It was smiles all round, as Mrs Lisa Pick bought the last ticket issued by an Aptis machine on the Northern network.

Northern has invested over £5 million to replace the Aptis ticket office and Sportis on train machines, which have been issuing tickets across the rail network for over 20 years.

The £5 million investment programme began rolling out 216 new ticket issuing machines, known as FasTIS, in May to the 152 Northern ticket offices across the north of England. The programme also involved the replacement of the on train ticket issuing machines with 476 new Avantix machines.

The final ticket from the old machines on the Northern network was issued at Congleton ticket office and was bought by Mrs Lisa Pick as she travelled with her children to visit their grandmother. Northern's Station Managers Alex Walker and Alison Chew presented her with a bottle of champagne and chocolates to mark the occasion.

Jamie Ross, Area Director, Northern said: "Our new ticket machines provide a wide range of benefits to customers. Holding a much wider range of fares, over 4 million, than their predecessors they can also provide printed train journey and fare information for customers. Previously staff would have to consult fares manuals for a large number of tickets lengthening the time of transactions. The new machines are also Chip and Pin compliant."