First Great Western passengers will be able to use their Oyster pay as you go cards on all London stations served by the company from September 2008.
Under a deal was announced today by Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy and zonal fares the equivalent of those on the Tube will apply for journeys from these stations.
Mayor Johnson said the deal “takes us a step closer to making Oyster the only ticket you’ll need to travel in London.”
“Transport for London is investing £40m in new Oyster equipment and we will be working with the Train Operating Companies to agree their deals and open up Oyster for all Londoners.
Transport for London’s Peter Hendy, said his organisation was “working hard with ATOC and the Train Operating Companies so that National Rail better serves Londoners, not only with Oyster but with better services and improved safety and security”.
In addition to agreeing to accept Oyster pay as you go First Great Western are to spend £6.1m on refurbishing London and Thames Valley trains and fitting CCTV.
Andrew Haines, First Great Western’s Chief Operating Officer said the acceptance of Oyster ” fits in with our considerable investment in the refurbishment of the ticket office and new ticket machines at Ealing Broadway, and plans are in place for other stations, including Paddington.”
“Today’s announcement also builds on First Great Western’s investment of more than £15m in customer information systems, which will provide more consistent information and coverage of more stations, and we will be upgrading CCTV at stations.”
An outline agreement between TfL and the Train Operating Companies to rollout Oyster pay as you go at mainline stations across Greater London was first reached last January.
