Oyster pay-as-you-go demanded on local trains

8.04.38pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 15th May 2008

Lynne Featherstone, and (left) Martin Howell, Director of Public Affairs, Cubic Transportation Systems, (right) Richard Horton, Commercial Director, Cubic Transportation Systems

Lynne Featherstone has demanded full Oyster smartcard service for local stations following a visit this week to Alexandra Palace station with Oyster specialists. The local Liberal Democrat MP met with Cubic, a principal partner in the TranSys consortium that runs the Oyster system for Transport for London, to discuss how commuter train services in Hornsey and Wood Green, operated by First Capital Connect, can benefit from full Oyster integration.

The call for action comes after the recent announcement by other train companies, including First Great Western, that they will be operating the Oyster pay-as-you-go system by September 2008. South West Trains have also committed to the scheme as part of their new franchise from 2007, aiming to have the technology in place by January 2009.

Lynne Featherstone said:

"Local residents have had empty promise after empty promise - enough is enough. Needing separate tickets for travel in the same city is reminiscent of a Soviet bureaucracy not a world class city like London.

"As I discovered on my visit the technology is available and other rail companies are doing it. I want First Capital Connect and TFL to accelerate discussions and reach agreement sooner rather than later. The people of Haringey deserve this service and I will be calling for talks with First Capital Connect."

Notes:

Cubic is a principal partner in the TranSys consortium that operates the Oyster system for Transport for London.

Availability of Oyster pay-as-you-go is confusing and complicated for passengers at present. For example, it is valid on First Capital Connect south from Finsbury Park but not at stations northwards, such as Harringay, Hornsey and Alexandra Palace. The National Rail website gives a link to the current map of validity on the main line franchises: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/london/OysterPAYG.pdf