Transport for London says passenger trials of contactless fares on the Tube, DLR and London Overground are now underway.
Unlike London’s Oyster card, paying by contactless debit & credit card saves passengers having to top-up before travelling as the fare is taken directly from their bank account as with any other card payment.
The ability to pay by contactless card was introduced on buses in December 2012.
TfL originally expected to expand the payment method to rail services in 2012/13 but the start date has been pushed back until later this year.
When the full contactless fares system is up and running, passengers will benefit from Oyster-style capping, ensuring they always pay the lowest fare for their journey.
Around 5,000 Londoners are now using the cards on the Tube, DLR and London Overground, with TfL monitoring use and assessing feedback.
Shashi Verma, TfL’s Director of Customer Experience, said: “We’ve seen great results from offering this option on the bus network, with over 11 million journeys made.
“This pilot period on the Tube and rail network will allow us to get feedback from our customers as we prepare to make the option available to everyone later this year.”
