The new trial of digital rail tickets is now available across more routes in the north of the UK, providing hassle-free travel.

Posted on November 3, 2025

A new digital rail ticketing experience has been launched across additional routes in the north of the UK, providing passengers with a more convenient and hassle-free travel experience. This innovative system eliminates the need for paper tickets and pre-booked mobile tickets, allowing passengers to easily check in and out using a smartphone app. Through GPS tracking and automatic fare calculation, the technology provides greater flexibility and convenience, making it easier for passengers to travel without the stress of traditional ticketing methods. This expansion reflects a growing commitment to modernizing rail travel and enhancing the overall passenger experience throughout the region.

From today, passengers in South Yorkshire can take advantage of a revolutionary digital ticketing system, designed to make rail travel more flexible and hassle-free. This new technology, available to passengers traveling between Sheffield and Doncaster on Northern Rail services, is part of an ongoing initiative to improve the overall passenger experience and simplify the ticketing process.

The trial of the digital ticket system comes after successful tests on other routes in the United Kingdom. Launched in September on both East Midlands Railway and Northern services, more than 2,000 journeys have already been made using this new technology. This latest development aims to modernize the railway industry, providing passengers with a more seamless and convenient way to purchase and use tickets without relying on traditional paper tickets or pre-booked mobile tickets.

How does it work? The new system uses a smartphone app with GPS tracking. This allows passengers to automatically check in and out of their journey once they travel on the trains. The app tracks their location through GPS and calculates the fare based on the distance travelled. At the end of the day, passengers are charged for the trips they have taken, without having to purchase individual tickets or make any advance reservations.

Passengers can easily use the app, which generates a unique barcode to scan at ticket barriers or when asked to scan tickets. This feature completely eliminates the need for paper tickets or even digital tickets that require advance purchase online or in-app before the trip. The app tracks when passengers board and depart the rail network, ensuring they are charged the correct fare for their specific journey.

One of the main benefits of this new system is its flexibility. Traditional ticketing methods often require passengers to plan ahead and choose specific routes and times. With the digital ticketing experience, there is no need to book in advance, giving passengers the freedom to travel when they want. The app automatically detects when passengers board the train and tracks their journey until they leave the network. This means they no longer need to worry about buying the right ticket or worry about changes to their plans. It’s an ideal solution for people with unpredictable travel schedules or those who simply want a more streamlined experience.

This new trial is part of a larger government initiative to reform the UK’s railway system. The establishment of the Great British Railway was an important step in the modernization of the industry, with the aim of making services more efficient, user-friendly and affordable for passengers. The aim is to simplify fares and ticketing across the network, while providing better services to all rail users. The introduction of digital tickets is just one way in which the government aims to create a more convenient and accessible travel experience for passengers.

To encourage passengers to participate in the experience further, the government is offering an incentive. Those who sign up for the digital ticket trials will receive £15 worth of free travel. This credit will be automatically added to their accounts, providing an additional reason for travelers to embrace the new technology and experience the benefits first-hand.

The Ministry of Transport confirmed that the scheme is designed to make rail travel easier and more affordable for all passengers. For adults paying the full fare, the app guarantees the best value for money on the day of travel, ensuring people get the most competitive prices for their journeys. The new system is also in line with the wider Agenda for Change, which aims to boost travel opportunities for communities across the UK.

Travelers can sign up for the trial via Northern’s website. Once registered, they will be able to use the app on their journeys between Sheffield and Doncaster. If the trial proves successful, the technology is expected to be expanded to other routes across the country, making rail travel more convenient and flexible for passengers nationwide.

This latest development will also provide an additional boost to travelers in the north of England. On 1 December 2025, Northern will launch another digital ticketing trial on the Sheffield to Barnsley route. This means that more passengers in the region will have the opportunity to experience the convenience of the new system, as it continues to spread across different train routes.

Early feedback from passengers who have already taken part in the experience has been very positive. Many users described the app as “easy to install” and “easy to use”, with some even saying it was “much better than purchasing tickets in advance”. For those who often find the process of purchasing tickets and planning travel a hassle, this new system offers a refreshing change. The ability to travel without having to purchase tickets in advance provides an increased sense of flexibility and convenience, allowing passengers to enjoy a stress-free journey.

The future of rail travel in the UK looks even brighter with the introduction of cutting-edge digital ticketing technology. Not only does it simplify the ticket purchasing process, it also provides greater flexibility for passengers, ensuring travel is as easy and efficient as possible. With government support, incentives for trial participants, and plans to expand the system, it is clear that this new technology could soon become a staple of rail travel across the UK.

A new trial of digital rail tickets is now available across more northern UK routes, offering passengers a hassle-free travel experience by eliminating the need for paper tickets and providing seamless check-in through a smartphone app. This innovation simplifies travel, making it more flexible and convenient for passengers.

As this experiment continues, passengers will no doubt be watching closely to see how it develops and whether it meets their needs. But so far, the feedback has been positive, and many are excited about the future of a smoother, more modern rail travel experience.