Text of a press release from TfL

Mayor welcomes Oyster deal with train operator c2c

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, repeated his call for train operating companies to accept his offer of £20m to install Oyster equipment, following c2c's announcement today that they have taken up this deal.

Train operator c2c has become the first mainline train operator to accept the deal, allowing their passengers to get the benefits of Oyster pay as you go. This follows the Mayor's announcement this week that the 10 millionth Oyster card has been issued.

Ken Livingstone said: " This is extremely good news and will bring real benefits to the commuters who use these services. I welcome c2c's decision to adopt Oyster at their stations allowing their passengers to get the full benefit of Oyster including pay as you go.

"c2c has shown that there is no justifiable reason why other train operating companies should not also accept my offer to pay them £20 million to install Oyster equipment. This represents a unique opportunity for passengers to benefit from the convenience and cheaper travel available through Oyster, and a fully integrated ticketing system in London."

In May 2006, the Mayor offered a funding package of £20m to the train operators, which will finance the technology to accept the pay as you go system to be bought and installed at every station in Zones 1-6. The train operating companies have until 31st January to accept this deal.
With the introduction on the rail system of the familiar six zones already used for Underground and Travelcard tickets, London can move to a unified ticketing system based on the Oyster smart card.

TfL Commissioner, Peter Hendy, said: " This is great news for passengers as a further step toward to a fully integrated ticket system in London. This means even more passengers will be able to move easily between rail, Tube, DLR, tram and bus using an Oyster card. "
Around three quarters of journeys on London's buses and Underground are now paid for by Oyster card compared to only five per cent by cash - bringing huge time savings to passengers and the transport system.

Almost three times as many passengers can pass an Underground payment gate using Oyster card as can using printed tickets - 40 a minute compared to 15 a minute.

Notes to Editors:

* From later this year Oyster pre-pay - already available at c2c stations between Fenchurch Street and Upminster - will be extended to Dagenham Dock and Rainham. TfL and c2c are also working to extend Oyster outside the London area and there are plans to have Oyster available at Purfleet, Grays, Chafford Hundred and Ockendon by the summer of 2008.
* In just over three years since its launch, Londoners, commuters and visitors have snapped up more than 10 million Oyster cards, and now only five per cent of journeys on the Tube and bus networks - just one in 20 - are paid for by cash.
* Transport for London has agreed to provide Oyster Card validation equipment in all national rail stations within Zones 1-6. This will include smartcard readers, station equipment and back office support systems. The train operator must install the equipment, as well as operate and maintain it.
* As an example, with Oyster pay as you go you can place £10 on your Oyster card, and when you touch in and out at the yellow readers with your card on the Tube, DLR, tram or bus the reader automatically deducts the correct and cheapest fare.
* Oyster is available to buy from around 2,500 locations including Tube Stations and over 2200 Oyster Ticket Stops in local shops. In addition they can be obtained online at: www.tfl.gov.uk/oyster, over the phone via 0845 330 9876 or at Travel Information Centres across London. You can find your nearest Oyster outlet through the TfL website.