A DRIVE to get people to access digital travel services rather than using paper documents is set to be trialled in the New Year.

St Helens will be the first area in the Liverpool City Region to ask people to find information through online tools in a six-pilot scheme rather than using paper leaflets such as bus timetables and maps.

The trial, which starts on January 15, will see the paper documents removed from St Helen’s Merseytravel Centre and 16 other outlets such as health centres and libraries.

If the scheme is rolled out across the Liverpool City Region it is expected to contribute towards savings of £140,000 a year.

Cllr Liam Robinson, the chair of The Combined Authority Transport Committee, which oversees the work of Merseytravel, said: “As digital journey planning tools become more popular with customers in the Liverpool City Region and with the financial challenges Merseytravel faces, it is important that information distribution channels are reviewed and cost efficiently strategies deployed.

"Removing paper leaflets from key distribution outlets will enable Merseytravel to understand the impact in a controlled manner and evaluate the success of the pilot based on customer feedback, before any decision is rolled out across the rest of Merseyside."

There are plans for a number of roadshows to take place across St Helens which will be run by digital champions to help customers to use customers how to use online services including a newly developed route-finding ticketing tool on the Merseytravel website.

People who cannot use the digital services or need more support to plan journeys will be able to ask for personalised journey plans including paper timetables at St Helens Merseytravel Centre, which will also show better travel information.

Information about the trial, including details about the digital roadshows, will be available at merseytravel.gov.uk in the New Year.