Why can't I use pay and go Oyster at mainline stations?

Question

Why can't I use pay and go Oyster at mainline stations?

Answer 1

Taken from Wikipedia:

Pay as you go is not yet available on the rest of London's rail network because of the reluctance of the train operating companies to adopt the technology and change to Transport for London's zonal pricing model. Some operators limit the use of Oyster pay as you go to short sections of line or do not allow its use at intermediate stations. Oyster cards are generally not sold at most rail stations. Transport for London has announced in May 2006 that it will fund the installation of Oyster readers at all London rail stations in Zones 1 - 6. It will also work with the Department for Transport to make sure that the readers are compatible with the system being developed by the Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation. The readers could be installed this year at gated stations, and the pay-as-you-go functionality could be available at all stations in 2008. [3

Answer 2

perhaps you've got no credit left on your card

Answer 3

Pay and go Oyster is going to be rolled out to London railway in 2007:

"Zonal fares for London trains pave the way for smart ticketing

October 19th 2006

              

A new simple fares structure for London train travel was announced today by Rail Minister Tom Harris.  From January 2007, the pricing for single and return rail tickets within London will be based on the same familiar zones already used for Underground and Travelcard tickets.

The new structure will help pave the way for Oyster pay-as-you-go smart ticketing to be rolled out across national rail in London over the next few years.  It will simplify the current complex system of individually-priced station-to-station fares.  There are over 330 railstations within the Travelcard zones, and at present each of 97,300 different station-to-station combinations has its own set of fares.  These will be replaced by just 21 zone-to-zone combinations, with a single, return and cheap day return set for each.

Announcing the new structure, Tom Harris said:

"This removes a barrier to the introduction of smart ticketing, bringing seamless travel for London passengers closer.  The new system is simple and sensible.  It will make train fares in different parts of London consistent with each other and will use the zones that travellers are already familiar with.

"The zonal fares are another step in rolling out Oyster pay-as-you-go across national rail in London over the next few years.  As other smartcards are rolled out outside London, passengers across the country will start to benefit from integrated smartcard ticketing on all modes of travel."

Steve Howes, Director of London, Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), said:

“We will work with the Department for Transport to implement this historic change to London’s fare structure.  It is designed to make travel around London’s rail network easier and simpler for passengers.   It will also enable the introduction of Oyster Pay as you Go across London’s overground rail network.”

Brian Cooke, Chairman of London Travelwatch, said:

"This is a great boost for London.  Research shows that the complexity of fares is one of the barriers to greater use of the railway and we hope today’s announcement will substantially remove that barrier.  We believe this simplified system will make travelling across London and on different modes of transport much easier and ensure passengers are always sold the cheapest and most appropriate tickets for their journey."

As compatible smartcards based on the ITSO (integrated transport smartcard organisation) standard are rolled out outside the capital, passengers will be able to benefit from national smartcard-enabled through-ticketing on all modes of travel.

Department for Transport Press Release

19 October 2006

Answer 4

Because the Rail Fare system has not been set up in Zones like the Buses & Underground. In the New year as railfares in London will be set up in Zones, like the Tube so it will change and also the Goverment has given train Operators orders to get their equipment changed

Answer 5

Because the Train Operating Companies do not have the technology to issue, validate or read Oyster cards.

The Train Operating Companies are not prepared to invest in this technology which will almost certainly reduce their revenues.

Transport for London refuse to pay for the technology, even though it cannot be used on any other smartcard system and Oyster is not ITSO compliant

Impasse!