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Contactless to stansted
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No, not directly as pay as you go. You need to buy a ticket from a machine or booking site.
(Clearly you can use a contactless visa or mastercard to purchase a physical ticket from the ticket machine or ticket office window, but I don't think that is what you were asking.)
hexagon789
Veteran Member
Not yet, I believe Tottenham Hale is the present limit.
Adam Williams
Established Member
Stansted will be part of Project Oval. Awarded on the basis of majority-delivery by May 2024.
Technically Broxbourne, but the trains to Stansted don't stop there.
No you can't. You will be able to do so at some point in future, but contactless PAYG hasn't been rolled out that far yet.
At the moment it's only valid as far north as Broxbourne - but the last stop where it's valid, on Stansted Express trains, is usually Tottenham Hale.
You will need to buy a paper ticket or eTicket before boarding.
hexagon789
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Thanks.
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Correct. No tap in, tap out, facilities exist at Stansted Airport train station.
Well there are contactless readers but only for smart cards. Does make you wonder why it's taking so long if there are already barriers with contactless readers at Stansted Airport...
I'm thankful that someone asked if they can use contactless for once rather than just assuming! Good on you, OP.
No. They are in the process of installing barriers, which will be able to read smartcards which you have loaded a prepaid ticket (e.g. a season ticket, or a single/return) to. But PAYG isn't available yet.
Current publicly-stated target for Stansted Airport (+ 48 others) is just "2025", which could mean anything up to 31 December. Given the fare structure changes that accompany or precede Oval expansions it probably won't be before this December anyway.
Stansted gatelines (there are three of them, to my knowledge) are already live.
No, nothing has yet been announced.
Until there is an official announcement, and the fares are visible in the TfL single fare finder, Contactless isn't valid, no matter what the National Rail website says.
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Maybe someone should tell national rail this . People going to stansted are not necessarily in the UK and plan their trip their weeks in advance thinking the info on the national rail website is correct. This is part of the reason for this original question i.e. someone i know is flying into stansted and saw the cheaper contactless fares
National Rail Enquiries is indeed suggesting that contactless is available from Stansted Airport from 7th September. I've attached a screenshot below in case of future query.
It is possible that contactless will be valid from that date, 7th September is the start of the September fares round but as far as I'm aware there hasn't been any announcement and until there is it will be best to assume it isn't valid.
It is possible that contactless will be valid from that date, 7th September is the start of the September fares round but as far as I'm aware there hasn't been any announcement and until there is it will be best to assume it isn't valid.
It looks like premature advertising of contactless Stansted fares applies to journeys to/from Tottenham Hale - Liverpool Street, Liz line stations towards Abbey Wood / Shenfield, and Zone 1 LU stations. There may be exceptions but that's the gist of it.
Adam Williams
Established Member
It'll just be based on what's in the fares data for POP/PAP (PAC/POC for CPAY, as @Watershed mentions) The real question is, why are there two places the contactless fares information is maintained - and seemingly nothing connecting them automatically? 
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It looks like some of GA's Phase 2 fares are showing up early for some reason. Those for other TOCs aren't.
The issue will be that the PAC/POC ticket types have been added (or rather, set to their 'real' prices) too early. These are ticket types that can't be sold, but are intended for National Rail journey planners to display for comparative/informative purposes.
The definitive map showing which stations accept TfL's contactless PAYG is here (also attached), linked to on nationalrail.co.uk/contactless
The definitive map showing which stations accept TfL's contactless PAYG is here (also attached), linked to on nationalrail.co.uk/contactless
I found this map yesterday but the issue is the national rail website shows a comparison between the contactless and non contactless fares for passengers so the passenger is very tempted not to pre buy the paper ticket as the contactless one is much cheaper . There is more than one person traveling so there is a significant saving to be had paying contactless . Its sad that its not clearer that this data is not for passenger use though i dont understand why they are providing comparative information for something that doesn't exist
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How far in advance should they officially announce this ? You have found tickets for this coming weekend. If its officially announced on Monday or next Friday is that a normal amount of notice ?
py_megapixel
Established Member
What is the position if someone arrives at Stansted on 7th September without a ticket and having tapped in? I'm not suggesting anyone tries, to be clear, but the train company would surely have a difficult time arguing that the passenger was in the wrong when National Rail Enquiries - which is supposed to be an official source of information - quite clearly carries the instruction for this journey."No ticket purchase necessary - touch card or device on reader"
Wallsendmag
Established Member
Having walked past the signs saying "Contacless isn't valid to Stansted Airport" I think I can guess the outcome
That would be unusually short notice. The Phase 1A/B extensions were briefed 2/3 weeks in advance and advertised shortly afterward.
Greater Anglia offer group fares and discounts so PAYG won't necessarily be cheaper, even once it's finally rolled out.
The fundamental issue is that Greater Anglia have 'jumped the gun' with uploading the fares. Journey planners are computer systems, so the principle of 'garbage in = garbage out' means this outcome was inevitable once GA uploaded the fares too early.
Generally speaking it would be announced at least a few weeks in advance.
They would almost certainly be Penalty Fared or reported for prosecution notwithstanding the confusion/misinformation GA have caused by releasing the fares too early.
If PF'd, I would suggest this information, coming from what is said to be an 'authoritative' source of information about rail fares and validity (it's referenced in the NRCoT), would be useful in a 'compelling reasons' appeal.
If reported for prosecution it would clearly undermine any argument for 'intent to avoid payment' under RoRA and it would at least serve as mitigation in sentencing for any Byelaw 18 prosecution.
Signs/announcements about contactless not being valid could understandably be viewed as outdated, given that contactless is known to be due to be rolled out to Stansted this year - the NRE information could be viewed as confirmation that it's now live.
Sadly GA seem more interested in penalising passengers than dealing with unwitting mistakes fairly.
This is a shame, when i go abroad i have no idea what half the signs which are not in English mean at stations , i just rely on the research i did online in advance
At the end of the day Stansted Airport is almost always going to have revenue staff on site. Their instructions are pretty clear. They will make reports for prosecution, or charge Penalty Fares, or, if you're very very lucky a new full price ticket. Either way GA are well up on the deal and the customer has paid twice, both the incomplete journey and the new ticket, PF or settlement. And if you don't like it you can't exactly use a different train company...
I would expect the customer to eventually win the appeal or prosecution but only after a huge amount of faff.
because of this confusion the person is going to just buy a ticket at the station and see if the contactless is working/allowed when they arrive , if not they will get a paper ticket. They will probably be spending a lot on tourist activities in London anyway so not point sweating over the higher ticket price
We can be 100% certain that contactless will not be rolled out that far on 7 September. They should not try to use contactless to or from Stansted. It will only cause them difficulties if they do.
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