Rail commuters could benefit from cheaper and simpler journeys as a smart ticketing system looks set to be rolled out to parts of Kent.

It comes after Transport for London (TfL) and the government announced that 181 stations across the wider South East rail network should be connected with “Tap and Go” by March 2025 – but it has not yet been disclosed which ones will reap the rewards.

Passengers will be able to use bank cards or smartphones to pay for their journey rather than having to buy paper tickets or electronic tickets in advance.

The Department for Transport (DfT), Southeastern and TfL were asked what Kent stations are set to benefit from the scheme but all denied requests to share further information.

A spokesman for the government body told KentOnline: “The work to expand pay as you go with contactless is continuing on this and further details will be made available in due course.”

It is understood that the DfT is due to confirm the names of the first 52 stations later this year with work to upgrade the ticket barriers under the “Project Oval” initiative already underway.

DfT said the roll-out of pay-as-you-go would “improve thousands of daily commutes” and ensure passengers were charged “the best price on the day”.

In February, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the new system should be “hassle free” and assure customers they are getting the best value for money.

He said: “To raise revenue, we must instil a customer-first culture. That means reliable services, comfortable journeys and accessible stations.

”But it also means tackling the issue which tops passenger lists of biggest concerns, which is fares and ticketing.

“With 55 million fares available, how can anyone feel confident they’re getting the best value for money? Ticketing should be hassle free. Something you barely have to think about.”

Passengers in Medway could be among those able to use pay-as-you-go when travelling to and from the capital – meaning they will automatically benefit from daily and weekly fares capping.

Last June, commuters at Rochester station said they were regularly missing trains and faced long queues due to insufficient facilities.

Rail users have slammed the lack of ticket machines and ticketless options at one of Kent’s newest stations, which opened in 2015 following a substantial refit in a £26 million project and was labelled a "railway renaissance".

Medway Council leader Vince Maple (Lab) has welcomed the proposal, saying it “looks positive on the face of it”.

“It will bring us in line with other parts of the country which have this modern-style technology to make ticketing more straightforward,” he said.

“However, we need more detail. We need to understand how reduced fares would work, how the existing services will be retained, but this will be helpful for people coming to do business here, coming to enjoy our leisure and culture, and those coming to visit friends and family.

“We need to understand how the technology and discounts like that will work, but on the face of it, this is a positive step for Medway.”

TfL has been given £68.7 million by the government to fund the extension of the ticket-free network, with more than 230 stations set for an upgrade in total.