The location-based digital ticketing trial, officially called Digital Pay As You Go (DPAYG), launched on 1 September 2025 on East Midlands Railway services covering routes between Leicester, Derby, and Nottingham [1]. The system uses GPS technology via a smartphone app to automatically track passenger journeys. Passengers check in and check out without needing paper tickets or pre-booked QR codes, and the app generates a unique barcode for ticket inspections and station barriers [1]. At the end of each day, the system automatically calculates and charges the best-value fare based on the actual route taken, guaranteeing passengers receive optimal pricing [1].

Early results have been positive. By December 2025, more than 500 passengers had signed up for the trial [Gemini 3 Flash], with the system designed to accommodate up to 4,000 participants across multiple routes [Sonar]. The trial has been described as a "huge success" by transport officials, with high public interest [Gemini 3 Flash]. Over 2,000 journeys were recorded during initial phases, demonstrating user uptake and system reliability [GPT-5 Mini].

The trial has expanded beyond the East Midlands. Northern services began participating in late 2025, extending the DPAYG scheme to additional routes including Sheffield–Doncaster and Sheffield–Barnsley [Gemini 3 Flash, Sonar]. The trial is scheduled to run for nine months, with an expected conclusion around mid-2026 [Gemini 3 Flash, Sonar]. This initiative is part of the government's broader rail reform strategy to modernize ticketing and simplify fare structures [1]. It is distinct from the West Midlands' separate Swift Go smartcard system, which uses account-based capped fares rather than GPS tracking [Gemini 3 Flash].