MORE than a dozen rail station car parks have rolled out automatic number plate recognition technology for customers.

Greater Anglia and NCP have installed automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology across 20 rail station car parks, in a bid to give customers greater control over how they pay for their parking.

It means customers can pay for their parking online anytime up until midnight the day after their visit on the Greater Anglia Parking Portal.

The stations with the new technology include Manningtree, Colchester, Marks Tey, Kelvedon and Witham in the north Essex area.

Blue badge holders will continue to park for free, provided they register with NCP either online or by phone up within 24 hours of leaving the car park.

The programme will also see all on-site payment kiosks replaced, enabling payment by cash, card, Google wallet and Apple Pay.

Mark Kraft, NCP’s contract manager, said: “NCP has enjoyed a successful partnership with Greater Anglia for 12 years now as we collectively strive to deliver a leading product and service within the industry.

“We understand that for the majority of customers using these sites, parking is just a small part of their journey and we want to make this a seamless an experience as possible.

“This is why we are significantly expanding the methods of payments, giving customers the ability to pay for their parking in a way and at a time that is most convenient for them.”

The other stations newly fitted with ANPR technology include Audley End, Billericay, Bishop’s Stortford, Broxbourne, Cambridge, Cheshunt, Diss, Harlow Town, Hatfield Peverel, Ingatestone, Ipswich, Rayleigh, Shenfield, Wickford and Whittlesford.

Simone Bailey, Greater Anglia asset management director, said: “We know customers who drive to stations want to be able to park as quickly and easily as possible, which is why we’re committed to improving parking across the Greater Anglia network, making life a little easier for our customers.”

Car park users can still also pay online, using Dash or text, by phone, or at the pay machines.