Contactless pay as you go services are coming to five train stations across the Windsor and Maidenhead borough.

From September 22, those travelling by train will be able to use their card or contactless payment device to 'tap on and tap off' without buying a ticket.

This is being introduced in Virginia Water, Windsor and Eton Riverside, Wraysbury, Sunnymeads and Datchet, which have South Western Railway services.

It is aimed to make journeys between stations easier for passengers, who may be in a rush to catch a train and unable to buy a ticket.

Contactless will be available to travel between these stations as well as on other national rail services and within the London Underground.

This comes as nearby Slough and Reading stations are connected to London via the Elizabeth Line, which takes passengers directly into London.

Plans were delayed after the former Conservative government announced the expansion of contactless services would be delivered by December 2023.

At the time, the government said that passengers would ‘benefit from simpler, more flexible and better value train travel’.

However those travelling with a railcard, which applies a reduction to ticket prices, will not have a discount applied if tapping on and off.

It comes as some direct services at peak times between Slough and Paddington were cut last year.

Jack Rankin, MP for Windsor, recently raised this issue in a meeting with Great Western Railway.

The train provider plans to hold community engagement sessions in Windsor and other constituencies where those directly affected can speak to members of the company.