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Rail Prices: Contactless Payments
15 April 2026
Lead MP
Rebecca Paul
Reigate
Con
Responding Minister
Keir Mather
Tags
TransportBenefits & Welfare
Word Count: 3619
Other Contributors: 4
At a Glance
Rebecca Paul raised concerns about rail prices: contactless payments in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Minister should address specific cases like Reigate [K by restoring the long-standing off-peak position for the first morning jour [4D [K journey or offering a lower fare option. He should review the impact on pas [3D [K passengers who depend on discounts, particularly railcard users and familie [7D [K families with children. The Department for Transport should investigate ano [3D [K anomalies between geographically neighbouring stations and ensure that futu [4D [K future changes are accompanied by clear guidance explaining any new restric [7D [K restrictions.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The roll-out of contactless payments at Reigate stat [4D [K station has introduced changes in ticket prices and travel times without pr [2D [K proper consultation or clear communication to passengers. The first off-pea [7D [K off-peak train is now nearly an hour later than before, impacting long-esta [9D [K long-established travel patterns and making it more expensive for some comm [4D [K commuters. Discounts such as railcards cannot be applied to pay-as-you-go c [1D [K contactless, disproportionately affecting families and older people. There [K are also fairness issues between neighbouring stations where similar proble [6D [K problems have not arisen.
Blake Stephenson
Con
Mid Bedfordshire
Thanks the hon. Friend for securing the debate, rais [4D [K raises issues about super off-peak tickets becoming more expensive despite [K Government claims of frozen rail fares, and asks for flexibility in ticketi [7D [K ticketing through contactless technology.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Commends the hon. Lady for introducing the debate an [2D [K and raises concerns that contactless roll-out may increase prices and restr [5D [K restrict off-peak hours, arguing for a return to customer-first policy.
Monica Harding
Lib Dem
Esher and Walton
Highlights her constituency's significant contributi [10D [K contribution to the Exchequer and questions why it was excluded from tap in [2D [K in, tap out roll-out, asking the Minister when this might change. She expressed concern about the accuracy of figures [K showing that 5.82% of South West Railway services were cancelled in Februar [7D [K February, which she considered poor performance for a commuter line.
Will Forster
Lib Dem
Woking
Agrees that extra charges should be avoided and ques [4D [K questions why Woking station is excluded from tap in, tap out despite being [5D [K being the busiest in Surrey, suggesting fair introduction of this system to [2D [K to other areas.
Government Response
Keir Mather
Government Response
The minister thanked the hon. Member for Reigate an [2D [K and others for their contributions on contactless payment roll-out at railw [5D [K railway stations, reassured them about the government's commitment to revie [5D [K reviewing implementation issues, and acknowledged concerns raised regarding [9D [K regarding off-peak services and ticket pricing anomalies. He highlighted th [2D [K that new single-leg priced fares have been introduced at 30 south-eastern s [1D [K stations including Reigate, ensuring passengers benefit from simpler, easie [5D [K easier and more flexible ticketing. The minister also pledged further impro [5D [K improvements through digital trials in Greater Manchester and the west midl [4D [K midlands, stressing the government's commitment to affordability for passen [6D [K passengers and taxpayers. He promised a full response to any specific conce [5D [K concerns about disruption or ticketing issues raised by MPs.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.