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Oyster cards for ALL trains
Last updated at 11:21am on 31.01.07
Rail companies serving London have caved in to commuter demand and agreed to install Oyster pay-as-you-go.
The move will mean cheaper fares for passengers travelling into and around London by rail, Tube, bus and the Docklands Light Railway.
In a major U-turn, the firms will accept Mayor Ken Livingstone's offer of £20 million - and spend millions more of their own money - to install the system.
Chairman of London Travel-Watch Brian Cooke said: "At last the rail operators have seen sense and recognised that Oyster PAYG is the smart way to go into the 21st century."
Gerry Doherty, general secretary of TSSA, the rail industry's second largest union, said: "This is good news for passengers. Oyster PAYG will mean easier and, in many instances, a cheaper way to travel. It will also simplify the complex ticket system."
Mr Livingstone had given the 10 rail companies serving London until today to decide whether to accept his offer to help install the complex card-reading system. They will work with Transport for London to have it in operation by January 2009.
Many of the rail operators, which make tens of millions of pounds profit a year, had been stalling over the system. A senior rail source said: "The companies have now realised they were on to a hiding for nothing by continuing to oppose Oyster and have decided to bite the bullet."
Their opposition was condemned by Mr Livingstone earlier this month, who said the lack of availability of PAYG meant Londoners were missing out on cheaper fares and easier journeys. The Association of Train Operating Companies, which represents the rail companies, said all London operators would be responding positively to the proposal.
The rail companies lose tens of millions of pounds a year to fare evaders and fear this could rise under PAYG. Ideally, a PAYG ticket requires a gated station system like the Tube. But costs would prove prohibitive across all stations. While 70 of the largest stations in London have automatic ticket gates, 260 do not. Where they were not available, standalone Oyster "touch-in, touchout" validators could be used.
Charles Horton, managing director for Southeastern, which serves the busiest commuter routes in Britain from Kent and south-east London, said: "The introduction of PAYG on London's rail network will provide passengers with a simpler, faster and more attractive ticketing system."
He said he could "see no reason" why it could not be installed by January 2009.
Chris Burchell, managing director for Southern - serving routes from the Sussex coast - said he did not believe the remaining issues with the system would prevent them introducing it. Oyster PAYG can already be used on some mainline services to the east and north of the capital.
* Thousands of London Underground workers started voting today on whether to take strike action in a row over pay. About 6,500 members of the RMT are being balloted.
Reader views (9)
It's now June 2009 and we still can't use pay-as-you-go Oystercards on the railways in London, despite the promise we would be able to by March 2009. Boris is a very amusing character but a useless Mayor of London. He should give the rail companies a deadline to accept Oyster PAYG in the next few months and a specific threat of serious consequences (of the nasty financial kind) if they don't do it.
- Julia, Palmers Green
When is the oyster card use going to be installled in Chingford station ? The article states all london areas will be made oyster card usable by January 2009. Its now March and i've seen no such thing. I am a student and in September will need to use the trains from chingford everyday to commute to college... i do not see why i should have to pay an extra £4 daily just to cover two stops (from chingford to walthamstow) does any one have any ideas when the next apparent date is that these oyster machines will be installed?
- Dominique, london
Cheer up, Jane Waterman.
Oystercards will be on the North London Railway from 11 November 2007, when the new franchise begins, if not from September.
"One Railway" will accept them between Liverpool Street, Victoria Line interchanges and onwards to Chingford from Spring 2008. That will include every station in Hackney. Compare that with Southwark or Lewisham!
I'd like it to be earlier, but only "One" of the Train Operating Companies put a news item about Oystercards on its website today, so I believe it will happen.
- Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, LONDON. UK
Oyster card is the best invention and a convenience way of travelling.
- Atie, London
I live at the end of a branch line and can not use an Oyster Card. But I can get on a bus outside the station and use one. Once this has been roled out it will surely be better for everyone.
For once Ken has done something good!
- Mike, Croydon
I have had to replace my oyster card 3 times within a year at great inconvenience due to it simply ceasing to work. That aside, I do think they are a fantastic development and would welcome their wider use.
- Bert, London
The Oyster technology simply does not work consistently. Just stand at any Underground station and see how many people have to put their Oyster card down two, three or more times on the scanner before they get through the gate. On the Underground, magnetic strip travel cards are still the superior and more reliable technology.
- Phil Jones, London UK
I live in Hackney - hardly the outer reaches of Mongolia - and yet I cannot use Oyster at either of my local train stations, Hackney Central or Hackney Downs. If I will be using those stations, I must buy a paper travelcard, which costs much more, or an Oyster travelcard plus buy an additional ticket on top for my short journey - within the central London area - by train. For me it makes no sense to buy an Oyster card.
- Jane Waterman, London
Only the worst kind of idiot cannot accept that Oyster Cards are the best thing to happen to the travelling public since Stephenson started experimenting with steam and wheels! Why it took them this long to accept them is beyond me.
- David, England
