Transport for LondonOyster boost for City of London
Increasing the number of ticket agents across the Capital will make using Oyster even more convenient
Transport for London (TfL) today announced the locations of 14 new shops and newsagents where people can now buy and top-up Oyster across the City of London.
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.
Value for money
Oyster cards were previously available at all Tube stations and more than 2,200 Oyster Ticket Stops.
Across London this figure has now been increased to almost 3,800 outlets, an increase of 75 per cent. In addition to Tube stations in the City of London there are now 17 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.
'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.
Cheaper fares
'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 every day.'
Mr Patel, of Pandora's Box, Leadenhall Market, said: 'There are very few Oyster Ticket Stops in the local area, so this will be meeting a great need of the local people.
'It will bring in more customers and will be most popular for those customers who are commuting in the mornings and evenings.'
Customers can find their nearest Ticket Stop by typing in their postcode at: 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 38m 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. You can find your nearest Oyster Ticket Stop through the TfL website
- 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
