Transport for Wales (TfW) has been embracing the new Pay As You Go (PAYG) contactless card system, since the train company became the first outside of London to install it at stations across South Wales.

The system which allows passengers to tap in and out when travelling by train, will be a game changer for commuters in South Wales as it avoids the need to buy tickets in advance from booking offices or ticket machines and saves buying tickets online, as commuters can just tap in and out with their bank card.

It will also make onboard ticket inspections far simpler than ticket inspectors, they can check the validity of a bank card using a card reader.

At the moment, all the stations on the Valleys lines to Bridgend, Maesteg, the Vale of Glamorgan, Abergavenny and Chepstow use the PAYG system, meaning 95 stations across South Wales are now part of the PAYG system.

Single journeys start from as little as £2.60, while daily and weekly capping fares ensure passengers always get the cheapest fares, which saves them money compared to buying Anytime single tickets, weekly tickets and season tickets.

With more trains due to run as part of TfWs December timetable change this PAYG system will be key in speeding up commuters journeys during peak times.

“I am delighted that we’re now able to offer passengers a simpler and fairer way to travel through the new Pay as You Go system.

This is another significant milestone towards our ambition to transform our railways and build a world-class metro service which enables us to deliver high-quality ‘turn up and go’ services for passengers.”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates