Project Oval: TfL win DfT contract to expand contactless system to 233 rail stations by May 2024, Railcards coming to contactless payment cards

[aron2smith]

The earliest it will be is the fare change day in December (probably Sun 7th). There doesn't seem to be much reason to delay beyond that - timetable changes won't affect fares in any way.

Could be really interesting with the tickets I need for Stansted in December then. Flying out on the 1st and coming back on the 8th, and from speculation it sounds like it may cost 2 very different prices for the 2 single rail trips.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Oct 2025 ==

Yes, alongside the Phase 1B stations that went live the following February.

Thanks for confirming, I just wonder will they add soon to open Beaulieu Park then? Chelmsford, Hatfield Peverel and Witham are apart of this next phase and the new station opens before the contactless extension happens.

MrJeeves drew a map (link) where the shading is as follows:

Blue: pre-Oval + Phase 1A
Green: Phase 1B
Pink: Phase 2A
Yellow: remainder of Phase 2 [no dates or sub-phases announced to date]

I kept this map from before for reference as it so much more useful than anything officially released but appreciate knowing what the colours represent.

TfL suggested end of last February / April for internal publication of issue #155 in reply to previous FoI requests, and their current position seems to be 'no date yet'. Come Xmas (if not done by someone else in the meantime) I may submit a request specifically asking if they've decided to stop compiling TRUs.

Yeah I saw on FOI requests, several people have asked TFL about it a couple times in the first half of the year, either an excuse was made, staff didn't have any information or it was pushed back later each time. Gone quiet since then. Surely someone would've shared it if it existed by now. The cyber attack was over a year ago now.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

2026 rollout planning starting? Tunbridge Wells has a planning application in to add contactless card readers for the night entrances… https://twbcpa.midkent.gov.uk/onlin...ils.do?keyVal=T1PG76TYI6T00&activeTab=summary

You need a planning application just to install contactless card readers?!?!?

 

[Hadders]

You need a planning application just to install contactless card readers?!?!?

Yes, if it’s a listed building.

 

[Edvid]

Supplementary question: The report mentions 49 stations, but since that list was published there will be a new station opened within the applicable area. Will Beaulieu Park be included? You can't search for it under stations on NRE, which is a bit concerning.

I just wonder will they add soon to open Beaulieu Park then? Chelmsford, Hatfield Peverel and Witham are apart of this next phase and the new station opens before the contactless extension happens.

Until the relevant staff briefing appears on the Internal Knowledgebase, your guesses are as good as mine.

Yeah I saw on FOI requests, several people have asked TFL about it a couple times in the first half of the year, either an excuse was made, staff didn't have any information or it was pushed back later each time. Gone quiet since then. Surely someone would've shared it if it existed by now. The cyber attack was over a year ago now.

There is a (slight) chance they still haven't decided one way or the other, which would mean another "wasted" FoI request. Hence my suggestion of leaving it until Christmas to ask them.

 

[Haywain]

either an excuse was made, staff didn't have any information or it was pushed back later each time. Gone quiet since then. Surely someone would've shared it if it existed by now. The cyber attack was over a year ago now.

I suspect that it's much more to do with the retirement mentioned above than the cyber attack.

 

[aron2smith]

I suspect that it's much more to do with the retirement mentioned above than the cyber attack.

Yeah probably. I was only following the magazine whilst Oval is being rolled out, not bothered about it after Oval is fully rolled out but was interesting to see some of the behind the scenes at TFL nonetheless.

 

[jon0844]

Assuming this thread remains open for some time, I wonder what will happen if the next phases of contactless rollout makes it all the way to Peterborough. What happens then? LNER will surely have to accept contactless then as they can't set the same restrictions as Stevenage.

(I doubt contactless is likely to extend beyond the limits of the Thameslink services that run on the same line, including the same down to Brighton and Horsham - but of course there you don't have any intercity operations).

 

[weeklycommuter]

Assuming this thread remains open for some time, I wonder what will happen if the next phases of contactless rollout makes it all the way to Peterborough. What happens then? LNER will surely have to accept contactless then as they can't set the same restrictions as Stevenage.

(I doubt contactless is likely to extend beyond the limits of the Thameslink services that run on the same line, including the same down to Brighton and Horsham - but of course there you don't have any intercity operations).

The map attached to post #743 shows that the contactless rollout ends at Hitchin on the East Coast Mainline. It continues towards Cambridge but not towards Peterborough.

 

[A S Leib]

if the next phases of contactless rollout makes it all the way to Peterborough

I think that's a big if, considering KeyGo currently isn't valid past Huntingdon (and I think isn't valid at GTR-served stations run by SWR either, outside of the Oyster zones).

 

[jon0844]

I think that's a big if, considering KeyGo currently isn't valid past Huntingdon (and I think isn't valid at GTR-served stations run by SWR either, outside of the Oyster zones).

The issue is presumably LNER running the station, but I'd assume at some point they'll get contactless working on entire routes to reduce confusion amongst passengers.

 

[Edvid]

I don't remember if it was mentioned previously, but I can't see why Harlington was chosen as the Phase 2A limit for Midland Main Line stations instead of Flitwick. They're both served by Thameslink only and there's no diverging route in between.

I think that's a big if, considering KeyGo currently isn't valid past Huntingdon (and I think isn't valid at GTR-served stations run by SWR either, outside of the Oyster zones).

