Multiple railway stations in the county will soon have tap-in tap-out ticketing as part of a £20million roll-out.

Branded a “simpler, more flexible” way of travelling, the technology – which will serve as an alternative to buying a traditional ticket - will be introduced to 53 stations across the south east, including six in Kent.

They are all in the Sevenoaks area, including Otford, Bat & Ball, Eysnford, Dunton Green, Shoreham and Sevenoaks itself.

A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesman said: “Customers will no longer have to worry about planning ahead to get the best prices or fumbling on their phones and wallets to find the right ticket - instead they can use their bank card or smart device to just tap in on the reader knowing they will automatically be guaranteed the best price available on the day of travelling.”

Rail Minister Huw Merriman said: “One of the best ways to get more people using our railways is to make journeys as simple, flexible and convenient as possible and the Government’s programme for rail reform prioritises exactly that.

“By removing the stress of finding the best deal in advance or having the right ticket ready to go at the barriers, the extension of tap-in tap-out ticketing is the next step of our plan for rail reform and we’re working towards Pay As You Go being rolled out beyond the south east through the Midlands and up to the North.”

Rail Delivery Group chief executive Jacqueline Starr added: “We have long called for fares to be made easier and more flexible for our customers – our extensive fare consultation in collaboration with the independent passenger watchdog Transport Focus in 2019 overwhelmingly demonstrated the need for modernising rail fares.

“The introduction of contactless, Pay As You Go payments is a significant step in the right direction. It eliminates the need to queue at ticket machines or pre-book paper tickets.

“We believe that embracing this technology will enhance the overall passenger experience and contribute to a more seamless journey on our network.”

The new ticketing system – which is already widely used in London - will be available at stations by the end of December, with individual openings dependent on the amount of existing technology.