For a while now, many in London have known the sweet, sweet convenience of getting on and off a train with just one simple tap. But why should London be the only one to enjoy such innovation? This year, commuters across the southeast will finally get the technology too.
Project Oval is a £20 million plan to bring that convenience to even more Brits. The government announced that it would be bringing the technology to 47 stations in the southeast of England back in September, and while the roll-out was delayed following a cyberattack on TfL computers, a date is now locked in.
The tech is being introduced to 47 stations across the southeast from February 2. That’s in just two weeks’ time.
Not only will the payment system be more convenient – it’s cheaper too. Contactless ticketing guarantees that you’re getting the cheapest ticket for the time of day that you’re travelling.
Peter Hendy, the UK’s rail minister, said: ‘The ticketing system is far too complicated, so we’re taking the stress out of navigating the labyrinth of fares and replacing it with new technology so passengers can simply tap-in tap-out, while being guaranteed the best fare available at the time on the day.
‘This hassle-free technology will simplify thousands of journeys every day for passengers across the southeast, and it’s something we will roll out to other cities as soon as we can.’
It’s not necessarily cheaper for everyone. People with railcard discounts or concession rates will still be better off using their existing tickets. There are plans to fix that soon, though.
A further 49 stations across the southeast will be getting contactless payment throughout 2025, including London Stansted Airport (which just had its busiest year ever, is launching a bunch of new routes and is planning a massive expansion). A trial of the tap and go machines is also due to start in the West Midlands this year.
Full list of train stations going contactless on February 2
- Apsley
- Park Street
- Ashford
- Pitsea
- Basildon
- Sevenoaks
- Bat & Ball
- Shepperton
- Benfleet
- Shoeburyness
- Berkhamsted
- Shoreham
- Bletchley
- Southend Cental
- Bricket Wood
- Southend East
- Chalkwell
- St. Albans Abbey
- Cheddington
- Staines
- Datchet
- Stanford-le-Hope
- Dunton Green
- Sunbury
- East Tilbury
- Sunnymeads
- Egham
- Thorpe Bay
- Eynsford
- Tilbury Town
- Garston Tring
- Hemel Hempstead
- Upper Halliford
- How Wood
- Virginia Water
- Kempton Park
- Watford North
- King’s Langley
- West Horndon
- Laindon
- Westcliff
- Leigh-on-Sea
- Windsor & Eton Riverside
- Leighton Buzzard
- Wraysbury
- Otford
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