Oyster and CPay extended to Swanley

• Pay as you go brings new, more convenient, way to pay for travel
• Customers pay less as Swanley station moves into Zone 8 and gets daily and weekly (Monday to Sunday) capping

Commuters are now able to use Oyster and Contactless Payment Cards to pay for travel between Swanley and London on Thameslink and Southeastern services.

The extension of Pay As You Go to Swanley comes into action today (Wednesday 9 March 2016), and Swanley has become a Zone 8 station. This improvement will offer passengers cheaper Oyster or Contactless journeys between Swanley and London than the existing paper fares.

Wall and floor-mounted passenger validators have been installed at the station for users to touch in and out. It is hoped the new scheme will speed up ticket purchasing and make it quicker and easier for those travelling during busy periods, although passengers will need to ensure they have sufficient funds available.

Stuart Cheshire, Thameslink's Passenger Service Director, said:

“Thameslink passengers at Swanley will welcome this move to further modernise our network. Moving away from paper tickets is the way forward.”

Mike Boden, Commercial Director at Southeastern said:

“We’re really pleased to be able to offer Oyster and Contactless from Swanley station. The investment in this project will benefit many people and will offer more choice as to how to pay for our services. This technology will make for a more seamless journey for commuters in Swanley who travel into the capital."

Shashi Verma, Director of Customer Experience at TfL, said:

“This is just one of the many projects we are working on across London and the south east to help make paying for transport easier for everyone. Pay as you go has helped to completely revolutionise travel around London since it launched, bringing cheaper, quicker travel to everyone. Furthermore, more than 25 per cent of all pay as you go customers now use contactless payments because it is so convenient and easy. There's no need to top-up, you just touch in and out with your credit or debit card.”

ends

Notes to Editors:

• Swanley has become a Zone 8 station - there are no Zone 7 stations on this line of route.
• Fares:

Further fares are available on request.