EMR introduces smart ticket kiosks at 29 stations

East Midlands Railway is installing 29 smart kiosks on its regional network, which the operator says will make it simpler and easier for passengers to buy tickets at the cheapest fares.

The machines, which allow customers to buy advance and walk-up tickets as a printed barcode instead of a usual paper ticket, will be installed at stations in Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

The self-serve machines will offer traditional walk-up fares, as well as a full range of national railcard and local discounts. Advance purchase fares can also be bought by passengers who are not travelling immediately and wish to travel on a specific service at a later time or date.

The kiosks are also equipped with full timetable enquiry software, providing information on next trains and any differences in cost between a passenger’s chosen train and any other over the next 90 minutes.

In Derbyshire, the new smart kiosks will be installed at Langley Mill, Tutbury and Hatton and Willington stations, while in Nottinghamshire they will appear at Aslockton, Bingham, Burton Joyce, Carlton, Collingham, Fiskerton, Lowdham Netherfield and Radcliffe. Leicestershire stations to receive the kiosks are Bottesford, Hinckley and South Wigston, and in Lincolnshire they will soon be found at Gainsborough Lea Road, Hykeham, Market Rasen, Metheringham, Rauceby, Ruskington, Saxilby, Swinderby and Wainfleet. Alsager, Blythe Bridge, Heckington, Longport, Longton are the Staffordshire stations to gain the new smart kiosks.

EMR’S commercial director, Simon Pready, said: “We want to offer customers as much flexibility as possible when purchasing tickets and that’s why the introduction of these new smart kiosks is great news.

“As well as other features, they offer customers a full range of e-tickets and the same fare offers that they would otherwise access online. We hope our regional customers enjoy the benefits of using them when they are introduced across our regional network in the next few months.”