Oyster card (pay as you go) on National Rail
Encyclopedia
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 since the introduction of the stored-value
product on London Underground
in January 2004. 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, and it was expected that by February 2009, TFL would announce plans for all suburban trains to accept the card. In May 2009 London TravelWatch
indicated it had discovered that the works were unlikely to be completed until 2010.
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.
was initially launched in 2003 with the facility to hold season-ticket Travelcard
s. 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.
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. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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.
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.
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.
It was announced in late 2009 that all National Rail services would accept Oyster pay as you go from 2 January 2010.
In the Chancellor's Autumn Statement in November 2011, expansion of the Oyster system was announced to cover towns such as Guildford.
As of 20 October 2011, the current arrangement and planned implementation schedule is as follows:
Oyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
(pay as you go) on National Rail in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
had been limited to a restricted number of National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
services since the introduction of the stored-value
Stored-value card
A stored-value card refers to monetary value on a card not in an externally recorded account and differs from prepaid cards where money is on deposit with the issuer similar to a debit card...
product on London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
in January 2004. In response to an offer, from Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
, of funding to the train operating companies that have services within Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, plans were made to expand its acceptance across the rail network in London, and it was expected that by February 2009, TFL would announce plans for all suburban trains to accept the card. In May 2009 London TravelWatch
London TravelWatch
London TravelWatch is a British consumer organization that campaigns for improvements to transport in London. It is the transport watchdog for services provided by Transport for London, which includes facilities for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. It is also the watchdog for National Rail...
indicated it had discovered that the works were unlikely to be completed until 2010.
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.
Background
The Oyster cardOyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
was initially launched in 2003 with the facility to hold season-ticket Travelcard
Travelcard
The Travelcard is an inter-modal travel ticket for unlimited use on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Tramlink, London Buses and National Rail services in the Greater London area. Travelcards can be purchased for a period of time varying from one day to a year,...
s. 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
London Underground ticketing
The London Underground metro system of London, England uses a mix of paper and electronic smart-card ticketing.-Fare zones:London Underground uses Transport for London's Travelcard zones to calculate fares, including fares for use on the Underground only...
, due to long-standing agreements. Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
(TfL) and National Rail publish lists and maps of routes and stations where pay as you go is valid.
In May 2006 TfL and the Department for Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
agreed a £20 million funding package for train operators to install the equipment necessary to accept pay as you go at all London stations. The package was not taken up by any train operating companies and in September 2006, the South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
franchise was renewed by the Department for Transport with the condition that smartcard ticketing must be in place by 2009. In November 2007 the metro routes operated by Silverlink
Silverlink
Silverlink Train Services Ltd was a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operated routes in North London and from London to Northampton...
were brought under the control of TfL and operated under the brand name London Overground
London Overground
London Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
. From the first day of operation, Oyster card pay as you go became valid on all Overground routes.
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. Also in January, the then Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
Ken Livingston announced that he required operators to sign up by 31 January 2007 in order to receive the funding package offer. c2c
C2c
c2c is a British train operating company that is part of the National Express Group. It provides passenger rail services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line from Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London to east London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway...
and Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways is a British train operating company. It was set up at the privatisation of British Rail in 1996, and operates local passenger trains from Marylebone station in London to Aylesbury and main-line trains on the Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham Snow Hill with its associated branches...
accepted the deal and on 31 January 2007, a commitment was made by ATOC
Association of Train Operating Companies
The Association of Train Operating Companies is a body which represents 24 train operating companies that provide passenger railway services on the privatised British railway system. It owns the National Rail brand. The Association is an unincorporated association owned by its members...
, in principle, that all other operators would eventually accept the pay as you go product. 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.
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 Express
Heathrow Express is an airport rail link from London Heathrow Airport to London Paddington station in London operated by the Heathrow Express Operating Authority, a wholly owned subsidiary of BAA. It was opened by the then Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1998...
, Heathrow Connect
Heathrow Connect
Heathrow Connect is a train operating company in London provided jointly by Heathrow Express and First Great Western, connecting Heathrow Airport with station. The service follows the same route as the Heathrow Express service but serves intermediate stations en route, thus connecting several...
