The acceptance of
Oyster Card (pay as you go) on National Rail in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
,
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
has been limited to a restricted number of
National RailNational Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
services since the introduction of the
stored-valueA stored-value card refers to monetary value on a card not in an externally recorded account and differs from prepaid cards where money is on deposit with the issuer similar to a debit card...
product on
London UndergroundThe London Underground, Underground or Tube is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and neighbouring areas of Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire in the UK. The first section opened in 1863, and was the first underground railway system in the world, and, starting in...
in January 2004. In response to an offer, from
Transport for LondonTransport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England...
, of funding to the train operating companies that have services within
Greater LondonGreater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. The administrative area was officially created in 1965 and covers the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and thirty two London boroughs...
, there are currently various plans to expand its acceptance across the rail network in London, and it was expected that by February 2009, TFL would announce plans for all suburban trains to accept the card.
The acceptance of
Oyster Card (pay as you go) on National Rail in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
,
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
has been limited to a restricted number of
National RailNational Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
services since the introduction of the
stored-valueA stored-value card refers to monetary value on a card not in an externally recorded account and differs from prepaid cards where money is on deposit with the issuer similar to a debit card...
product on
London UndergroundThe London Underground, Underground or Tube is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and neighbouring areas of Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire in the UK. The first section opened in 1863, and was the first underground railway system in the world, and, starting in...
in January 2004. In response to an offer, from
Transport for LondonTransport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England...
, of funding to the train operating companies that have services within
Greater LondonGreater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. The administrative area was officially created in 1965 and covers the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and thirty two London boroughs...
, there are currently various plans to expand its acceptance across the rail network in London, and it was expected that by February 2009, TFL would announce plans for all suburban trains to accept the card. In May 2009
London TravelWatchLondon TravelWatch, formerly the London Transport Users Committee, is the transport watchdog for Greater London. It is funded by the London Assembly and was established in July 2000....
indicated it had discovered that the works were unlikely to be completed until 2010.
Background
The
Oyster cardThe Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems including London Underground, buses, the Docklands Light Railway ,...
was initially launched in 2003 with the facility to hold season-ticket
TravelcardThe Travelcard is an inter-modal travel ticket for unlimited use on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Tramlink, London Buses and National Rail services in the Greater London area. Travelcards can be purchased for a period of time varying from one day to a year,...
s. These were accepted on both London Underground and National Rail services. In January 2004 a pay as you go product was launched for use on London Underground and DLR; but only a limited number of National Rail operators accepted the product on parts of their routes, usually because their tickets were interchangeable with
London Underground ticketingThe London Underground metro system of London, England uses a mix of paper and electronic smart-card ticketing.-Fare zones:London Underground uses Transport for London's Travelcard zones to calculate fares, including fares for use on the Underground only...
, due to long-standing agreements.
Transport for LondonTransport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England...
(TfL) and National Rail publish lists and maps of routes and stations where pay as you go is valid.
In May 2006 TfL and the
Department for TransportIn the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
agreed a £20 million funding package for train operators to install the equipment necessary to accept pay as you go at all London stations. The package was not taken up by any train operating companies and in September 2006, the
South West TrainsSouth West Trains is the trading name of a train operating company operating in the United Kingdom, providing train services to the south-west of London, chiefly in Greater London and the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight, the area...
franchise was renewed by the Department for Transport with the condition that smartcard ticketing must be in place by 2009. In November 2007 the metro routes operated by
SilverlinkSilverlink Train Services Ltd was a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operated routes in North London and from London to Northampton...
were brought under the control of TfL and operated under the brand name
London OvergroundLondon Overground is a commuter rail service in London, UK, the brand applied by Transport for London to the services on four railway lines: the Watford DC Line, the North London Line, the West London Line and the Gospel Oak to Barking Line.The name has been used since 2007, when TfL took over...
. From the first day of operation, Oyster card pay as you go became valid on all Overground routes.
A necessary precursor of the acceptance of Oyster card (pay as you go) on rail services was the introduction of zonal single fares on the National Rail network in London; this was implemented in January 2007. Also in January, the
Mayor of LondonThe Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London . Since 4 May 2008, Conservative Boris Johnson holds the position...
announced that he required operators to sign up by 31 January 2007 in order to receive the funding package offer.
c2cc2c is a National Express Group train operating company that provides train services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line from Fenchurch Street station in the City of London to East London along the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway area including Basildon, Chafford Hundred ,...
and
Chiltern RailwaysChiltern Railways is a train operating company in England. It was formed by the privatisation of British Rail in 1996, and operates mainline passenger trains from Marylebone station in London to Aylesbury and Birmingham Snow Hill...
accepted the deal and on 31 January 2007, a commitment was made by
ATOCThe Association of Train Operating Companies is a body which represents 26 train operating companies that provide passenger railway services on the privatised British railway system. It owns the National Rail brand. The Association is an unincorporated association owned by its members...
, in principle, that all other operators would eventually accept the pay as you go product. According to ATOC, roll-out plans are subject to the installation of suitable ticket gates and back office equipment at all 330 stations. A 2009 date was set out for this to be finished by.
Current acceptance and future schedule
The acceptance of Oyster Card (pay as you go) on National Rail is in the progress of being implemented across the rest of the London Travelcard Area (being Zones 1-9).
