Watchdog welcomes Oyster decision
London TravelWatch, the watchdog for transport users in London and its surrounding areas, has warmly welcomed the decision to mandate the successful bidders of the South Western Franchise, due for renewal in 2007, to introduce pay-as-you-go Oyster cards and urges the Government to make it a requirement for all franchises in the London area.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair Darling, confirmed today at Transport Questions in the House of Commons that the availability of pay-as-you-go Oyster would form part of the invitation to tender, to be issued soon.
Brian Cooke, Chairman, London TravelWatch, said: "We are delighted that the Government have finally accepted what we have been saying all along: that it is vital for an integrated transport system that there is an integrated ticketing system. It is patently unfair that those people in areas not on the tube network could not benefit from the advantages that Oyster card brings. We hope that this means that it won't be long before every passenger of every train operator in the Greater London area is able to use pay-as-you-go Oyster."
For more information, please call Jo deBank in the London TravelWatch press office on 020 7726 9953 or out of hours on 07734 055494, or Brian Cooke on 07981 691174
the voice of London's transport users
21st March 2006