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The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, Transport Secretary, Andrew Adonis, and the Train Operating Companies serving the capital today confirmed that the hundreds of thousands of passengers who travel on National Rail services within Greater London will be able to use Oyster pay as you go from 2 January 2010.
 
This follows agreement between Transport for London (TfL) and the Train Operating Companies, including Southeastern, to extend Oyster pay as you go to all National Rail routes within Greater London, Zones 1-9, that currently accept Travelcards.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “I am delighted to be able to announce that the Oysterisation of all London's commuter rail services is to become a reality.  Our hard work, determination and investment was not in vain.  It has ended the crackers situation of Londoners not being able to use Oyster on every commuter route in the capital. 

“Thousands of residents in Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham will now be able to use Oyster pay as you go to travel from their local Southeastern station and then seamlessly hop onto TfL services without fumbling for another ticket or having to stop off and purchase one.  Oyster will truly be the only ticket Londoners need to get around town.”

Transport Secretary, Andrew Adonis, said: "Oyster pay as you go will transform travel in London as for the first time passengers will be able to travel seamlessly across the network and switch between underground and all overground rail services.

“If we are to encourage more people onto public transport we must make it as easy and convenient to use as possible.  That is exactly what Oyster has done in London and why extending pay as you go to rail services is so important.

“Oyster on rail will open up a range of new journey opportunities for Londoners and will mean that rail passengers travelling into and across the capital from other parts of the country will only need one type of ticket.  But we mustn’t stop there - I want to see smart ticketing on all modes of public transport in England as quickly as possible.”

Vince Lucas, Service Delivery Director, Southeastern said:

“Many customers within Greater London have told us that they would appreciate the convenience and flexibility of using Oyster pay as you go.  From 2nd January 2010, Oyster will be accepted on all Southeastern services within the London Travelcard area.  This means that passengers will be able to get on a train with Oyster, rather than having to buy a paper ticket.”

Southeastern serves 71 stations in the boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham.  Thousands of passengers who travel to London Terminals daily,  including Blackfriars, Cannon Street, Charing Cross, London Bridge and London Victoria from Southeastern stations in Greater London are set to benefit from quicker, easier and more convenient travel.  The extension of Oyster pay as you go to National Rail will also benefit those who travel around the Capital for work, business or pleasure.

Amy Waldron, who uses Lewisham station said:

“The arrival of Oyster pay as you go on Southeastern from January is fantastic news.  The fact that I will only need one card to travel around the Capital will make my daily journey on Southeastern a lot easier.  With Oyster pay as you go I will soon have greater flexibility to use both National Rail as well as the TfL network.  It means that I don’t need to buy a paper ticket for the train in the morning.  If I decide to go out in the evening after work I can just grab my Oyster and go.  I can’t wait to be able to use the service.”

Train Operating Companies (including Southeastern) will set Oyster pay as you go fares on the National Rail network.  These will be zonally based, but will be different from fares on TfL services.  TfL fares will apply on the Tube, DLR, London Overground and National Rail services that currently accept Oyster pay as you go.  An additional combined TfL/National Rail fare will be introduced for journeys that incorporate both TfL and National Rail services. 

For more information please see Transport for London.

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