Oyster card (pay as you go) on National Rail

The acceptance of Oyster Card (pay as you go) on National Rail in London, England had been limited to a restricted number of National Rail services^[1] since the introduction of the stored-value product on London Underground in January 2004.^[2] In response to an offer, from Transport for London, of funding to the train operating companies that have services within Greater London, plans were made to expand its acceptance across the rail network in London,^[3] and it was expected that by February 2009, TFL would announce plans for all suburban trains to accept the card.^[4] In May 2009 London TravelWatch indicated it had discovered that the works were unlikely to be completed until 2010.^[5] On 23 November 2009 the GLA announced that from 2 January 2010 the vast majority of rail services in Greater London would accept oyster pay as you go.^[6]

Background

The Oyster card was initially launched in 2003 with the facility to hold season-ticket Travelcards. These were accepted on both London Underground and National Rail services. In January 2004 a pay as you go product was launched for use on London Underground and DLR; but only a limited number of National Rail operators accepted the product on parts of their routes, usually because their tickets were interchangeable with London Underground ticketing, due to long-standing agreements. Transport for London (TfL) and National Rail publish lists and maps of routes and stations where pay as you go is valid.^[1][7]

In May 2006 TfL and the Department for Transport agreed a £20 million funding package for train operators to install the equipment necessary to accept pay as you go at all London stations^[8]. The package was not taken up by any train operating companies and in September 2006, the South West Trains franchise was renewed by the Department for Transport with the condition that smartcard ticketing must be in place by 2009^[9]. In November 2007 the metro routes operated by Silverlink were brought under the control of TfL and operated under the brand name London Overground. From the first day of operation, Oyster card pay as you go became valid on all Overground routes^[10].

A necessary precursor of the acceptance of Oyster card (pay as you go) on rail services was the introduction of zonal single fares on the National Rail network in London; this was implemented in January 2007^[11]. Also in January, the then Mayor of London Ken Livingston announced that he required operators to sign up by 31 January 2007 in order to receive the funding package offer^[12]. c2c and Chiltern Railways accepted the deal and on 31 January 2007, a commitment was made by ATOC, in principle, that all other operators would eventually accept the pay as you go product.^[3] According to ATOC, roll-out plans were subject to the installation of suitable ticket gates and back office equipment at all 330 stations. A 2009 date was set out for this to be finished by.^[13]

Current acceptance and future schedule

The acceptance of Oyster pay as you go on National Rail has now been implemented across the Travelcard area (Zones 1-9 plus Watford Junction). Additionally, Oyster pay as you go is now valid at c2c stations Purfleet, Ockendon, Chafford Hundred and Grays.

Certain limitations remain on National Rail; Oyster PAYG is not valid on Heathrow Express, Heathrow Connect between Hayes and Harlington and Heathrow Airport, Southeastern high speed services or on the forthcoming Olympic Javelin Shuttle.

In October 2007, it was agreed by all National Rail Operators who operate services in London to implement the scheme by 2009 at the latest, as a result of both pressure from passengers and TfL. An agreement was reached with TfL to accept Oyster pay as you go at all National Rail stations in Greater London. As a result of this implementation, ticket barriers with readers have been installed at some National Rail stations to prevent fare evasion, for example, London Waterloo from 2008^[14].

When ITSO smartcards are introduced to the National Rail network, it will be possible to load one "stored journey right", or e-ticket (for National Rail travel outside Greater London) on to the card at ticket offices or self-service machines. There is not enough space on the card for more information to be stored. Travellers starting their journeys outside London will be able to use Oystercards in certain cases, if they are regarded as "trusted customers" . The gates or validators will calculate the applicable fare on arrival in London.

