Swift smartcard launches on West Midlands rail network

Transport Minister Andrew Jones MP has welcomed acceptance of the Swift card multimodal smart ticketing solution on the West Midlands rail network.

Commuters in the West Midlands can now use the Swift smartcard to travel throughout the region’s rail network.

Introduced by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, the smart ticketing solution is already available on the region’s buses and trams and can now be used by 3,000 rail passengers who are signed up to the nNetwork direct debit scheme.

Commenting at the launch, Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “Smart ticketing is revolutionising public transport and I welcome this significant new development in the West Midlands.

The smart card can be used on London Midland trains as well as Virgin Trains, Chiltern Railways and Cross Country trains, whose services all call at local stations.

Ticket barriers are in place at Snow Hill, University and Five Ways stations in Birmingham, which are operated by London Midland and at New Street, Coventry and Birmingham International stations, which are operated by Virgin, and at Moor Street station which is run by Chiltern.

First transport body outside of London to deliver a multimodal smart ticketing solution

Laura Shoaf, Managing Director of TfWM, said: “We are the first transport body outside London to deliver a truly multimodal smart ticketing solution that does not require a paper counterpart, and this is just the start.

“Swift offers a range of benefits for the passenger and over the coming months we will be working closely with London Midland and the Department for Transport to identify and develop ways of expanding it still further.”

Ms Shoaf also confirmed that TfWM was working with the rail industry to develop a project to move 12,000 customers who purchase nTrain – the local rail-only season ticket – onto Swift.

Richard Brooks, London Midland commercial director said: “This is a great initiative by TfWM. “At London Midland we believe passionately in making travel simple for everyone. Having a single smart card that works on trains, buses and Metro will make passengers’ lives easier and encourage more use of public transport across the region.”