Tap-in rail travel reaches 25 stations in north Wales and the borders

Tap-in and tap-out rail travel is now available at 25 stations in north-east Wales and the borders, after Transport for Wales extended the scheme to ten more stops. Rhyl, Prestatyn and Chester are among the additions announced on 29 September.

Which stations have joined?

The ten additions are Chester, Chirk, Flint, Frodsham, Gobowen, Helsby, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Ruabon and Runcorn East. TfW’s announcement includes Shotton Low Level alongside Flint. The operator’s network page now lists 25 stations in total, including the original Wrexham–Bidston corridor.

What it can cost

TfW’s published fare examples put a Chester–Rhyl pay-as-you-go single at £4.20 and a return at £8.40. Those compare with £18.10 and £20.20 for the equivalent conventional Anytime single and return in the operator’s table.

That comparison is with the specified Anytime fares, not every ticket a passenger could buy. Child and railcard discounts are not currently available through pay as you go, and TfW says a conventional discounted ticket may be cheaper. Family, group and free concessionary offers are also outside the scheme.

Use the same card at both ends

Passengers must tap in before travelling and tap out at the destination using the same bank card or payment device. Daily and weekly caps can limit the amount charged for qualifying journeys. Registering through the TfW app provides access to journey and payment history, receipts and alerts for a missed tap-out.

The North Wales scheme works on TfW services within the listed area. It cannot be used to travel into the separate South Wales pay-as-you-go area, on GWR trains or in First Class.

Check the validator at interchanges

At interchanges such as Bidston, TfW’s validators are pink and Merseyrail’s are yellow. TfW says passengers must use the correct operator’s validator: the separate pay-as-you-go schemes cannot currently be used as one combined journey.