Passengers in London will have even more places to buy and top-up their Oyster card from next year when the number of venues participating in the scheme is expected to double.
The growing popularity of the scheme has led Transport for London (TfL) to seek an additional 2,000 shops and newsagents to join the network.
Users of the scheme benefit from lower fares than those paying cash in addition passengers who register their card are also able to obtain a replacement card, along with any money on it, in the event that their card is lost or stolen.
According to TfL less than three per cent of single Tube and bus tickets are now bought with cash in London, nearly three-quarters are by Oyster card.
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said he wanted “all Londoners to save money by owning an Oyster card. Eighty five per cent of all Londoners already live within 400 metres of an Oyster outlet.”
“This expansion will make using Oyster even more convenient.”
From November this year, customers will be able to buy and top-up Oyster cards at all overground rail stations on the services currently run by Silverlink Metro which will transfer to Transport for London.
The Mayor is also contributing £20m to help fund the provision of Oyster facilities at national rail stations in London after reaching an outline agreement with London’s Train Operating Companies to accept Oyster pay as you go on overland rail services into London.
Transport for London Commissioner, Peter Hendy, said “with Oyster pay as you go expanding to National Rail services in London we aim to make the smartcard as widely available and accessible as possible for everyone.”
