Transport for Wales' (TfW) newly launched pay-as-you-go system risks charging rail passengers more than they should pay, according to Flintshire council, because the contactless payment method applies only adult fares regardless of a traveller's eligibility for discounts.
TfW introduced the tap-in and tap-out service on 18 May 2026 across 15 stations in the first phase, including Wrexham General, Wrexham Central, Bidston, and Shotton High Level on the 27-mile Wrexham-Bidston Borderlands Line. The system allows customers to use a contactless debit card or smartphone without purchasing tickets in advance for adult single journeys. However, the council has raised concerns that children, families, pensioners, and railcard holders—all of whom qualify for concessionary or reduced fares—will be charged the full adult price.
TfW promoted the scheme through a social media campaign, including a TikTok advertisement describing it as offering passengers TfW's "best value fare". The council objected to this messaging, arguing that it misleads passengers who may be entitled to cheaper travel options.
Why the council raised concerns
Alasdair Ibbotson, a councillor for Penyffordd, first highlighted the overcharging risk in July. He told a council meeting that station signage failed to explain that concessionary travel would not be supported through the pay-as-you-go system.
Ibbotson criticised the claim that pay-as-you-go offers the "best value fares", pointing out that passengers eligible for child tickets, railcard discounts, or reduced-rate travel would actually pay more through tap-and-go than through other ticketing methods.
"The tap‑and‑go machines can only charge full‑fare adult tickets. If you are eligible to travel on a child ticket or at a reduced rate because you have a railcard you will not be charged the correct fare for your journey. You will be overcharged. So the notion that this is the best value fare is categorically untrue."
He noted that while small print on station banners stated the value claim was compared to equivalent TfW tickets, the system only measured against a full adult fare. The social media advertisements, he argued, gave no indication that tap-and-go fares were not the cheapest option for everyone.
Glyn Banks, cabinet member for waste and transportation, confirmed that the council had identified a genuine problem. He described pay-as-you-go as a "convenient option" but stressed it was "important" that passengers understood it was not always the cheapest choice.
Banks explained that travellers could save money by buying tickets in advance, using travel passes or railcards, and that pay-as-you-go did not support railcard discounts, child, family or return tickets.
"We've asked TfW to make it clearer for passengers when travelling as tap and go calculates the standard adult single fare for your tapped journey. We hope this issue can be addressed as soon as possible to ensure passengers are not disadvantaged."
The council's chief executive Neil Cockerton wrote to TfW requesting new signage at stations to inform passengers that they may access cheaper tickets through alternative payment methods.
What TfW says about the system
TfW acknowledged the issue and said it was committed to making rail travel "as simple, convenient, and affordable as possible" for customers. A spokesperson confirmed that railcard and concessionary discounts are not yet supported via pay-as-you-go, but stated that advice on alternative ticketing options is available on the company's website, at stations, and through customer channels.
"We are actively reviewing how we communicate this to customers."
The company said it is exploring a pilot to allow eligible railcards to be linked to pay-as-you-go accounts and hopes to introduce child fares in future, though further development is needed. According to Nation Cymru, TfW is piloting the introduction of Railcards through pay-as-you-go and may expand that benefit more widely in future.
TfW stated that free concessionary travel and family or group offers are not in scope for its pay-as-you-go offering, a position it said is aligned with most other pay-as-you-go schemes nationwide. The company said further details on improvements to its pay-as-you-go scheme would be announced in due course.
How the pricing structure works
TfW uses a zonal structure for the Borderlands Line pay-as-you-go system. According to TfW's published North Wales fares and capping page, a single journey from Bidston to Caergwrle costs £3.90, while weekly capped travel on the same route is £25.50. The Wrexham General to Bidston journey spans zones 1 to 5.
Some passengers are entitled to free travel between specific Borderlands Line stations. According to TfW's concessionary travel page, eligible over-60s can travel free between stations including Hawarden Bridge, Shotton, Hawarden, Buckley, Penyffordd, Hope, Caergwrle, Cefn y Bedd, Gwersyllt, Wrexham General and Wrexham Central. These passengers would face a significant financial disadvantage if they used pay-as-you-go instead of claiming their concessionary entitlement.
Expansion plans and next steps
TfW said the pay-as-you-go service is being rolled out in phases, with more stations to be added later in 2026. A Flint town council planning document from June 2026 referred to proposed installation of three new pay-as-you-go ticket validators at Flint railway station, suggesting further expansion of the system across the region.
The council has advised rail passengers to check whether a cheaper travel option is available to them before using pay-as-you-go. TfW has committed to reviewing how it communicates alternative ticketing options to customers, though no specific timeline for improvements has been announced.
Key Facts
- TfW's pay-as-you-go system charges only adult single fares and does not support railcard discounts, child fares, family tickets, or concessionary travel entitlements
- The system was launched on 15 stations across the Wrexham-Bidston Borderlands Line in May 2026, with further expansion planned for later in the year
- Flintshire council has asked TfW to install clearer signage at stations and improve communication about cheaper ticketing alternatives
- TfW is piloting railcard integration and exploring the introduction of child fares, though these features are not yet available
- Eligible over-60s can travel free on certain Borderlands Line stations but would be overcharged if using pay-as-you-go instead of claiming their concessionary entitlement
