The UK government plans to widen trials of digital rail ticketing apps as part of a broader effort to tackle fare evasion, which is estimated to cost the rail industry around £400 million a year. Ministers see the expanded rollout of app-based and contactless ticketing as a way to make it easier for passengers to buy valid tickets and harder for fare dodgers to exploit gaps in the current paper and barrier-based system, while also modernising an often criticised ticketing setup.

The move forms part of wider efforts to modernise rail travel and close revenue gaps that operators say are contributing to financial pressures across the network. While full details of the expanded trials, including which routes or operators will be involved and the timescale for rollout, were not fully specified, the initiative reflects growing pressure on the Department for Transport and train companies to curb losses from unpaid fares while improving the passenger experience.