It is likely that credit held on ITSO smartcards will be usable for PAYG journeys, but there may be limitations on fare capping, and combining season tickets and PAYG usage.^[15]

It was announced in late 2009 that all National Rail services would accept Oyster pay as you go from 2 January 2010.^[16] As of 20 October 2011, the current arrangement and planned implementation schedule is as follows:

Operator	2004 implementation[2]	Expansion implemented[1]	Zones 1—6 completed	Expansion planned
c2c	Fenchurch Street to Upminster Liverpool Street to Barking via Stratford (not at Forest Gate or Maryland)	Jan 2008: Barking to Rainham[17] 2 January 2010: Upminster/Rainham to Grays	Y	None [18]
Chiltern Railways	Marylebone to Amersham Marylebone to West Ruislip (South Ruislip only intermediately)	Jan 2008: intermediate stations [19][20] April 2008: London Paddington to South Ruislip[21]	Y	TBC: to High Wycombe and Aylesbury[22].
First Capital Connect	Kentish Town to London Bridge, Elephant & Castle or Moorgate Finsbury Park to Moorgate or King's Cross	2007: Kentish Town to West Hampstead Thameslink[23] 2 Jan 2010: all remaining stations	Y	TBC: Elstree & Borehamwood to St Albans City, Hadley Wood to Welwyn Garden City, Crews Hill to Hertford North [24][25]
First Great Western		Jan 2008: Ealing Broadway to Greenford (not at intermediate stations) April 2008: London Paddington to Ealing Broadway (not at Acton Main Line) Sept 2008: remaining stations[26]	Y	TBC: Heathrow Connect services between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow [27] TBC: West Drayton to Slough [24]
London Midland	Euston to Harrow & Wealdstone	2007: Watford Junction to Harrow & Wealdstone[28]	Y
London Overground	Euston to Harrow & Wealdstone (not at Kilburn High Road or South Hampstead) Gunnersbury to Richmond Stratford to Canning Town (closed 2006)[1]	2007: all remaining stations	Y	Not applicable
National Express East Anglia	Liverpool Street to Walthamstow Central, Seven Sisters and Tottenham Hale (not at intermediate stations) Liverpool Street to Stratford	2006: Stratford to Tottenham Hale and Seven Sisters Jan 2008: intermediate stations[29] 2 Jan 2010: all remaining stations	Y	TBC: Turkey Street / Enfield Lock to Hertford East Harold Wood to Shenfield [30]
Southeastern	Elephant & Castle to City Thameslink [31]	2 Jan 2010: all remaining stations	Y	TBC: Barnehurst, Slade Green & Crayford to Dartford [24]
Southern		2007: Clapham Junction to Watford Junction November 2009: London Victoria to Balham [32] 2 Jan 2010: all remaining stations	Y
South West Trains		2 Jan 2010: all stations	Y	TBC: Hampton to Shepperton [24]

