and is designed to make travel on public transport easier – and cheaper – for our customers.

Alexia Course, Chief Commerical Officer for Transport for Wales

To find out more about PAYG, please click here.