Oyster pre-pay
The council ran a successful campaign during 2006 to persuade the Government and rail authorities to extend Oyster pre-pay to local rail services. A smart ticketing system will now be installed across the South West Trains franchise from January 2009. This includes services into Waterloo through Putney, Earlsfield and Clapham Junction.

Currently Oyster pre-pay can only be used on buses and tubes. Scores of local commuters backed our campaign.

 Have your say and find out what others are saying

Here's what the other local train companies have to say about their plans for introducing Oyster pre-pay.

Southern - running through Balham and into Victoria.
"We hope to be able to run a pilot and have been trying to do this for a while, but it is difficult to implement in places.

We are very keen to get it going and, if we run the pilot, it (Wandsworth) will be the first area to get it. However, we have had it almost get there and then fall in the past.

We hope to run between Balham and Victoria - that will be the first place, and then we can have a look at.

It is a terrific card, but the whole thing was brought in by TfL and we have to get something agreed with them. (The hurdles) are between them and also the equipment needed, and that is what we need to sort out."

Thameslink - running through Wimbledon Tooting, Streatham, Tulse Hill and into London Bridge.
"The whole rail industry is looking at Oyster, not just Thameslink.
The problem we have is that a lot of our stations are un-gated which means a huge investment in installing barriers and, if one *(train line) goes on pre-pay, it means fares will have to be the same, which they are not.

That is not to say we are not thinking about it and talking about it. It is something we are currently looking at."

News from the council

 Watchdog welcomes Oyster decision
 Four boroughs join Oyster campaign
 Oyster cuts tube queues cards
 Council urges action on pre-pay Oyster cards

Useful links

• For more information on how Oyster works visit www.tfl.gov.uk/oyster
• For more information on the council's campaign for better local rail services visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/stations
• Find out all about Travel and Transport in Wandsworth at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/travel