Contactless payment moves a step closer
25 Apr 2014 04:34 PM
Contactless payment moves a step closer to
transforming services for customers on London Underground and
rail
- Participants start to use contactless payment cards in
system pilot
- Customer pilot is the key next phase in preparing for
making this payment option available to all customers
- Customers reminded to keep Oyster and contactless cards
separate to avoid ‘card clash’
Transport for London’s (TfL’s) pilot of
contactless payment on the Tube and rail network is underway, with the first
customer volunteers now using this new way of touching in and out on the
transport network.
In
preparation for the launch of contactless payment card acceptance later this
year, around 5,000 customers will participate in this phase of the project,
which ensures that this payment option is introduced
successfully.
A
similar process was followed when Oyster was first introduced eleven years
ago.
Contactless payment is part of a huge range of
improvements for customers making it easier and more convenient for them to pay
for their travel.
Other recent improvements include WiFi on stations, a
new website configured for use on mobile devices and making it easier for
customers to obtain refunds.
The
new payment option has been used more than 11 million times on London’s
buses since December 2012.
It
will allow customers to use their contactless debit, credit or charge cards to
pay their fares on Tube, London Overground, DLR, Tram and most National Rail
services in London by touching their card on the yellow readers just like they
do with Oyster.
The
same Oyster pay as you go fares will apply.
Contactless payment means that customers do not need to
spend time topping up their Oyster balance because fares are charged directly
to payment card accounts.
Transparency is also guaranteed with TfL online accounts
enabling customers to view their journey history and fares paid, including the
ability to apply for refunds on incomplete journeys.
Although the focus has been on contactless payment
cards, the upgrades to the readers means that the readers are capable of
accepting suitable mobile payment applications.
Mobile phones with a Visa, MasterCard or American
Express payment application could be accepted on TfL services.
Shashi Verma, TfL’s Director of Customer
Experience, said:
'Our work to introduce contactless payment to the
Tube and rail network is ramping up as we move towards delivering the benefits
to all of our customers. We’ve seen great results from offering this
option on the bus network, with over 11 million journeys made. This pilot
period on the Tube and rail network will allow us to get feedback from our
customers as we prepare to make the option available to everyone later this
year.'
TfL
is also continuing to advise customers to keep their Oyster card separate from
other contactless cards to avoid ‘card clash’, which results in
gates not opening or no green light to proceed.
Once contactless payment is accepted later this year, it
will be imperative for customers to only touch the card they intend to pay with
on the reader, either their Oyster or a contactless payment card, to avoid
paying with a card they did not intend to use.
TfL
has worked closely with the payments card industry, including The UK Cards
Association, American Express, MasterCard, Visa Europe and Barclaycard, on the
development of contactless payment card acceptance on the transport
network.
London is leading the way in this area and once fully
introduced TfL will become one of the world’s largest single merchants
accepting contactless payment cards.