Release date: 23/11/2009

By: Eyvind Ryans
Telephone 020 8871 6031 or email eryans@wandsworth.gov.uk

Oyster pre-pay breakthrough

 The council has welcomed today's (Monday) news that Oyster pay-as-you-go will be accepted on London’s entire overland rail network from 2 January 2010.

Wandsworth Council has been campaigning for pre-pay to be rolled out across the capital’s rail services since 2006.

This morning Mayor of London Boris Johnson announced the breakthrough from Balham Station which recently began accepting pay-as-you-go on services to Victoria.

A consistent London-wide payment system will mean an end to confusion over fares and reduced queues at station ticket offices.

Executive member for planning and transportation Guy Senior said:

"This is fantastic news for commuters and signals the successful conclusion to our long running campaign.

“The breakthrough is particularly important in Wandsworth where a lack of tube services means commuters are heavily dependent on overland lines.

“Passengers will no longer have to deal with frustrating inconsistencies between payment systems or queue up for tickets in overcrowded stations."

Transport for London has invested £40million in Oyster card infrastructure across the rail network in preparation for the London-wide roll out.

Currently, Oyster pay-as-you-go is accepted on the Tube, buses, trams, the Docklands Light Railway and some overland rail services.


Ends

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Your comments

The most recent comments made about this article.

this is great news - well done Boris.

isn't it about time the over 60's started to pay a bit for their travel, why should they always travel for free on the council taxpayer in these difficult times? I wonder how many would not bother to apply for their "free" travel if they had to pay, say £15 a year. worth a trial perhaps

Simon, Balham
simon - Balham

Great news!
Hilary - Balham

Not sure how this works? Do I buy this at a newsagent or railway station?

I've always wondered why the London boroughs don't offer an annual discounted oyster card to over 60 year olds who are living outside london. I would pay a flat annual fee for an oyster card that let me have free travel within London. This would complement my free local bus pass and my national rail card.
It would bring money into London because I would travel up more and aleviate the queues of older people at tube stations.
Penelope Young - UK

Excellent news, and about time too!
HS - London