Transport for LondonOyster boost for Barking & Dagenham
There are now more local shops than ever before across the Capital where people can pop in and top up their Oyster cards
Transport for London (TfL) today announced the locations of 33 new shops and newsagents where people can now buy and top up Oyster across Barking & Dagenham.
Less than three per cent of single Tube and bus tickets are bought with cash in London and more than three-quarters of all Tube and bus journeys are made each day using Oyster.
The provision of Oyster machines to the new outlets will ensure that all Londoners have greater access to the easiest and most convenient way to pay for travel across the Capital.
Cheaper fares
Oyster cards were previously available at all Tube stations and more than 2,200 Oyster Ticket Stops.
Across London this figure has now increased to almost 3,800 outlets, an increase of over 75 per cent.
In addition to Tube stations in Barking & Dagenham there are now 80 shops selling Oyster.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: 'This is fulfilling the promise I made to Londoners, particularly those who told me during the election that they need better access to Oyster.
Value for money
'There are now more local shops than ever before across the Capital where people can pop in and top up their Oyster cards, which means even more Londoners can enjoy the cheaper fares and value for money that Oyster offers. It is also great news for the small businesses across London that will benefit from the increase in custom generated through selling Oyster."
Shashi Verma, TfL Director of Fares and Ticketing, said: "Increasing the number of ticket agents across the Capital will make using Oyster even more convenient for the millions of passengers that use TfL services ever day".
Mr. Patel, of Barking News Centre, said: "The Oyster ticket stop will help my shop to become more of a one-stop point for the customers, as they now have the facility to sort out their Oyster travel.
'It will also benefit a wide-range of customers as my shop is open for long hours.'
Customers can find their nearest Ticket Stop by typing in their postcode on the TfL's ticket locator.
Notes to editors:
- Oyster remains quick and easy to use. For example, with Oyster pay as you go you can place £10 on your Oyster card and when you touch in and out at the yellow readers with your card on the Tube, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and London Overground the reader automatically deducts the correct fare. On buses and tram customers only need to touch in
- From November 2007, customers have been able to buy and top up Oyster cards at all London Overground rail stations
- The Oyster card has been a huge success since its introduction across the TfL network in 2003. There are now more than six million cards in active use saving passengers time and money. There are 38 million journeys are made each week using Oyster
- Oyster is also available online, over the phone via 0845 330 9876, or at Travel Information Centres across London
- A refundable £3 deposit is required for a Pay-As-You-Go Oyster card but the money saved by switching to Oyster can cover this in just one day's travel
- Passengers can also register their card so that the money is protected if the card is lost or stolen
- Passengers can store up to three different Travelcards or Bus Pass season tickets and cash to 'pay as you go' on the same Oyster card at the same time
- Oyster cards are also used to provide free travel for Londoners aged over 60 or with an eligible disability through the Freedom Pass scheme and, on the buses and trams, under 18s in full-time education in London can also get Oyster photocards for free travel. Under-11s travel free on all services at all times. On Veterans Day (28 June) the Mayor also announced a new free concession for public transport in London for war pensioners across the UK. This will come into effect from 2 November 2008
- When passengers use the Oyster card to touch in and out on the yellow card readers on the Tube, DLR, London Overground and touch in on London buses and London trams, the system automatically works out the right fare for the journey, within in a fifth of a second from up to 1.83 million permutations
