Council Warns New Pay-As-You-Go Rail Scheme May Overcharge Passengers

Flintshire council has warned that Transport for Wales' (TfW) new pay-as-you-go rail ticketing system could lead to some passengers being overcharged. The system, recently promoted on social media for use on the Wrexham-Bidston Borderlands Line, charges all users an adult fare, regardless of eligibility for concessionary rates.

According to the council, the pay-as-you-go system, which allows passengers to tap in and out using contactless payment methods, does not accommodate discounted fares for children, families, or pensioners. This means individuals who would typically qualify for reduced fares may end up paying the full adult price for their journeys.

Alasdair Ibbotson, a councillor for Penyffordd, first flagged concerns about potential overcharging in July. He noted that station signage and promotional materials, including a TikTok advert, suggested the system offered TfW's "best value fare" without adequately explaining that concessionary travel would not be supported. Ibbotson stated that the tap-and-go machines are programmed only to charge full-fare adult tickets, leading to incorrect fares for those eligible for child tickets or reduced rates through railcards.

Flintshire council has advised rail passengers to verify if a cheaper travel option is available before utilizing the pay-as-you-go system. Glyn Banks, the cabinet member for waste and transportation, acknowledged the convenience of the new system but stressed the importance of passengers understanding it is not always the most economical choice. He recommended purchasing tickets in advance, using travel passes, or railcards, noting that the pay-as-you-go system does not support railcard discounts, child, family, or return tickets.

The council's chief executive, Neil Cockerton, has written to TfW requesting improved signage at stations to inform passengers about potentially cheaper ticketing alternatives.

A TfW spokesperson stated that the company is committed to making rail travel simple, convenient, and affordable. While acknowledging that railcard and concessionary discounts are not yet supported via pay-as-you-go, they indicated that advice on alternative ticketing is available on their website, at stations, and through customer channels. The spokesperson added that TfW is "actively reviewing" how to better communicate this information to customers.

TfW is exploring a pilot program to link eligible railcards to pay-as-you-go accounts and hopes to introduce child fares in the future, pending further development. Free concessionary travel and family or group offers are not currently included in the pay-as-you-go offering, a position TfW states aligns with most other similar schemes nationwide. The company plans to announce further details on improvements to the pay-as-you-go scheme in due course.