Rail passengers will be able to use pay as you go with contactless ticket barriers at 21 more stations served by Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern from December 14.
Tap in: the government says that the new contactless payment system being rolled out at 50 stations next month will allow for fairer fares
The stations getting the updated payment system include Ashtead, Box Hill and Westhumble, Dorking, Dormans, East Grinstead, Hurst Green, Leatherhead, Lingfield, Oxted, Reigate and Woldingham on Southern routes, and Harlington, Leagrave and Luton on Thameslink.
The change is being made as part of the Department for Transport’s plan to simplify rail fares and make it more convenient for people to travel by train. The rollout is taking place at a total of 50 stations in the south-east, including Stansted Airport.
Rail minister Peter Hendy said: “Rail ticketing is far too complicated and long overdue an upgrade to bring it into the 21st century. Through the expansion of tap in tap out technology, we’re doing just that and making buying tickets more convenient, more accessible and more flexible – and ensuring passengers can get the best fares.
Modernised ticketing: Woldingham is one of the 50 stations getting the new equipment
“As part of our Plan for Change, we’re delivering straightforward, stress-free train travel across the south-east, supporting passengers and boosting economic growth, jobs and homes.”
To prepare for the extension of pay as you go with contactless, a TfL-style fare structure will be introduced at these stations for journeys to other stations in the contactless and Oyster area, the week before, on December 7.
Key changes required for the DfT drive for simpler pay as you go with contactless ticketing include:
- Single journeys priced at half of a return journey
- Journeys charged only at either peak (anytime) or off-peak rates, with existing off-peak fares reduced to reflect the removal of super off-peak tickets. Advance tickets will also remain available – providing extra value for money for those booking in advance
- Off-peak fares made available for single journeys where only anytime fares were available previously
- New weekday peak times of 6.30am to 9:30am and 4pm to 7pm in the main direction of peak time travel, to match the TfL system. This provides new off-peak early morning travel for those using contactless with pay as you go, but introduces an evening peak restriction on trains heading away from London.
Th changes mean that passengers travelling to every London airport will benefit from simpler train journeys, with the expansion of contactless ticketing to Stansted and Southend Airports.
The technology rollout has been made possible by £18.7million in government funding, as well as support from Transport for London.
The changes mean that from December 14, when travelling to or from the up-graded stations:
- All you need to travel is your contactless card, smartphone or smart watch
- No need to queue for a ticket, buy a ticket or top up before you travel
- Seamlessly switch between trains, Tube, London buses and trams that accept pay as you go with contactless
- Pay only for the journeys you make
- Benefit from daily and Monday to Sunday caps into and within London
- You’ll be charged the best full adult fare at the time on the day
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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