In October 2007, it was agreed by all
National Rail OperatorsThe Association of Train Operating Companies is a body which represents 26 train operating companies that provide passenger railway services on the privatised British railway system. It owns the National Rail brand. The Association is an unincorporated association owned by its members...
who operate services in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
to implement the scheme by 2009 at the latest, as a result of both pressure from passengers and TfL. They are due to sign a contract with
TfLTFL may refer to:* Tasmanian Football League, an Australian rules football competition* Tensor fasciae latae, a thigh/hip muscle* Transport for London, a public transport organisation in the London area of the UK* The Flaming Lips, an American rock band....
worth £20 million to allow their use in
National RailNational Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
stations in Greater London. This scheme however will not necessarily mean cheaper fares. As a result of this implementation, ticket barriers with readers will be installed at some
National RailNational Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
stations to prevent fare evasion, for example, London Waterloo from 2008.
When ITSO smartcards are introduced to the National Rail network, it will be possible to load one "stored journey right", or e-ticket (for National Rail travel outside Greater London) on to the card at ticket offices or self-service machines. There is not enough space on the card for more information to be stored. Travellers starting their journeys outside London will be able to use Oystercards in certain cases, if they are regarded as "trusted customers". The gates or validators will calculate the applicable fare on arrival in London.
It is likely that credit held on ITSO smartcards will be usable for PAYG journeys, but there may be limitations on fare capping, and combining season tickets and PAYG usage.
As of
August 2009August 2009 was the 8th month of the current year. It began on a Saturday and concluded after 31 days on a Monday.- Portal:Current events :This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from August 2009....
, the current arrangement and planned implementation schedule is as follows:
| Operator |
2004 implementation |
Expansion implemented |
Expansion planned |
c2cc2c is a National Express Group train operating company that provides train services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line from Fenchurch Street station in the City of London to East London along the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway area including Basildon, Chafford Hundred ,...
§ |
Fenchurch Street to Upminster
Liverpool Street to Barking via Stratford (not at Forest Gate or Maryland) |
Jan 2008: Barking to Rainham
|
|
Chiltern RailwaysChiltern Railways is a train operating company in England. It was formed by the privatisation of British Rail in 1996, and operates mainline passenger trains from Marylebone station in London to Aylesbury and Birmingham Snow Hill...
§ |
Marylebone to Amersham
Marylebone to West Ruislip (South Ruislip only intermediately) |
Jan 2008: intermediate stations
April 2008: London Paddington to South Ruislip |
TBC: to High Wycombe and Aylesbury. |
First Capital ConnectFirst Capital Connect is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006...
|
Kentish Town to London Bridge, Elephant & Castle or Moorgate
Finsbury Park to Moorgate or King's Cross |
2007: Kentish Town to West Hampstead Thameslink
|
Jan 2010: remaining stations |
First Great WesternFirst Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup, which operates services in the west and south west of England and South Wales....
§ |
|
Jan 2008: Ealing Broadway to Greenford (not at intermediate stations)
April 2008: London Paddington to Ealing Broadway (not at Acton Main Line)
Sept 2008: remaining stations |
TBC: Heathrow ConnectHeathrow Connect is a train service in London provided jointly by Heathrow Express and First Great Western, connecting Heathrow Airport with Paddington station. The service follows the same route as the Heathrow Express service but serves intermediate stations en route, thus connecting several...
services between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow |
London MidlandLondon Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands Franchise since 11 November 2007....
§ |
Euston to Harrow & Wealdstone |
2007: Watford Junction to Harrow & Wealdstone |
London OvergroundLondon Overground is a commuter rail service in London, UK, the brand applied by Transport for London to the services on four railway lines: the Watford DC Line, the North London Line, the West London Line and the Gospel Oak to Barking Line.The name has been used since 2007, when TfL took over...
§ |
Euston to Harrow & Wealdstone
(not at Kilburn High Road or South Hampstead)
Gunnersbury to Richmond
Stratford to Canning Town (closed 2006) |
2007: remaining stations |
June 2010 (when ELLThe East London line was a line of the London Underground, coloured orange on the Tube map. It ran north to south through the East End and Docklands areas of London, entirely in Travelcard Zone 2...
opens): Dalston Junction to West Croydon, New Cross and Crystal Palace |
| National Express East Anglia |
Liverpool Street to Walthamstow Central, Seven Sisters and Tottenham Hale (not at intermediate stations)
Liverpool Street to Stratford |
2006: Stratford to Tottenham Hale and Seven Sisters
Jan 2008: intermediate stations |
Jan 2010: remaining routes |
SoutheasternSoutheastern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It began operations in south-east England on 1 April 2006 as franchisee for the Integrated Kent Franchise , replacing the prior publicly-owned operator South Eastern Trains on the former South East Franchise...
|
Elephant & Castle to City Thameslink |
|
Jan 2010: remaining stations |
SouthernSouthern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
|
|
2007: Clapham Junction to Watford Junction |
September 2009: London Victoria to Balham
Jan 2010: remaining routes † |
South West TrainsSouth West Trains is the trading name of a train operating company operating in the United Kingdom, providing train services to the south-west of London, chiefly in Greater London and the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, Wiltshire and the Isle of Wight, the area...
|
|
|
Jan 2010: all stations |
§ Train Operating Company with full acceptance within the London Travelcard area
† Southern has agreed to the idea of accepting the Oyster card (pay as you go) product on the remainder of its network in principle and although no firm roll-out plans have been provided, TfL have announced that installation of the equipment can begin "immediately".