See also

• Oyster card
• Contactless smartcards on the railways of Britain

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Oyster Pay As You Go (PAYG) on National Rail". Association of Train Operating Companies. 24 September 2009. http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/london/Oyster_PAYG_Map_240909.pdf. Retrieved 5 November 2009. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ ^{a b} Transport for London, Your Guide to Oyster, (2004)
3. ^ ^{a b} "Train operators' Oyster acceptance welcomed". Transport for London. 31 January 2007. Archived from the original on 18 May 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080518155029/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/3326.aspx. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
4. ^ "Oyster cards to be rolled out to every London rail line". The Evening Standard. 27 January 2009. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23629000-details/Oyster+cards+to+be+rolled+out+to+every+London+rail+line/article.do. Retrieved 28 January 2009. 
5. ^ Jo deBank (May 2009). "Watchdog fury at Oyster delay". London TravelWatch. http://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/news.php?id=646. 
6. ^ "One ticket for London as Oysterisation of rail and river confirmed". The Greater London Authority. 23 November 2009. http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=24359. Retrieved 29 November 2009. 
7. ^ "Oyster on National Rail". Transport for London. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/oysteronline/5823.aspx. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
8. ^ "Transport Secretary and Mayor of London Announce New Deal for Rail Passengers". Department for Transport. 10 May 2006. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=200356&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
9. ^ "Department for Transport Announces Winner of South Western Franchise". Department for Transport. 22 September 2006. http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=228996&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False. Retrieved 16 July 2008. ^{[dead link]}
10. ^ "Introducing London Overground - a new era for London Rail". Transport for London. 5 September 2006. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/static/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/3489.html. Retrieved 10 June 2011. 
11. ^ "Smart Rail Ticketing in London a Step Closer with New Zonal Fare Structures". Publictechnology.net. 23 October 2006. http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=6490&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
12. ^ "Rail Firms Urged to Accept Oyster". BBC News. 9 January 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6244843.stm. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
13. ^ "ATOC’S position on Oyster pay-as-you-go and the offer by Transport for London". Association of Train Operating Companies. 31 January 2007. http://www.atoc-comms.org/dynamic/atocpress-story.php?atoc=997793. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
14. ^ "Oyster Cards Launched on Rail". BBC News. 1 October 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7020000/newsid_7023100/7023111.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&nol_storyid=7023111&news=1. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
15. ^ "ITSO Oyster Interoperability - Closing Down the Technical Work Packages". Department for Transport. 14 July 2006. http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/scienceresearch/otherresearch/itsooysterinteroperability. Retrieved 28 May 2008. ^{[dead link]}
16. ^ "Overland trains to accept Oyster". BBC News. 23 November 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8373913.stm. Retrieved 3 January 2010. 
17. ^ "c2c Storms Ahead with Introduction of Oyster". c2c. 17 January 2007. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080302111505/http://www.c2c-online.co.uk/latest_updates/news/c2c_storms_ahead_with_introduction_of_oyster. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
18. ^ . DfT. 19 April 2010. http://www2.dft.gov.uk/consultations/archive/2010/2010-09/consultation.pdf. Retrieved 10 July 2011. 
19. ^ Kobie, Nicole (1 February 2007). "London Railways to use Oyster Prepay". ITPro. http://www.itpro.co.uk/news/103592/london-railways-to-use-oyster-prepay.html. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
20. ^ "Mayor Welcomes Oyster Deal with Chiltern Railways". Transport for London. 23 January 2007. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/static/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/3328.html. Retrieved 11 June 2011. 
21. ^ "Oyster pay as You Go (PAYG) on National Rail". Transport for London. 20 April 2008. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/tickets/oyster-payg-on-national-rail.pdf. Retrieved 16 July 2008. ^{[dead link]}
22. ^ "Exciting Times Ahead for Passengers Using Chiltern Railways!". Chiltern Railways. 22 January 2007. http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/news/news-archive/exciting-times-ahead-for-passengers/. Retrieved 16 July 2008. ^{[dead link]}
23. ^ "Meet the Directors". First Capital Connect. http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=233&sMethod=ViewArchive&iForumId=7&iSectionId=VA&iPage=11. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
24. ^ ^{a b c d} "Item 8 - Oyster on National Rail - Progress Update". Transport for London. 8 February 2011. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/Item08-Oyster-NR.pdf. Retrieved 10 June 2011. 
25. ^ "Oyster card empire could include Hertfordshire". BBC News. 12 September 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14886629. Retrieved 2 November 2011. 
26. ^ "Oyster pay as you go now accepted at all First Great Western stations in London". Transport for London. 25 September 2008. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/9458.aspx. Retrieved 25 September 2008. ^{[dead link]}
27. ^ "Commissioners Report". TfL. November 2008. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/4-commissioners-report-november-2008.pdf. Retrieved 7 November 2008. 
28. ^ "Oyster Agreement". Watford Observer. 16 November 2007. http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/1840272.oyster_agreement/. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
29. ^ "National Express to Extend Availability of Oyster Pay As You Go". National Express East Anglia. 22 February 2008. http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/about_us/news/national_express_to_extend_availability_of_oyster_pay_as_you_go. Retrieved 16 July 2008. ^{[dead link]}
30. ^ "Greater Anglia rail franchise". Department for Transport. 20 October 2011. http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/stories/dft-news-20111020. Retrieved 20 October 2011. 
31. ^ "Oyster Card and National Rail". National Rail. http://nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/london/oystercard.html. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
32. ^ "Using Oyster Pay as you go from Clapham Junction". Southern Railway. http://www.southernrailway.com/main.php?page_id=461. Retrieved 16 July 2008.