Smart Train Tickets in Britain Track Travelers via GPS

SadaNews - The relevant authorities operating train lines in Britain have begun testing a new type of ticket that uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) to track the trains that passengers have taken and the distances traveled. Accordingly, it will automatically discount the applicable fare.

According to a report published by the British newspaper "Metro," which was reviewed by "Al Arabiya.net," the idea behind the new smart tickets is that passengers will not need to purchase a ticket in advance, but will be able to check in using an app on their mobile phones. The best price will be automatically deducted at the end of the day after calculating the trains used, the distances traveled, the boarding point, and the destination station.

For ticket checks and passing through barriers, a barcode will appear in the app to be scanned automatically.

The "instant payment" trial will be conducted for nine months on four lines operated by East Midlands Railway and Northern Rail.

The "Metro" newspaper reports that the project organizers aim to simplify the process of obtaining prices, but one charity official warned that services must remain easily accessible without requiring a smartphone, as research shows that more than five million people in Britain currently struggle with the shift to everything online.

While many express admiration for the ease of using a phone, the transition to using a phone for everything does not satisfy everyone.

A recent study conducted by Age UK found that many older adults are dissatisfied with the pace of change, with a significant number stating they are "completely offline."

The study revealed that one in three (31%) people over the age of 60—equivalent to 5.1 million people—said that life has become much harder compared to five years ago because the things they want to do are now only available online, while more than half of the participants (53%) expressed frustration over being advised to access services online instead of in person or via phone.

Caroline Abrahams, director of the charity, stated: "There is no doubt that there are many benefits for older adults who can browse apps on their smartphones or wish to connect to the internet, and they are able to do so." However, she added, "It is very important that older adults, whether or not they use computers, can easily access the services they need. It is also unclear what will happen if a passenger's phone battery dies during their journey, as GPS services will not function in that case."

Alex Hornby, the commercial director of Northern Rail, said: "Historically, ticket issuing in the rail sector has been extremely complicated, so anything that simplifies the customer experience deserves support."

He added, "We have already witnessed a significant shift from traditional tickets to digital alternatives, which now account for over 80% of journeys on our network."

Initially, the trials are limited to 1,000 passengers on each route, with the possibility of registration through the train operators' website.

The government has reported that GPS technology has been "widely tested" in Switzerland, Denmark, and Scotland, but has not yet been tested in England.

These new plans are supported by nearly one million pounds in government funding, intended to be part of broader plans to reform the rail system and aim to bring most train operators into public ownership by 2027.