Oyster and Contactless payment launched at Gatwick Airport

Passengers travelling between Gatwick Airport and London can now travel using pay as you go Oyster and Contactless payment methods.

David Brown – CE of The Go-Ahead Group, Shashi Verma – TfL’s Director of Customer Experience, Stewart Wingate – CEO Gatwick Airport, Patrick McLoughlin – Transport Secretary, Angie Doll – Gatwick Express Passenger Service Director

As of 11 January 2016, passengers travelling from London Gatwick Airport to London, via Southern, Gatwick Express and Thameslink services, will be able to “touch in and out” with the introduction of pay as you go using Oyster and Contactless cards as new payment methods.

Marking the occasion, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin visited Gatwick Airport to see the first customers use the ticketing technology which will provide a single ticketless system between the airport and the whole of Greater London.

Oyster and Contactless payment now available from Gatwick Airport via Southern, Gatwick Express and Thameslink services

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “The introduction of Oyster and Contactless gates at Gatwick Airport station mean even more passengers get the advantage of a quick, simple, easier journey when travelling between central London and one of its major gateways.

“We know that the convenience of Oyster and Contactless payments are what many passengers want. By extending their use to extra stations we are building a modern railway that strengthens the economy and provides better journeys for all.”

Ticket facilities at five other stations along the route including, Horley, Salfords, Earlswood, Redhill and Merstham, have also been upgraded to support pay as you go.

David Brown, chief executive of The Go-Ahead Group, said:  “We’re very pleased to have played our part in making this complex project a success. Working in partnership with the Department for Transport, Transport for London and Gatwick Airport Ltd has resulted in passengers having greater choice and more convenient payment options to travel between Gatwick and London which is something we know customers appreciate. The extension of Oyster and Contactless to the airport brings the industry a step closer to moving away from paper tickets.”

“The extension of Oyster and Contactless to the airport brings the industry a step closer to moving away from paper tickets”

The new technology will allow passenger to save money on their travel. A single journey paper peak-time ticket costs £15.50 from London Terminals to Gatwick Airport (excluding Gatwick Express). With pay as you go, a rush hour trip now costs £14.00 and £8.00 off-peak.

It is hoped the new methods of payment will provide greater convenience and flexibility for passengers as well as reduced overcrowding at stations. In 2014-15 almost 17.5 million passenger journeys were recorded through Gatwick Airport rail station, an increase of 33 percent since 2010-11.

Angie Doll, Gatwick Express Passenger Service Director, said: “We’re delighted that pay as you go with Oyster and Contactless have now taken off from Gatwick Airport station. This now gives our passengers another way to pay for their journeys. It also paves the way for an exciting time ahead, when we introduce a brand new Gatwick Express train fleet in the spring and look forward to a superb newly designed and refurbished station.”

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate

In addition to the introduction of Oyster and Contactless payment at Gatwick, the airport is to receive a major upgrade with a £120.5 million redesign transforming the station and passenger experience. Construction work is scheduled to start in 2017 and be completed by 2020.

“This technology is a game-changer for passengers making journeys to and from Gatwick easier and ticketing considerably faster”

Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said: “This technology is a game-changer for passengers making journeys to and from Gatwick easier and ticketing considerably faster.

“And this is only the start, as Gatwick’s rail services are to be completely transformed over the next five years with new trains, a doubling of capacity, and a brand new Gatwick station.

“Independent assessment has shown that Gatwick will be railway-ready for a second runway by 2020 and Gatwick’s second runway plan can be built within 10 years of a Government decision.

“This means that, for the first time in decades, the UK has the opportunity to finally reap the benefits of airport expansion. Let’s get on and build it.”

Other Oyster and Contactless payment fares from Gatwick include:

• Gatwick Express single journey on pay as you go will be £19.80. The current single fare when purchased at London Gatwick or London Victoria is £19.90.
• Redhill to London Victoria or London Bridge single journey on pay as you go will be £10.30 peak and £5.80 off-peak. The current anytime day single is £10.60.
• East Croydon to Gatwick Airport single journey on pay as you go will be £5.20 peak and £3.00 off-peak. The current paper anytime single (excl. Thameslink only fares) is £5.20.