In the past six months technology companies like Swiss specialists FAIRTIQ and UK-based Trainline have launched the UK’s first Digital Pay-As-You-Go (DPAYG) schemes. This app-based ticketing is incredibly easy for customers: simply swipe and travel, and the app does the rest.

While contactless and Smartcard-based PAYG schemes are well-established in the UK, app-based DPAYG is hardware-free because it utilises the GPS on travellers’ mobile devices. This allows for multimodal journeys, with the app identifying the correct mode of transport from the data and charging appropriately.

The most high-profile development in 2025 was the initial launch of DPAYG technology in the UK, where the government is trialling its impact with British passengers. Trainline launched England’s first DPAYG in partnership with East Midlands Railway, linking three cities and more than a dozen stations with ticketing embedded in EMR’s app. FAIRTIQ is operating in partnership with Northern Trains, providing dPAYG in South Yorkshire via the FAIRTIQ app. In the first few months, British passengers have made thousands of journeys using DPAYG. 

Across Europe, dPAYG is operational in more than a dozen countries. Last year over 130m journeys were made, an increase of 68% on DPAYG journeys in 2024, as the tech continues to grow in popularity with customers. In Denmark alone, two-thirds of all public transport journeys are now made using DPAYG.

By eliminating the need for extensive hardware, DPAYG systems can be established rapidly and comparatively cheaply and scaled efficiently.

With over 55 million fares currently available on the UK network, the trial’s focus on single-leg pricing, coupled with an intuitive customer experience, goes a long way to making journeys simpler and stress-free.

And app-based ticketing provides powerful commercial and communication benefits. GPS data provides a comprehensive 360-degree view of customer journey patterns, so personalised incentives can stimulate more travel while suspicious or fraudulent behaviour is easily spotted.

Digital Pay-As-You-Go stands out because it offers a unique combination of flexibility, ease of deployment, and an incredibly simple customer experience.