Pay-As-You-Go technology rolled out even further in the South East

From next month, 47 stations across the South East will see pay-as-you-go (PAYG) ticketing implemented as the government begins with its ambitious plans to modernise the ticketing system across the country’s network.

The new system will be rolled out on 2 February and will see stations along commuter lines ran by operators including Greater Anglia, London North Western Railway (LNR), Southwestern Railways and Southeastern included. Stations on the outer edges of the Greater London network including Sevenoaks, Southend and Hemel Hempstead stations have had the technology installed.

This rollout is part of a wider plan to modernise Britain's rail network. A further 49 stations, including London Stansted Airport, are set to join the contactless network throughout 2025.

Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy stated, "The ticketing system is far too complicated... We're taking the stress out of navigating the labyrinth of fares." He highlighted the government's commitment to delivering the "biggest overhaul of our rail network in a generation," putting passengers at the heart of every journey.

The Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander has made fare and ticketing reform a key part of its Great British Railways plan and will tell industry leaders at a conference in Manchester that the Government are planning to expand the contactless travel scheme to other parts of the country by the end of the year. This could include Manchester and the West Midlands which have both had ambitions to roll out contactless technology. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham sees the technology as a key part of his plans for the city’s Bee Network to take control of eight suburban railway lines in the region. The Bee Network currently has contactless technology on its tram and bus routes.

Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at Transport for London (TfL), said: “The popularity of convenient travel via pay-as-you-go with contactless has seen it grow and become increasingly popular across London and the surrounding areas in the ten years since it launched in London. We are delighted to be extending pay as you go with contactless to a further 47 stations on the 2 February.

“This will further help those travelling by rail outside London do so more flexibly and conveniently, avoid the need to pre-purchase tickets or paper Travelcards when heading into the capital, and support the wider UK economic recovery through easier access to rail travel.”

Peter Williams, Customer and Commercial Director for South Western Railway said: “We are pleased that, from February, customers at an additional 12 of our stations will have access to fast and flexible payment, as pay as you go with contactless is introduced.

“Touching in and out at applicable stations will mean less time spent queuing to buy a ticket and will speed up journeys for our customers”

Whilst LNR Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at LNR commented that it was "excited" to launch the PAYG technology across its 14 stations.

A full list of the stations which pay-as-you-go trechnology is to be rolled out on February 2  can be found below;
 

Basildon  

Benfleet  

Chalkwell  

East Tilbury  

Laindon  

Leigh-on-Sea  

Pitsea  

Shoeburyness  

Southend Central  

Southend East  

Stanford-le-Hope  

Thorpe Bay  

Tilbury Town  

West Horndon  

Westcliff  

Bat & Ball  

Dunton Green  

Eynsford  

Otford  

Sevenoaks  

Shoreham (Kent)  

Ashford (Surrey)  

Datchet  

Egham  

Kempton Park  

Shepperton  

Staines  

Sunbury  

Sunnymeads  

Upper Halliford  

Virginia Water  

Windsor & Eton Riverside  

Wraysbury  

Apsley  

Berkhamsted  

Bletchley  

Bricket Wood  

Cheddington  

Garston  

Hemel Hempstead  

How Wood  

Kings Langley  

Leighton Buzzard  

Park Street  

St Albans Abbey  

Tring  

Watford North