UK’s Southern Railway trials smartcard

A smartcard trial on Southern Railway has been officially launched by the UK transport minister, Norman Baker. ‘The Key’ offers rail passengers a quick and simple alternative to paper tickets and sees the installation of Vix smartcard platform validator units on the Coastway East service at stations between Brighton and Seaford. These units will enable passengers to use smartcards to ‘tap and go’ for a range of journeys and ticket types, including popular season passes. Around 100 passengers will take part in the trial which is expected to be expanded in the near future.