Passengers travelling on the Greater Anglia network can now benefit from faster, simpler, more flexible journeys as contactless ticketing goes live at 20 additional stations across Essex and Hertfordshire.
From Sunday 8 March, customers using routes between London Liverpool Street and key destinations can now tap in and tap out with a contactless bank card, smartphone or smart device—removing the need to buy paper tickets, reducing queues, and speeding up journeys.
This major expansion strengthens contactless access across some of the busiest commuter corridors and airport connections, including the Stansted Express and routes serving Southend Airport.
Stations Newly Activated for Contactless Travel
- Billericay
- Beaulieu Park
- Bishop’s Stortford
- Chelmsford
- Harlow Mill
- Harlow Town
- Hatfield Peverel
- Hockley
- Ingatestone
- Prittlewell
- Rayleigh
- Rochford
- Roydon
- Sawbridgeworth
- Stansted Airport
- Southend Airport
- Southend Victoria
- Stansted Mountfitchet
- Wickford
- Witham
With contactless payment, fares are automatically calculated based on where and when customers travel, intelligently combining peak and off‑peak pricing where applicable. Daily and weekly fare caps apply for journeys into and within London, ensuring passengers always get the best value.
Industry Leaders Welcome a Step Toward Simpler Rail Travel
Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said:
"Rail ticketing is long overdue an upgrade to bring the rail network into the 21st century. Through the expansion of tap-in tap-out technology in the south east and our digital Pay As You Go (PAYG) trials in the north and east midlands, we’re making rail travel simpler and more flexible for passengers.
"As the Railways Bill moves us towards GBR, we’re delivering straightforward, stress-free travel by train across the network, supporting passengers, boosting economic growth, jobs and homes, and creating a truly integrated transport network, as we connect London’s airports by contactless PAYG.”
Greater Anglia Managing Director, Martin Beable, said:
"Introducing contactless ticketing at these additional stations makes travelling with Greater Anglia even easier and more convenient. Customers can now simply tap in and tap out using their contactless card or device, helping make journeys quicker and more flexible."
He added that this upgrade is especially significant for airport travellers:
"This will be particularly helpful for commuters and passengers travelling to and from Stansted and Southend airports, and we are pleased to see contactless ticketing now available across these key airport routes.
”Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at TfL, said:
"For more than 10 years, the popularity of convenient travel via pay as you go with contactless has grown across London and the surrounding areas. We are delighted to have now extended pay as you go with contactless to a further 20 stations on the Greater Anglia network, including Stansted Airport…"
Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and CEO of Rail Delivery Group, added:
"The expansion of pay as you go technology to a further 20 stations is great news for passengers and an important step towards making train travel easier and more convenient."
Airport leaders also welcomed the change:
Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director, said:
"The ‘go live’ of contactless travel on the Stansted Express is great news for passengers and will make rail journeys between Stansted and London even more seamless…"
Caroline Fitzgerald, London Southend Airport Commercial Director, said:
"Rail connectivity is a key part of our offer… this development makes choosing London Southend an obvious decision for customers looking for a stress-free journey from door to departure gate."
Passengers are encouraged to check contactless availability at both departure and destination stations and ensure they always tap in and out correctly.
Image credits: Greater Anglia
