Season ticket holders smartcard being rolled out on Great Northern line up to Royston

Season ticket holders are being given a taste of technology as a new system is rolled out – with the first phase covering all rail stations through to Royston.

Govia Thameslink Railway's commercial director David Innis. - Credit: Archant

The smartcard – known as ‘the key’ – will replace paper tickets and can be used on Great Northern and Thameslink services.

Once commuters receive their free smartcard, season tickets can be bought online or at a ticket machine and uploaded on to it.

They can then use the key to tap the card reader at the platform gate to continue with their journey.

David Innis, Govia Thameslink Railway’s commercial director, said: “As well as the season tickets already provided on ‘the key’, we are developing many more ticket types.

“A carnet product – to meet the growing demand for flexible ticketing by part-time workers – is well under way and next year we will add single and return daily tickets, as well as a trial of pay as you go.”

The key can be used at all stations – including Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock, Ashwell and through to Royston, but will extend further up the line when phase two of the project starts in 2016.