End of the beginning in sight for PAYG extension

 

The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that the rollout of ‘tap-in and tap-out ticketing’ at a further 47 rail stations in the South East will happen next month, nearly two years behind schedule.

It said the new pay-as-you-go (PAYG) ticketing to be rolled out from 2 February will turn dozens of key commuter lines such as Sevenoaks to London Bridge into fully contactless journeys, guaranteeing passengers the best value ticket available on the day.

Rail minister Lord Peter Hendy, who was previously London’s Tranpsport Commissioner, said: ‘The ticketing system is far too complicated, so we’re taking the stress out of navigating the labyrinth of fares and replacing it with new technology so passengers can simply tap-in tap-out, while being guaranteed the best fare available at the time on the day.

‘This hassle-free technology will simplify thousands of journeys every day for passengers across the South East, and it’s something we will roll out to other cities as soon as we can, unlocking growth across the country as part of our Plan for Change.’

The DfT said the move was ‘building on our core principle to always put passenger experience at the heart of our railways’.

The PAYG technology is not new but is a link between ticket gates and the processes that run Transport for London’s (TfL) Oyster smart ticketing network. The further roll-out of the system was a policy of the last government, which contracted the work to TfL.

As Transport Network reported, the same 47 stations were meant to have the technology last September. A note on the webpage for the rollout previously stated: ‘Due to an ongoing cyber security incident at TfL, pay as you go with contactless will no longer launch at 47 stations on 22 September.’

The 47 stations will complete the first phase (53 stations) of a programme covering a total of 233 stations.

This first phase was due to have been done by the end of the 2022-23 financial year, with a revised date of December 2023, with the remaining 180 stations upgraded by the end of 2024.

The DfT said contactless ticketing will be rolled out at a further 49 stations throughout 2025, including London Stansted Airport – meaning all London airports will be accessible by tap-in tap-out ticketing for the first time ever.

This will include four stations in the South East, announced for the first time – Baldock, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City and Stevenage.

No date has been given for the completion of the programme.

 
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