Off-peak rail users from East Croydon to Gatwick are in line to make substantial savings after the announcement the airport will accept Oyster and contactless payments from January 2016.
Southern and Thameslink passengers will benefit from the government’s agreement with Transport for London and Govia Thameslink Railway announced on Tuesday, November 10.
An off-peak pay-as-you go fare from East Croydon to Gatwick will be £3, with the £5.20 peak charge the same as the current paper anytime single fare of £5.20.
Five other stations – Horley, Salfords, Earlswood, Redhill and Merstham – are also being fitted with pay-as-you-go technology.
Rail minister Claire Perry said: “This extension of Oyster and contactless embraces some of the latest technology, making journeys easier for customers, offering them a vastly more convenient option. As we undertake the biggest rail modernisation since the Victorian era, improving London to Gatwick by rail is another step to a modern railway that strengthens the economy.”
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “By providing a quick and easy way to pay, our Oyster and contactless ticketing has transformed the way people get around our capital.
“It makes perfect sense for Londoners, commuters and passengers from around the world to benefit from this further link to Gatwick Airport.
“It’s great news that more people than ever before will be able to benefit from our pioneering modern ticketing system.”
Since contactless payments were introduced on the TfL network in September 2014, there have been more than 220 million contactless journeys made. One in ten contactless transactions in the UK are made on TfL’s services.
TfL’s director of customer experience Shashi Verma, said: “Expanding Oyster and the Contactless ticketing system to Gatwick Airport is a great step forward.
“We are committed to making paying for transport easier for everyone and this extension will allow travellers from across the world to quickly jump on a train to central London and start their holiday or business trip with minimum fuss.”
Gatwick Airport’s chief commercial officer Guy Stephenson, said: “Gatwick’s passengers will welcome the introduction of Oyster and contactless payments at the airport as the most convenient way to pay for onward rail travel to London.
“It means a single ticketless system will link Gatwick with the whole of Greater London so passengers can benefit from seamless connections to and throughout the capital.”
This announcement comes at an exciting time for rail access to Gatwick with world class improvements being introduced. Within the next five years new fleets of Gatwick Express and Thameslink trains will come in to service, Gatwick station will be re-developed and train capacity will be doubled.