Shares of Leeds-based transport technology provider Tracsis plc rose as much as 20% after it announced it signed a multi-year contract with Rail Settlement Plan, a division of Rail Delivery Group (RDG), to implement the core Tap Converter system.
Tracsis said the system will powerpay-as-you-go (PAYG) travel in urban areas across National Rail, processing all related transactions and fare calculations.
The Leeds company said: “The Tap Converter system will be a centralised smart ticketing technology platform that processes ‘tap’ data from various sources such as smartcards, contactless bankcards and mobile apps/barcodes when passengers tap in and out at stations.
“It will also integrate with multiple modes of transport, supporting the delivery of London style PAYG ticketing for rail, bus and tram travel.
“Tracsis will utilise its existing technology to construct journeys from these taps calculating the best fare while automatically applying entitlements, concessions, discounts and fare caps. Once calculated, the system provides this fare information to the TOC to charge the passenger and submits settlement records to the rail industry’s settlement engine.
“Tracsis is currently the only provider of an accredited PAYG ticketing platform on the National Rail network outside London, and this contract significantly extends the potential reach of Tracsis’ technology. With the government and industry-wide push towards smarter, more flexible digital ticketing, PAYG adoption is expected to expand across the network, though the pace will vary by operator and region.”
Once the Tap Converter system is operational, Tracsis revenues will be based on the volume of transactions processed and this will be driven by future customer adoption rates and system usage.
The company added: “A total of 1.7 billion rail passenger journeys were recorded across Great Britain in the 12 months to September 2024.
“Tracsis estimates that PAYG transaction volumes using the Tap Converter system could in the medium term equate to 10-15% of total annual passenger journeys with commuters expected to drive the highest adoption rates.
“In 2024, Tracsis processed 2.25 million PAYG journeys. With the recent go-live of new PAYG deployments in Wales (contactless EMV) and Scotland (Tap&Pay) we expect to see accelerated growth in passenger journeys over the coming months ahead of the deployment of the Tap Converter system.
“Transaction revenues from the Tap Converter system will start to accrue following deployment which is forecast to start in 2026. There is no change to the Board’s expectation for the year ending 31 July 2025 following this contract win and Tracsis will issue its trading update on H1 performance on 26 February 2025.”
Tracsis CEO Chris Barnes said: “We are delighted to be working with the Rail Delivery Group and Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) to deliver this important pay-as-you-go ticketing solution on a nationwide basis.
“The contract represents a major milestone in our smart ticketing technology journey, with the potential to grow into a valuable, long-term partnership over time.
“Digital transformation remains integral to the rail industry’s future. The Government has made a commitment to expand pay-as-you-go ticketing across urban areas on the National Rail network and the Tap Converter system will position Tracsis as an important technology provider at the heart of this transformation.”
Stewart Fox-Mills, Fares, Ticketing and Retail Programme Director at GBRTT and RDG, said: “We are working with industry partners to simplify the railway fares and ticketing system, making travel more convenient and flexible for all passengers. We are committed to developing a simpler fare system that enhances the overall customer experience and supports the long-term growth of rail travel.
“The delivery of pay-as-you-go ticketing in urban areas is a high priority and we look forward to working with Tracsis on delivering the Tap Converter system that will provide the technical foundation for pay-as-you-go ticketing in urban areas.”