KeyGo is accepted by SWR between Clapham Junction and Dorking via Ewell West, and by GWR between Gatwick Airport and Dorking Deepdene. Those exceptions aside, its limits beyond Zones 1-9 are determined by the first station that isn't served or managed by GTR (ergo no connection to their dedicated ITSO back-office); within the zones, same goes for Platforms 1-4 at St Pancras whenever Thameslink is diverted that way, unless you use the standalone validators.

 

[jon0844]

The DFT has been giving out leaflets to an online survey about extending PAYG with contactless ticketing systems in the south east of England.

There are five £100 gift cards to be won for participating.

Link: DfT Pay As You Go Ticketing Survey

 

[Watershed]

That link's broken, here is the fixed version:

PAYG wave 2

 

[MikeWh]

What journey was I making when handed the questionnaire?

 

[talldave]

The DFT has been giving out leaflets to an online survey about extending PAYG with contactless ticketing systems in the south east of England.

There are five £100 gift cards to be won for participating.

Link: DfT Pay As You Go Ticketing Survey

The survey's about the Feb 25 extension and the impact it's had on your journey.

 

[Harryeurostar]

looks like planning permission has been put in to install 6 new card readers at West malling station (a grade 2 listed building) i can’t actually find planning permission documents online like there was with tunbridge wells but this would make sense. With this i’m guessing we can safely assume that the phase after next will include Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone East?

 

[telstarbox]

This is it:

Received date
29 Sep 2025
Application reference number
25/01612/PA
Application type
Listed Building Consent
Location
WEST MALLING RAILWAY STATION, STATION APPROACH, WEST MALLING, ME19 6HJ
Ward
East Malling West Malling And Offham
Parish
West Malling
Proposal description
Listed Building Application: Installation of six card validators and associated associated cabling, ducting and trunking
Application target date
24 Nov 2025

Citizen Portal Planning

 

[Harryeurostar]

looking at the diagrams, it seems like cubic haven’t fully changed to that new reader design, in the first image you can see those readers in the front of the station. But in the second you can see some that are described at “tramlink validators” the icon does also seem like the stock standard oyster readers. That’s interesting that they are going for a mix for some reason and how officially cubic calls the oyster reader boxes tramlink validators

 

[Sleepy]

So do we have any update on the start date for the new additions to contactless area to go live ? Or is it still a big secret........

 

[MikeWh]

Still a big secret. It can't be before Dec 7th. I feel it is likely to go live before Christmas. If I was a betting man I'd say Dec 14th. If that is the case then expect a press release from the DfT in the next couple of weeks.

 

[jon81uk]

Still a big secret. It can't be before Dec 7th. I feel it is likely to go live before Christmas. If I was a betting man I'd say Dec 14th. If that is the case then expect a press release from the DfT in the next couple of weeks.

Do we think the fares will get publised soon as well?

 

[Mark J]

Yes, alongside the Phase 1B stations that went live the following February.

MrJeeves drew a map (link) where the shading is as follows:

Blue: pre-Oval + Phase 1A
Green: Phase 1B
Pink: Phase 2A
Yellow: remainder of Phase 2 [no dates or sub-phases announced to date]

No to Project Oval in our currently yellow area of that map.

We will just see fares increase (even further) in the supposed 'fares simplification'.

The off peak fares in the Project Oval area may be lower than the old Off Peak fares. However, those fares are not as cheap as the Super Off Peak fares which were abolished as a result.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No to Project Oval in our currently yellow area of that map.

We will just see fares increase (even further) in the supposed 'fares simplification'.

The off peak fares in the Project Oval area may be lower than the old Off Peak fares. However, those fares are not as cheap as the Super Off Peak fares which were abolished as a result.

Those super off peak fares weren't that useful as the restrictions were swingeing. And it is just putting us back to where we were pre about 2010.

 

[Hadders]

Those super off peak fares weren't that useful as the restrictions were swingeing. And it is just putting us back to where we were pre about 2010.

I'm expecting a 36% increase to travel from Stevenage to London at weekends. That's not putting things back to 2010.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm expecting a 36% increase to travel from Stevenage to London at weekends. That's not putting things back to 2010.

How long have those tickets existed? I'm just speaking for the WCML where super off peaks were very heavily restricted including Saturdays.

 

[Hadders]

How long have those tickets existed?

Around 20 years. A 36% increase is not a simplification or correcting an anomaly.

There will be further increases for people on weekdays when evening peak restcitions are introduced.

I'm just speaking for the WCML where super off peaks were very heavily restricted including Saturdays.

It would be helpful if you could make that clear.

 

[jack31439]

Still a big secret. It can't be before Dec 7th. I feel it is likely to go live before Christmas. If I was a betting man I'd say Dec 14th. If that is the case then expect a press release from the DfT in the next couple of weeks.

December 14th confirmed by GTR today it appears.

 

[horsewalrus]

December 14th confirmed by GTR today it appears.

Confirmed where, sorry?

 

[778]

Around 20 years. A 36% increase is not a simplification or correcting an anomaly.

There will be further increases for people on weekdays when evening peak restcitions are introduced.


It would be helpful if you could make that clear.

Do the evening peak restrictions only apply for journeys departing from London?

 

[Hadders]

Do the evening peak restrictions only apply for journeys departing from London?

With contactless there's generally a blanket 16:00-19:00 evening peak. There are some exceptions,

Look at some of the Phase 1 stations to get a flavour. For example, Leighton Buzzard.

Leighton Buzzard to Euston - no evening restriction
Euston to Leighton Buzzard - peak prices apply 16:00-19:00

Leighton Buzzrd to Cheddington - no evening restriction
Cheddington to Leighton Buzzard - peak prices apply 16:00-19:00