The º£½ÇÊÓƵ government has unveiled plans to introduce contactless ticketing at nearly 100 train stations across the country by 2025, including London Stansted Airport.
The Department for Transport (DfT) announced on Monday that 47 stations in the South East will be equipped with tap-in and tap-out ticketing systems by February 2, as reported by .
These plans were initially set to be implemented in September but were delayed due to a cyber attack on Transport for London (TfL). Among the first batch of stations are key commuter lines such as Sevenoaks to London Bridge.
The DfT also confirmed an additional 49 stations will be included in the roll-out later in 2025.
This second phase will include London Stansted Airport, which has faced criticism over confusion about whether bank cards can be used for journeys from Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale.
With the inclusion of Stansted, all London airports will offer contactless access for the first time this year. "The ticketing system is far too complicated, so we’re taking the stress out of navigating the labyrinth of fares and replacing it with new technology so passengers can simply tap-in tap-out, while being guaranteed the best fare available at the time on the day," said Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy.
Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive of Rail Delivery Group, stated: "This hassle-free technology will simplify thousands of journeys every day for passengers across the South East, and it’s something we will roll out to other cities as soon as we can, unlocking growth across the country as part of our Plan for Change."
"We want our customers to travel with ease with fares that reflect travellers’ needs post-pandemic. " "We’re delighted that pay as you go technology is being expanded to 47 stations which will provide convenience, simplicity and flexibility, making it easier than ever for customers to pay and travel seamlessly."