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
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
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
TFL
TFL may refer to:* Tasmanian Football League, an Australian rules football competition* Tensor fasciae latae muscle, a thigh/hip muscle* Transport for London, a public transport organisation in the London area* The Flaming Lips, an American rock band...
to accept Oyster pay as you go at all National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
stations in Greater London. As a result of this implementation, ticket barriers with readers have been installed at some National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
stations to prevent fare evasion, for example, London Waterloo from 2008.
When ITSO
Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation
ITSO is a non-profit membership organisation which maintains and develops the ITSO specification. The specification is an open one which is Crown copyrighted and available to all with the aim of allowing interoperable ticketing between transport operators in the UK....
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.
It was announced in late 2009 that all National Rail services would accept Oyster pay as you go from 2 January 2010.
In the Chancellor's Autumn Statement in November 2011, expansion of the Oyster system was announced to cover towns such as Guildford.
As of 20 October 2011, the current arrangement and planned implementation schedule is as follows:
| Operator | 2004 implementation | Expansion implemented | Zones 1—6 completed | Expansion planned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| c2c C2c c2c is a British train operating company that is part of the National Express Group. It provides passenger rail services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line from Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London to east London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway... |
Fenchurch Street to Upminster Liverpool Street to Barking via Stratford (not at Forest Gate or Maryland) |
Jan 2008: Barking to Rainham 2 January 2010: Upminster/Rainham to Grays |
None | |
| Chiltern Railways Chiltern Railways Chiltern Railways is a British train operating company. It was set up at the privatisation of British Rail in 1996, and operates local passenger trains from Marylebone station in London to Aylesbury and main-line trains on the Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham Snow Hill with its associated branches... |
Marylebone to Amersham Marylebone to West Ruislip (South Ruislip only intermediately) |
Jan 2008: intermediate stations April 2008: London Paddington to South Ruislip |
TBC: to High Wycombe and Aylesbury. |
|
| First Capital Connect First Capital Connect First Capital Connect is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006... |
Kentish Town to London Bridge, Elephant & Castle or Moorgate Finsbury Park to Moorgate or King's Cross |
2007: Kentish Town to West Hampstead Thameslink 2 Jan 2010: all remaining stations |
TBC: Elstree & Borehamwood to St Albans City, Hadley Wood to Welwyn Garden City, Crews Hill to Hertford North | |
| First Great Western First Great Western First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales.... |
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 |
TBC: Heathrow Connect Heathrow Connect Heathrow Connect is a train operating company in London provided jointly by Heathrow Express and First Great Western, connecting Heathrow Airport with station. The service follows the same route as the Heathrow Express service but serves intermediate stations en route, thus connecting several... services between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow TBC: West Drayton to Slough |
||
| London Midland London Midland London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007.... |
Euston to Harrow & Wealdstone | 2007: Watford Junction to Harrow & Wealdstone | ||
| London Overground London Overground London Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London... |
Euston to Harrow & Wealdstone (not at Kilburn High Road or South Hampstead) Gunnersbury to Richmond Stratford to Canning Town (closed 2006) |
2007: all remaining stations |
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 2 Jan 2010: all remaining stations |
TBC: Turkey Street / Enfield Lock to Hertford East Harold Wood to Shenfield |
|
| Southeastern Southeastern (train operating company) London & South Eastern Railway Limited, trading as Southeastern is a train operating company in south-east England. On 1 April 2006 it became the franchisee for the new Integrated Kent Franchise , replacing the publicly owned South Eastern Trains on the former South East Franchise... |
Elephant & Castle to City Thameslink | 2 Jan 2010: all remaining stations | TBC: Barnehurst, Slade Green & Crayford to Dartford | |
| Southern Southern (train operating company) Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service... |
2007: Clapham Junction to Watford Junction November 2009: London Victoria to Balham 2 Jan 2010: all remaining stations |
|||
| South West Trains South West Trains South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight... |
2 Jan 2010: all stations | TBC: Hampton to Shepperton |