The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced the rollout of tap-in and tap-out contactless payments on journeys to both London’s Stansted (STN) and Southend (SEN) Airports.
The expansion of the existing service, which will go live on 14 December, will allow travellers across the South East to use contactless payments to travel to any and all of the capital’s airports.
Forming part of the governments plan to simplify rail fares through its move to Great British Railways (GBR), the move also builds on the recent introduction of digital pay-as-you-go ticketing trials in Barnsley, Derby, Doncaster, Harrogate, Leeds, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield.
The expansion has been made possible via 18.7 million GBP in government funding that will see the upgrade rolled out to 50 stations across the south-east at once.
Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at Transport for London (TfL), said:For more than 10 years, the popularity of convenient travel via pay-as-you-go with contactless has grown and become increasingly popular across London and the surrounding areas. We are delighted to be extending pay-as-you-go with contactless to a further 50 stations from 14 December, including Stansted Airport, making it easier for those arriving at the airport to travel to London and experience all the city has to offer.
Expanding pay-as-you-go with contactless will further help those travelling by rail outside London do so more flexibly and conveniently, avoid the need to pre-purchase tickets or paper Travelcards when heading into the capital, and support the wider UK economic recovery through easier access to rail travel.
Contactless ticketing is planned to become commonplace under GBR, which, once established, intends to build on the expansion of existing pay-as-you-go trials.
Stations introducing pay-as-you-go include:
- Ashtea
- Aylesbury
- Aylesbury Vale Parkway
- Baldock
- Beaulieu Park
- Billericay
- Bishop’s Stortford
- Box Hill & Westhumble
- Chelmsford
- Dorking (Main)
- Dormans
- East Grinstead
- Great Missenden
- Harlington
- Harlow Mill
- Harlow Town
- Hatfield Peverel
- Hitchin
- Hockley
- Hurst Green
- Ingatestone
- Knebworth
- Leagrave
- Leatherhead
- Letchworth Garden City
- Lingfield
- Little Kimble
- Luton
- Monks Risborough
- Oxted
- Princes Risborough
- Prittlewell
- Rayleigh
- Reigate
- Rochford
- Roydon
- Saunderton
- Sawbridgeworth
- Southend Airport
- Southend Victoria
- Stansted Airport
- Stansted Mountfitchet
- Stevenage
- Stoke Mandeville
- Watton-at-Stone
- Welwyn North
- Wendover
- Wickford
- Witham
- Woldingham
Rail Minister Lord 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 and shortly through GBR, we’re doing just that and making buying tickets more convenient, more accessible and more flexible – and ensuring passengers can get the best fares.
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.
