Press release, April 30, 2026, Manchester:

Passengers travelling through Exeter Central are now benefiting from faster, more flexible station access following Great Western Railway’s (GWR) upgrade to smart gatelines. The new installation supports a wider transformation of the station layout and enables a range of contactless fare media to be used to pass through gates.

Ten new Vix smart gates have been installed at Exeter Central station, replacing legacy gates from a previous supplier, and have been in use since early March 2026. Passengers can choose to access platforms using magnetic stripe tickets as well as contactless options, such as ITSO and QR codes. The gates are capable of accepting cEMV credit and debit cards and mobile wallets if activated in the future.

This installation builds on Vix’s established relationship with GWR, which has seen a widespread deployment of platform validators across multiple stations over the past five years. The Exeter Central project represents the next step in that partnership, expanding Vix’s role into gateline infrastructure within the network, at a busy regional city centre station, which handles about 2.78 million passengers per year.

The upgrade forms part of wider station layout changes at Exeter Central and supports GWR’s objective to modernise and expand its gateline footprint. The introduction of cEMV-ready technology positions GWR to enable further contactless payment options, enhancing passenger convenience and supporting evolving ticketing strategies.

Kris Buszek, Business Development Manager at Vix, said:

“We’re proud to support Great Western Railway with this important upgrade at Exeter Central. This deployment demonstrates our ability to deliver flexible, future-ready gateline solutions and strengthens our position as a key technology partner for UK rail.”

Dhawal Sawant, Head of Retail at GWR, said:

“We’re always looking at ways to make travelling with GWR a simpler, more accessible experience and the introduction of these new smart gatelines, along with the other station improvements at Exeter Central, has undoubtedly helped to improve the customer experience.”

Looking ahead, Vix and GWR are exploring opportunities to extend gateline deployments to additional stations across the network as part of ongoing modernisation efforts.

About Vix Technology

Vix Technology is the global leader in intelligent transportation systems, automated fare collection, and transit analytics. With customers in 200 cities around the world, Vix embraces the complexities of modern public transit to create best-in-class solutions for transit agencies and operators. Vix is passionate about connecting people and communities, combining an open, collaborative mindset with cutting-edge technology to make public transport more accessible and more cost effective for all.

Vix Technology Media Contact:

chloe.chan-wright@vixtechnology.com

About Great Western Railway (GWR)

First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services and helps more than 80 million passengers reach their destination every year. GWR has been awarded a National Rail Contract to operate the Great Western network: https://www.gwr.com/about-us