The convenient way to carry train tickets
The EMR Smartcard makes travel quicker and easier by keeping all your train tickets securely in once place. You’ll no longer need to queue to collect tickets – just tap your Smartcard onto the reader at our ticket machines, platform validators or ticket gates. An EMR rail smart card makes travelling by train even easier – simply buy, load and tap to travel.
How Smartcards Work
Using a rail smartcard is easy. Smartcards work alongside all digital train tickets so that you can load a rail ticket onto a smartcard, store it in your wallet or purse, then simply tap to travel.
Using a railway smartcard is easy. Here is how it works:
- Buy your Season, Anytime or Off-Peak ticket online or through the EMR app.
- Then select Smartcard in the ‘How to get your ticket’ section at the checkout.
- After two hours, you’ll be able to load your tickets onto your Smartcard by tapping it on a card reader at your chosen collection station.
- Alternatively use the EMR App on your smart phone to download your ticket in as little as 5 minutes.
- If you’re at the station, you can also buy tickets from the ticket office or ticket machines and load them straight onto your Smartcard.
Simply upload, tap and travel!
Why Get a Train Smartcard?
They’re tough
Smartcard train tickets are made of durable plastic, so won’t quickly wear away in your wallet or purse.
They’re easy to use
Travelling through a station with automatic ticket gates? Touch your Smartcard on the reader, and you’re good to go.
They’re flexible
When your schedule changes, your Smartcard can change with it. Just load it with your ticket of choice.
They're compact
Multiple rail tickets can be stored on your Smartcard, reducing the space needed within your purse or wallet.
They’re quick
Avoid the queues and buy tickets for your Smartcard online or from our app before you travel.
They’re secure
Never lose a ticket again with a Smartcard! You can replace your lost or stolen EMR smartcard and we'll replace it with all outstanding train tickets that were on it.
They’re manageable
Log in to your online account or use the EMR App to view, upload, or edit your Smartcard details.
Manage your Smartcard
Log into your online account to update your contact details, change your password, check your order history and more.
Don’t worry if you lose your Smartcard – we’ll protect your stored tickets and get you a new card as soon as possible. Get in touch to let us know on 03457 125 678.
Order a Smartcard
Order your Smartcard online. It’ll arrive in the post within five working days.
You can buy tickets and load them onto the card as soon as you have it. You’ll still need a photocard for Season tickets - just take a passport size photograph of yourself to any staffed station to get a photocard.
Existing Smartcard holders
If you have an East Midland Trains Smartcard you'll need to register to use it with EMR. If you have an EMR smartcard issued at one of our stations you will need to register for an account to use it on the app or website.
Log into your online account , and go to My Account >> Manage Smartcards.
Train Smartcard FAQs
A railway smartcard is a credit card sized plastic card which can be used to store season, anytime and off-peak tickets. These cards are much more hard wearing than paper tickets and are friendly to the environment. Simply load any of your rail tickets onto the card and use this each time you travel.
Order your Smartcard online and it will arrive in the post within five working days.
Once you have it, you can buy train tickets on our website and load them onto the card immediately. Alternatively, you can purchase tickets via our app, at the station from the ticket office or from a ticket machine. Load your train ticket to the card, tap and travel.
Please note: You will still need a photocard for Season tickets. Simply take a passport size photograph of yourself to any staffed station to obtain a photocard.
Once you have purchased your ticket and chosen smartcard as the delivery option you will need to download the ticket onto the card. Downloading the ticket can been done in several different ways. When you have loaded your ticket, you are ready to travel using your train smartcard to tap through the gates and show the on-train team.
Once you have ordered your free smartcard via EMR, you will be able to load train tickets to your card, making train travel as easy as a tap of the card! There are various ways to load a ticket to your EMR smartcard:
- Buy a digital smart train ticket online and load it directly to your smartcard at checkout.
- Buy a train ticket via the EMR app and load it directly to your smartcard.
- Purchase a train ticket at a station ticket machine and you will be prompted to tap and load it directly to your smart card.
- Purchase a ticket at the booking office and it will be loaded directly onto your card for you.
A smartcard ticket can be downloaded using the EMR train app or at the station of your choice, using a platform validator, gateline, ticket machine or booking office.
A railway smartcard can hold up to 5 tickets, once a ticket has expired you will be able to add another ticket onto the card.
The best way to check your smartcard on the move is by downloading the EMR app. This will show you which tickets are loaded onto the card and the expiry dates of these.
No, railway smartcards are re-usable. When a ticket expires, simply go online or use the EMR app to purchase a new ticket. You then need to load this new ticket onto your smartcard as you did before.
Expired tickets will automatically be deleted so there is no danger of the card filling up unnecessarily.
Each individual would have to have their own train smartcard to travel. These can’t be shared between multiple passengers.
If you lose your smartcard, you can order a replacement through your smartcard account or contact our customer relations team on 03457 125 678.
No, railway smartcards are free to order and load your ticket on to.
Yes, changes to your journey or a refund request can be submitted through your EMR account.
Yes, you are entitled to Delay Repay for smartcard tickets for journeys delayed over 15 minutes. Make a “delay repay claim” and add the 18-digit number from the back of your smartcard. We will be able to validate your tickets.
Yes, you can use your railcard as you would with the equivalent paper ticket.
Yes, if they’re available you’ll be offered the chance to reserve a seat when you buy your ticket. These will be shown on your confirmation email.
Yes, you will receive an email confirmation with the details of your ticket.
Yes, you can purchase tickets at the station and have them loaded straight onto your train smartcard. This can be done at the booking office or the ticket vending machine.
Family rail smartcards are not available, but every member of your family can have their own smartcard from the age of 5. This means that each family member will need to have their individual smartcard for travel, and it's a convenient way to manage the travel needs of the entire family.
Simply log into your online account to update your contact details, change your password, check your order history and more. Managing your EMR smartcard online is easy.
Smartcards have so many benefits and are free to use. Not only are they quick and easy to tap and travel with, they are durable, securely keep your train tickets in one safe place, are replaceable (without losing your tickets) and are manageable via our app too.