The London Assembly wants further expansion of Oyster Pay as You Go to another two airports.
A motion agreed by the Assembly[1] urges the Mayor to write to all parties involved and encourage them to work together to extend Oyster, as part of the new East Anglia franchise.
Valerie Shawcross CBE AM who proposed the motion said:
“Extending the Oyster zone to include Stansted and Southend airports would make a world of difference to the millions of Londoners who use the capital’s airports.
“London’s transport system can be stressful at the best of times, especially for foreign tourists just arriving. Extending the Oyster network to these airports would remove a significant amount of stress and mean Londoners and tourists alike are able to get around seamlessly by using just their Oyster or contactless card.”
Darren Johnson AM who proposed the amended motion said:
“If more and more passengers are able to access all London’s airports via public transport, everyone wins.
“One payment card for travel within the capital, on as many forms of transport as possible, simplifies the whole process and reduces congestion on our roads and pollution in the process.”
The full text of the motion is:
“This Assembly welcomes the fact that Govia Thameslink Railway aims to extend Oyster Pay As You Go (PAYG), in partnership with TfL and other TOCs, to London Gatwick & London Luton Airports.
This Assembly notes that passengers at London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport will join passengers at London Heathrow Airport and London City Airport in being able to use an Oyster card or a Contactless Payment Card if they plan to visit London.
This Assembly believes that the passengers at London Stansted Airport and the passengers at London Southend Airport will welcome the same opportunities to use an Oyster card or a Contactless Payment Card if they plan to travel to London.
This Assembly further notes that both airports are within the East Anglia franchise and that the consultation on the new franchise period will begin next year.
This Assembly therefore urges the Mayor to write to the Department for Transport, London Stansted Airport, London Southend Airport and Transport for London to urge them to work together to include extending Oyster to both airports as part of the new franchise.”
Notes to editors:
The motion was agreed unanimously, at a meeting of the full Assembly.
Valerie Shawcross CBE AM is available for interview. See contact details below.
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As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more details, please contact Alison Bell in the Assembly Media Office on 020 7983 4228. For out-of-hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit, Greater London Authority, on 020 7983 4100.