Corby and Kettering stations will see their new gatelines in operation from Monday the 23rd of January following investment by East Midlands Railway to install staffed gatelines across its EMR Connect route. The gatelines will also support a reduction in the number of passengers travelling without a ticket and comes at the same time as a rise in penalty fares from £20 to £100. The gatelines will also bring a reduction in anti-social activity whilst supporting security.

East Midlands Railway staff members will be available to help customers who need any advice on how to use the barriers and will also be able to demonstrate the benefits of using an EMR Smartcard.

The EMR Smartcard has been created to enhance customer experience and enables easier travel by keeping train tickets in one place. Customers using the EMR Smartcard do not need to queue in order to collect tickets as they are able to tap the EMR Smartcard onto the reader at either ticket machines, platform validators or at ticket gatelines.

The rail operator has plans underway to use gatelines at Wellingborough station in the near future which means that the entire EMR Connect route will operate using barriers.

Neil Grabham, Customer Services Director, said: “The installation of these new gatelines are part of our efforts to modernise and improve our EMR Connect network.

“As well as stopping a loss of revenue, which is ultimately taxpayer’s money, they will also help to improve security at stations for customers.

“Customers will also be able to take advantage of all the convenient benefits that the EMR Smartcard brings too.”