Transport for Wales (TfW) has reached a significant landmark in its ticketing transformation, with more than two million rail journeys now made using Pay As You Go (PAYG) tap on, tap off technology.
The achievement comes just a year after the system’s launch in November 2024, confirming its status as TfW’s fastest-growing ticketing product and a clear signal of changing passenger habits.
TfW broke new ground as the first UK train operator outside London and the South East to introduce this innovative payment solution. Today, it continues to set the pace for modern, customer-focused ticketing.
Currently available across 95 stations in the South East Wales Metro region, the PAYG system offers passengers better value fares and the benefit of daily and weekly fare capping, making rail travel simpler and more cost-effective.
The success of the scheme is paving the way for expansion. North Wales is next, with PAYG ticketing set to roll out in 2026 as part of the wider Network North Wales programme, bringing the same convenience and fairness to communities across the North Wales & Borders region.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, welcomed the progress:
“I am delighted that more and more passengers are opting for pay as you go, making the most of a simpler and fairer way of paying for their rail and bus tickets.”
“I look forward to welcoming pay as you go ticketing to North Wales next year so that many more people can just tap and go.”
TfW’s Chief Commercial Officer, Alexia Course, highlighted the customer benefits:
"It's great to see so many customers embracing this convenient and simple way of travelling.
When we talk about improving the customer experience, ‘tap on, tap off’ ticketing is exactly what we mean. It’s making rail travel faster, fairer, and more accessible, which is driving both customer satisfaction and revenue growth for the network."
Image credit: Transport for Wales
