Due to flooding caused by storm Bert, pay as you go is not currently available at Fernhill station.

Smooother train travel has arrived

Experience smoother train travel with contactless pay as you go now available exclusively on TfW and Cross-Country services across our South Wales Metro network.

See where you can travel with our zonal map below.

Simply tap in and tap out and we’ll calculate your best value fare.

No more queuing at the ticket machine and no more fumbling around for paper tickets. With contactless pay as you go, simply tap in at the beginning of each journey and tap out at your destination using your contactless card or device.

Our daily and weekly price caps mean you’ll never pay more than you need to, as we’ll automatically charge you the best value fare for the journey you’ve made. Understand more about our pay as you go fares so you know how you’re getting the best deal.

 

PAYG icon View your Pay as you go journey history

 

  • What payment devices can I use for pay as you go travel?

    • You can use your contactless payment card, mobile or smart device to travel with pay as you go. Simply tap on the TfW gates and/or yellow card readers at stations to start and end your journey.

    • The following contactless cards are not accepted for Pay as you go Journeys:

      • American Express

      • Maestro

  • What if I want to use my smart device to pay as I go?

    • To activate contactless pay as you go, you must use your physical contactless bank card for first time use on TfW gates and/or validators.

    • Switching payment devices within the first week will affect weekly capping. Please continue to use your physical contactless bank card for the remainder of the week (Monday - Sunday). 

  • Where do I tap in and out?

    • Follow the signage on the pay as you go gates at Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, Newport, Bridgend and Pontypridd to find the correct gates to tap in and tap out.

    • Our yellow card readers can be found on platforms at smaller stations, and on platform 0 at Cardiff Central.

  • What if I’m asked to show a ticket when using pay as you go?

    • Please let the train staff know you’re using pay as you go. They’ll ask you to tap your payment card or device on their inspection device to confirm you’ve tapped in. Make sure to use the same card or device you used at the start of your journey.

    • If you haven’t tapped in before your journey, you will need to pay a inspection charge.

 

TfW PAYG valley lines map

 

Remember to tap out

Don’t forget to tap out at the end of every journey to avoid paying extra charges. By tapping both in and out on your journey, our system knows where your journey finishes to charge you the correct fare.

  • How long do I have to tap out before extra charges apply?

    • The maximum journey time has been set at 2.5 hours. If you tap out after 2.5 hours, you’ll be charged an incomplete journey.

 

Watch out for card clash

When using pay as you go across Transport for Wales stations, you must use the same card or device to avoid paying twice. Remember to take your card out of your wallet or purse when using contactless to avoid paying your fare on multiple cards.

 

Get even more benefits when you register on the TfW app

Keeping track of your train travel couldn’t be easier when you register for an account on the TfW app.

  • See your full journey and payment history in one place.
  • Download your travel receipts in a few taps.
  • Get alerted if you forget to tap out, to avoid extra charges .
  • Enable frequent journey memory based on your travel patterns to allow the app to autocomplete your journeys.

App StoreGoogle Play

  • What if I don’t want to register on the app?

    • We recommend registering your card on the TfW app for the best pay as you go experience. However, If you’d prefer not to register your card, you can still use pay as you go as a ‘guest customer’.

    • If you’re a guest customer, you can access your complete journey and payment history through our web portal for the last 7 days of travel.

  • Are there any exclusions when using pay as you go?

    • The following exclusions apply when using pay as you go, however these are subject to change.  

      • Pay as you go journeys are not currently available on GWR services.

      • No return journeys: pay as you go operates a single adult journey only.

      • No group tickets: these will need to be purchased from the TfW app.

      • Not permitted for first class travel.

      • No peak and off-peak times.

      • No child tickets, please visit tfw.wales/kids-go-free for affordable family travel.

      • Pay as you go does not support the use of concessionary cards.  

  • Where can I download the TfW app?

    • You can download the TfW app from Apple App Store or Google Play store.

      App StoreGoogle Play

  • How do I set up an account and start using pay as you go?

    • Download the TfW app and register your contactless payment card.

    • Step 1
      Open TfW app.

    • Step 2
      Navigate to Pay as you go in footer.

    • Step 3
      Add contactless card details.

    • Step 4
      Upload and confirm card details.

    • Step 5
      Ready to travel.

  • What if I’m travelling in a group?

    • If you’re travelling with multiple people, each person must tap in with a separate bank card or smart device, or they can all purchase a digital or physical ticket.

For full FAQ's click here.

 

Contact us

If you have a problem with a payment or would like to speak to someone about contactless pay as you go, please speak to our dedicated customer service team.

  • We offer customers various options to seek assistance with PAYG.

    • Non-Registered Customers:

    • Individuals who have not registered for PAYG through the TfW app should contact our customer support team by calling 03333 211 202, selecting option 2 followed by option 5.

    • This procedure is necessary as we do not possess any information regarding their journeys.

    • Upon contacting our support team, you will be guided through a secure portal where you will need to provide your card details. This will enable us to access all journeys associated with that payment method.

    •  

    • Registered Customers:

    • Customers who have registered for PAYG via the TfW app can contact our customer support team through various channels, as we maintain their journey details in our system due to the registration of their payment cards. They can utilize the online webform, call our customer support team at 03333 211 202, selecting option 2 and then option 5, or reach out through our social media platforms on X/Twitter, as well as via WhatsApp.

 

Pay as you go (PAYG) fares applicable for journeys (when you tap in and out) between pay as you go enabled stations only. Incomplete journeys are subject to higher charges. Fares and caps subject to change. PAYG journeys are not available on GWR services. Full T&Cs: tfw.wales/pay-as-you-go/terms-and-conditions.