Afternoon:
8°c
Smart Oyster on the cards
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard22 Oct 2008
THE Oyster card could be replaced with a new smartcard and alternative ticketing system operated through mobile phones or bankcards.
Will Judge, head of Future Ticketing at Transport for London, said a new system was wanted to replace Oyster in 2010 that was contactless, fast and convenient.
The changeover may also see a rebranding of the card to make it more accessible for those outside London. TfL told the London Assembly budget and performance committee that they would save millions by terminating the current contract with Transys.
He said TfL intended to break the new contract up into modules and let each bit individually, much like the congestion charge contract.
Reader views (8)
You are all missing the point of this. It`s ID Cards via the back door of an "improved" Oyster card.
- Stephen Curtis, London, UK, 22/10/2008 20:02
Report abuse
Michael - Oyster tickets aren't subsidised in the slightest.
Sorry Mark, I cannot believe that. The cost is so high for a one or two stop journey that TfL would be in profit is a member of staff accompanied you!
- Michael, London, 22/10/2008 17:56
Report abuse
Michael - Oyster tickets aren't subsidised in the slightest. Paper tickets are charged at punitive rates to reflect the fact that you have to make one transaction per journey (either at the ticket machine or ticket office), instead of one transaction for several journeys on Oyster (i.e. top up), or even none at all (auto top-up).
Each transaction has added staffing, equipment, and cash handling costs, so you can see how it can quickly add up if people go back to having to buy a ticket for every journey.
Not to mention Oyster tickets can be processed more quickly by ticket barriers and have a lower fail rate, which means that you can get more people through a ticket barrier, meaning that TfL don't have to install more barriers at stations.
And finally - Oyster on buses makes journeys much much faster - no longer do you have to sit and wait while a line of ten people at the bus stop all fish out their change for the fare.
I'm quite happy with punitive cash fares forcing people onto Oyster - it makes my journeys quicker and saves TfL money.
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall, 22/10/2008 13:48
Report abuse
The thing I dislike about Oyster cards are that journeys are far cheaper than if you buy the occasional ticket. It is not a season ticket so why should others subsidise them. Scrap the things!
- Michael, London, 22/10/2008 12:39
Report abuse
"People have to swipe the Oyster cards two and three times across the readers before the gates open"...unless of course you actually make a firm contact with the reader and don't try to actually pass through the gates before they open
"unlike the dependable Travelcards that work like clockwork each time every time."...except when they get stuck in the machine or, for longer duration cards, the thing gets so worn it is rendered unreadable by the machine.
I can appreciate that one might favour one over the other, but to write rubbish about it...I suppose you must have the time to dream it all up while waiting behind someone to get their piece of card out of their wallet/purse while they helpfully block the gate.
- Westfold, London, UK, 22/10/2008 11:51
Report abuse
I'd love to know where Phil Jones gets his reliable paper tickets from. I've been commuting in from Kent for five years now and have never had my annual season ticket last a whole year without the magnestic stripe failing or the ticket itself becoming illegible requiring the ticket to be replaced. Some have lasted less than a month.
I've also had an Oyster for about three years for occasional use when I need to travel about London. My first Oyster finally failed last week. I just wish I could have my season ticket on Oyster!
- Roy, England, 22/10/2008 11:49
Report abuse
"...People have to swipe the Oyster cards two and three times across the readers before the gates open, unlike the dependable Travelcards that work like clockwork each time every time..." - Phil Jones, London UK
Have you tried putting your Travel Card by your mobile phone and see it not work anymore? They are not as clockwork as you think
- Ad, London, 22/10/2008 11:03
Report abuse
Oyster has never worked properly. People have to swipe the Oyster cards two and three times across the readers before the gates open, unlike the dependable Travelcards that work like clockwork each time every time. The Underground would be "smart" to forget their smart card technology and return to the proven Travelcard technology. It would be a lot less frustrating for Underground users.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 22/10/2008 10:38
Report abuse
