Smart tickets | e-Ticketing & Smartcards

Go paperless with mobile e-Tickets and touch smartcard

Now’s the time to switch to smart ticketing

There’s nothing smart about paper tickets. Smart ticketing is the smarter and safer way to travel. When you use a GWR Touch Smartcard or buy e-tickets on our mobile app, you can avoid the queues and reduce contact with others. Help keep everyone safe by switching to smart ticketing today.

Some of the key benefits of smart ticketing that will help keep you safe when you travel by train:

contactless: With no need for paper tickets, you can avoid unnecessary contact
avoid the queue: Buy your tickets online before you leave the house and avoid any queues at the station
durable: Our touch smartcards are long-lasting and easy to clean (compared to paper tickets)

What is smart ticketing?

Smart ticketing is the easy way to buy your train tickets. There’s no paper to worry about, so you can skip any queues at the station.

Don’t wait any longer, travel smart and switch now to e-Tickets or our touch smartcard.

What is a mobile e-Ticket?

They are the train tickets you book via our app. Mobile e-Tickets are available on single and return fares. They contain a QR code that you can scan at ticket gates or show it whenever you are asked for your ticket.

Simply download or update the GWR app now and be more mobile.

What is a smartcard?

A smartcard is the same size as a credit card and acts like a wallet. It can store all your season tickets, London Travelcard, and single and return tickets (on selected routes).

Just tap in at the ticket gate or platform validator at the start of your journey and tap out when you arrive at your destination.

Find out more about touch smartcards

Contactless Payments

Travel between London Paddington and Reading with Contactless pay-as-you-go now available on both GWR and TfL Rail services.

Find out more about contactless payments

What is best for me?

Mobile e-Ticket	Touch Smartcard
Buy through our app or at GWR.com	Buy through our app or at GWR.com, or one of our ticket machines or offices
Single and return journeys only	Season tickets, London Travelcard and single and return journeys** (on selected routes)
Tickets can be bought up to five minutes before departure	Buy at gwr.com at least two hours before you travel. If you buy at a station, your ticket will be ready straight away. If you have an Android phone that can make contactless payments, you can now buy your weekly season tickets through the GWR app, and they’ll be ready straight away
Accepted in all UK national rail stations	Accepted in all UK national rail stations

**Single and return journeys can only be bought at GWR ticket offices.