Oyster-style cards expanded to local trains

BIRMINGHAM’S Oyster-style travel card can now be used on local train services – opening it up to thousands more commuters.

The Swift card, already used on buses and trams, will now be accepted on London Midland, Chiltern, Virgin, Arriva and Cross Country train services within the West Midlands.

A total of 12,000 rail commuters who currently use the nTrain payment scheme are being moved onto the new look Swift Card. It means more travellers can jump from buses and trams to trains without having to fiddle around for cash or different cards.

The Swift Card will also vate ticket barriers at key actista- tions including New Street, Snow Hill, Moor Street, University, Five Ways, Coventry and Birmingham International.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) head of Swift card Matt Lewis said: “This is an exciting further chapter in the continued rollout of Swift smart ticketing throughout the West Midlands.

“With further great new tickets and functions being introduced in the coming months we have taken the opportunity to update and refresh the brand design to ensure that, in keeping with the new tickets that we continue to roll out, it remains at the cutting edge.”

Already, 130,000 commuters use Swift Cards on buses and Midlands Metro services.