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Pay as you go with contactless offers simpler way to pay at 21 more Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink stations

As announced by the Department for Transport today (see press release), passengers will benefit from pay as you go with contactless at 21 more Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink stations from 14 December.

 

Pay as you go with contactless is fast and flexible, perfect for travelling around the South East. In summary:

 

  • All you need to travel is your contactless card, smartphone or smart watch
  • No need to queue for a ticket, buy a ticket or top up before you travel
  • Seamlessly switch between trains, Tube, London Buses and trams that accept pay as you go with contactless
  • Pay only for the journeys you make
  • Benefit from daily and Monday to Sunday caps into and within London
  • You’ll be charged the best full adult fare at the time on the day

 

The full list of 21 stations operated by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is included below.

 

The change is being made as part of the Department’s plan to simplify rail fares and make it more convenient for people to travel by train. At the same time, pay as you go with contactless will be rolled out to 29 other stations in the South East, including Stansted Airport.

 

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.”

 

GTR Chief Customer Officer Louis Rambaud said: 

“We’re pleased to be supporting this Government initiative to give our customers simple, easier journeys.”

To prepare for the extension of pay as you go with contactless, a TfL-style fare structure will be introduced at these stations for journeys to other stations in the contactless and Oyster area, the week before, on 7 December.

 

Key changes required for the DfT drive for simpler pay as you go with contactless ticketing include, at these 21 stations:

 

  • Single journeys priced at half of a return journey
  • Journeys charged only at either peak (anytime) or off-peak rates, with existing off-peak fares reduced to reflect the removal of super off-peak tickets. Advance tickets will also remain available – providing extra value for money for those booking in advance
  • Off-peak fares made available for single journeys where only anytime fares were available previously
  • New weekday peak times of 6.30am-9:30am and 4pm-7pm in the main direction of peak time travel, to match the TfL system. This provides new off-peak early morning travel, only for those using contactless with pay as you go, but introduces an evening peak restriction on trains heading away from London for both contactless and all other ticket types.

 

The 21 stations operated by Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern set to receive pay as you go with contactless are:

 

Great Northern
Baldock, Hitchin, Knebworth, Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage, Watton-at-Stone and Welwyn North

 

Southern
Ashtead, Box Hill & Westhumble, Dorking, Dormans, East Grinstead, Hurst Green, Leatherhead, Lingfield, Oxted, Reigate and Woldingham

 

Thameslink
Harlington, Leagrave and Luton

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