18.09.14
Southern smartcard can now be used on TfL services
Southern passengers can now use a single smartcard to travel by rail, bus or Tube from any Southern station and across the capital.
Passengers had previously been able to use ‘the key’ smartcard on the majority of Southern’s rail services, but yesterday marked the addition of TfL travelcards to ‘the key’.
Now Southern passengers can add weekly, monthly and season tickets to their smartcard which will allow them to use all Oyster and contactless-enabled public transport in London.
Alex Foulds, commercial director at Southern, said: “We are delighted that our vision has now become a reality. It’s fantastic news for thousands of our London commuters who can now use their key smartcard for their entire journey to and from work.
“This development is another step that paves the way for other train operator’s schemes to follow on behind us, by laying a firm foundation for the south east flexible ticketing programme to become a reality.”
This is the latest phase of plans to roll out smart ticketing across London and the south east. Over the coming months, more train operators across the region will start to offer similar services, in partnership with the government and Transport for London, with about 300 stations being smartcard enabled over the next two years.
Transport minister, Baroness Kramer, visited London Victoria station on Wednesday to mark the launch of the scheme. She said: “Offering smart ticketing is an important part of our plans to deliver a better experience for passengers, providing greater choice, security and convenience and making it easier to get around. I congratulate Southern on achieving this important milestone.
“We are committed to building a stronger economy and a more efficient public transport network that people want to use. That’s why more than £38bon will be invested in the rail network over the next five years to bring in new trains and new services, and to make journeys more comfortable and more reliable.”
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